Organisation Name:
American Institute for Sri Lankan Studies (AISLS)
Application Deadline:
1 December 2026
About Organisation
The American Institute for Sri Lankan Studies (AISLS) promotes research, teaching and scholarly exchange focused on Sri Lanka. Established in 1996, the institute works to strengthen connections between scholars and academic institutions in the United States and Sri Lanka. AISLS focuses particularly on the humanities, social sciences and related fields and operates a Colombo centre that provides research support and access to academic resources. The institute offers several programmes supporting scholars and graduate students, including dissertation planning grants, fellowships, language instruction grants and research-related travel opportunities. Through these programmes, AISLS contributes to the development of scholarship on Sri Lanka and supports researchers preparing for academic fieldwork.
About the Grant
The AISLS Dissertation Planning Grant supports graduate students preparing to conduct doctoral research in Sri Lanka. The grant is designed for a pre-dissertation visit, allowing students to assess the feasibility of their research topic, sharpen their research design, identify resources and contacts, and make practical arrangements for future fieldwork. Awards normally support six to eight weeks in Sri Lanka. Recipients can receive a $560 weekly per diem for up to eight weeks, reimbursement of roundtrip airfare between the United States and Colombo up to $2,000, and reimbursement of eligible Sri Lankan government visa fees.
Who can Apply?
Applicants must be graduate students enrolled at a U.S. university, although U.S. citizenship is not required for students enrolled at American universities. U.S. citizens enrolled at foreign universities are also eligible. Applicants should have completed most of their graduate coursework by the time they begin the grant. The opportunity is particularly intended for students developing their dissertation proposals and preparing for future dissertation research funding. Projects must fall within the social sciences or humanities, including fields such as anthropology, history, sociology, law, political science, strategic studies and international relations. Applicants should demonstrate academic preparation and a clear research connection to Sri Lanka.
How to Apply?
Confirm your eligibility and prepare the required application materials, including the cover sheet, CV, graduate transcript, project narrative and one-page bibliography. Combine the application into a single Word or PDF file following AISLS formatting instructions. Ask your dissertation supervisor to send the confidential recommendation letter directly to AISLS US Director John Rogers. Submit the completed application by 1 December 2026.
Application Deadline
The application deadline is 1 December 2026
Last Date To Apply
For more information, please visit the grant website here.
