THE FELLOWSHIPS:  The American Research Institute in Turkey will offer ARIT fellowships for research in Turkey for the academic year 2009-2010.  Grants for tenures up to one year will be considered, however, some preference is given to projects of shorter duration.  ARIT operates hostel, research, and study facilities for researchers in Turkey at its branch centers in Istanbul and Ankara.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:  Scholars and advanced graduate students engaged in research on ancient, medieval, or modern times in Turkey, in any field of the humanities and social sciences, are eligible.  Student applicants must have fulfilled all requirements for the doctorate except the dissertation by June 2009, and before beginning any ARIT-sponsored research.  Non-U.S. applicants are expected to maintain an affiliation with an educational institution in the United States or Canada.   Scholars who have completed their formal training may also apply for ARIT fellowships sponsored by the National Endowment for the Humanities.  For questions of eligibility, please check with the ARIT office in Philadelphia. 

APPLICATION PROCEDURE:  In order to be considered, applicants must provide complete application information.   APPLICATIONS AND THREE LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION MUST BE RECEIVED BY  NOVEMBER 1, 2008.  Please refer to the application format and cover page appended here (.doc or .pdf).  Please include letters of reference with your application.  Student applicants must provide a copy of their graduate transcript.   Submit materials to the American Research Institute in Turkey, University of Pennsylvania Museum, 3260 South Street, Philadelphia PA 19104-6324.  For further information call (215) 898-3474, fax (215) 898-0657, view the website at [http://ccat.sas.upenn.edu/ARIT/]; or e-mail the ARIT executive director [leinwand@sas.upenn.edu].   ARIT expects to notify applicants of the decision of the Committee on Fellowships by January 25, 2009.

RESEARCH PERMISSION:  Turkish law requires foreign scholars to obtain formal permission to carry out research at institutions in Turkey.  ARIT fellowship applicants are responsible for obtaining the research permission and visa.  In 2006, application procedures for research permissions changed.  In general, researchers should seek permission to carry out research from the director(s) of the institution(s) where they intend to work; this includes researchers who wish to work in libraries housed in Turkish museums. 

Researchers who wish to work in any other collections in the museums, however, hould make their applications through the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, General Directorate for Cultural Heritage and Museums. In addition, if the material they wish to work with is part of an excavation, researchers must submit a letter with their application signed by the excavation director giving permission.  The new application regulations and format for researchers are posted on the ARIT website. 

Most foreign scholars may enter Turkey on a tourist visa and apply for research permission from within Turkey, or they may choose to procure a research visa from the Turkish Embassy in advance of their arrival.  ARIT reserves the right to withhold payment of fellowship stipends if appropriate research permission is not obtained. 

*The fellowship program of the American Research Institute in Turkey is funded by the United States Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.  Please feel free to make copies and distribute this notice and the accompanying application forms.  

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