Robinson Honors Fellowship Application

SUMMARY OF APPLICATION MATERIALS

Note: The same application is used to apply for the Burch Fellowship, Carolina Blue Honors Fellowship, and Robinson Honors Fellowship. You may only apply for one fellowship per year.

Résumé

Include a current personal résumé of 1-2 pages. List work experience, campus and community activities, and honors and awards received in college.

Bio

Provide a short biographical statement (100 words or less) about yourself, your interests, and the general project you would like to pursue. See the current Robinson Honors Fellows web page for examples.

Fellowship Experience Proposal

Fellows should design an internship experience of no less than 6 weeks. A fellowship proposal (1,200 word limit) should address the following:

• A detailed description of your project that explains what, where, when, how long, with whom, and why. Include any relevant background information that will help the committee understand your project.
• A description of relevant experience you have had that has prepared you for the project you are proposing (i.e. language skills, research experience, work experience, etc.)
• The goals you have set for yourself and how you plan to accomplish them
• The significance of your project to the local community
• How you will address potential language barriers or other challenges
• How you plan to use the knowledge and skills you gain during your fellowship experience in the future

All applicants need to identify a faculty advisor for the fellowship. This should be someone who has seen your proposal and worked with you to advise on proposal content, logistics, and/or questions you should be asking with your project.

Budget

Using an Excel spreadsheet, provide specific details regarding all expenses connected with your proposed fellowship experience. Wherever possible, these should be actual, rather than estimated, expenses. Include both the sources and calculations of the individual line items in your budget. Include program costs (if applicable), entry fees, visas, transportation, meals, lodging, $150 Study Abroad administrative fee,  and mandatory health insurance at $1.46 per day. Budgets can go up to $7,000, but should be kept as affordable as possible. Click here to view a sample budget.

The Robinson Fellowship does not cover the cost of existing programs unless they are a supplemental component of your project (i.e., a language course). As a general rule, durable goods that can be used beyond the time of the fellowship are not allowable expenses. Cameras and other equipment that is necessary for your project can be rented from the Media Resources Center in the Undergraduate Library. Check with their staff as you are planning your budget.

Photograph

Provide a high-resolution head shot photograph (.jpg or .jpeg file) for promotional purposes. It does not need to be professionally taken.

Unofficial UNC Transcript

Provide a copy of your current unofficial UNC transcript, including your last semester’s grades. Click here for information on how to obtain your transcript online.

Letters of Recommendation

Request two letters of recommendation directly from faculty directly through your application on HeelsAbroad. We encourage you to share your personal statement/proposal and résumé with individuals who are in a position to: (a) assess the talent/promise you cite as the basis for your consideration as a Robinson Fellow, and (b) comment on the likely benefit and feasibility of the fellowship experience you propose.

Timing: Please provide this information at least two weeks prior to the application deadline so these individuals have adequate time to complete the recommendation.

Letter of Support

If your proposed experience requires obtaining special permission from companies, archives, government agencies, faculty members, or other individuals/organizations, you must submit at least one letter of support or authorization with your application. Applicants should contact these organizations or individuals as early as possible and at least two weeks prior to the deadline. We recommend that you share your personal statement/proposal and résumé with these organizations or individuals.

APPLICATION DEADLINE

All application materials are due by January 15. We recommend you submit the email addresses and names of your recommenders two weeks in advance to give them sufficient time to submit their recommendations on your behalf.

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QUESTIONS

For questions about application submission, please contact HonorsBurch@unc.edu.

For questions about your project, contact Gina Difino at gina_difino@unc.edu.