AMERICAN RESEARCH CENTER IN SOFIA 2009/2010 FELLOWSHIP COMPETITION
For the academic year 2009/2010, the American Research Center in Sofia, Bulgaria (ARCS) will offer three programs with accompanying fellowships: a 9-month program for the period September-May; a fall term program for the period September-November; and a spring term program for the period February-April. ARCS will host the programs’ lectures and seminars, organize related trips, and facilitate opportunities for taking Bulgarian and other Balkan language classes, logistical support, and access to local libraries, museums, and other educational institutions.
1. Those interested in the 9-month program (only for graduate students) are expected to participate in the ARCS academic program during both the Fall and the Spring term and devote the rest of the time to independent research and travel. The content of the Fall and Spring Programs is described below.
2. The Fall Term Program is intended for graduate and advanced undergraduate students, scholars and teachers interested in the history, material culture, and civilization (including ethnography and music) of Bulgaria and the Balkan region. The term of the program is from the first Monday of September through the last Saturday of November. The first part of the program consists of lectures, seminars and trips relating to the period from antiquity to the present day. Although most scholars specialize in one historical period, we believe that for students of Bulgarian and Balkan history it will be very helpful to get a diachronic overview from local experts. The second part of the program will include independent research in local libraries and optional trips.
The participants are expected to attend the entire program. They will choose a topic on which they will prepare an oral presentation at the end of first half of the program. During the second half of their stay, participants are expected to engage in independent research dedicated to their special fields and/or dissertation topics. The goal of the program is to engage the participants with eminent local scholars in the study of Bulgarian (and to a certain extent, Balkan) history and civilization in their continuity and facilitate specialized research in local institutions.
In addition, undergraduate students have the option to be given an examination and write a term paper at the end of the program if they need to receive credits for the program from their home institutions. ARCS does not grant credit, but can issue certificates of participation, and the students’ home institutions can then confer credits based on the students’ examination and term papers.
Exemplary schedule:
Week 1
Orientation; visit Sofia’s landmarks; visit Rila Monastery
Week 2
Monday-Wednesday: lectures and seminars on Bulgaria in antiquity;
Thursday-Saturday: trips to ancient sites (e.g., Thracian tombs at Starosel and Kazanlak, Roman town of Hissar, Plovdiv)
Week 3
Monday-Wednesday: lectures and seminars on Mediaeval Bulgaria;
Thursday-Saturday: trips to Mediaeval sites (e.g. Bulgaria’s former capitals Pliska, Preslav, and Veliko Tarnovo)
Week 4
Monday-Wednesday: lectures and seminars on Bulgaria and the Balkans in recent history;
Thursday-Saturday: trips to sites of cultural and ethnographical interest (e.g.Koprivshtica, Etara)
Week 5
preparation of presentations and papers
Week 6
presentations
Weeks 7-12
independent research and/or trips
3. The Spring Term Program is intended for graduate and advanced undergraduate students, teachers and scholars interested in the history of religion in Bulgaria from antiquity to the 20th century, including ancient religion, Christianity (Orthodoxy, Catholicism, and other Christian faiths and movements), Judaism, and Islam. The term of the program is from the first Monday of February to the last Saturday of April. The first part of the program will consist of lectures and seminars by local experts, and the second part of the program will include independent research in local libraries and trips to famous Bulgarian religious sites (many of which are part of the world’s cultural heritage).
The participants are expected to attend the entire program. They will choose a topic on which they will prepare an oral presentation at the end of first half of the program. The second half of the program will include independent research in local libraries and trips to famous Bulgarian monasteries and churches (many of which are part of the world’s cultural heritage).
In addition, undergraduate students have the option to be given an examination and write a term paper at the end of the program if they need to receive credits for the program from their home institutions. ARCS does not grant credit, but can issue certificates of participation, and the students’ home institutions can then confer credits based on the students’ examination and term papers.
Exemplary schedule:
Week 1
Orientation; visit Sofia’s landmarks
Week 2
Monday-Tuesday: lectures and seminars on religions in Bulgaria, including ancient religions, Christianity, Judaism and Islam.
Wednesday-Friday: Orthodoxy in different countries; specifics of Bulgarian Orthodoxy
Week 3
Orthodox art, architecture, and music
Week 4
visit museums, churches and monasteries in and around Sofia (e.g. Rila Monastery, Cherepishki Monastery, Dragalevtsi Monastery, Knyazhevo Monastery, Boyana Church) Week 5
preparation of presentations
Week 6
presentations
Weeks 7-11
independent research Week 12
trip to churches and monasteries in Bulgaria (e.g. Bachkovo Monastery, Troyan Monastery, Glozhene Monastery, Kapinovo Monastery, Kilifarevo Monastery)
ELIGIBILITY AND APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS:
All applicants need to submit a completed application form available to download here.
Graduate and advanced undergraduate students at educational institutions registered in North America, regardless of their citizenship, are eligible for fellowships. Students with partial support or without support from ARCS can apply for alternative sources of funding. Faculty members at these institutions are welcome to participate in the programs or part thereof, but are not eligible for fellowships. Please visit the ARCS website (http://www.einaudi.cornell.edu/arcs/) for more information or contact Professor Kevin Clinton via e-mail at kmc1@cornell.edu.
Graduate Students: Please submit a project proposal (up to three double-spaced pages) describing how participation in the ARCS Fall/Spring or 9-month program will serve your academic interests and/or dissertation research. The proposal, together with the application form, a CV, copies of official transcripts from each graduate institution you have attended, and two letters of reference in a signed sealed envelope from professors who are familiar with your academic work, should be mailed to the Chair of the Fellowship Committee, Professor Kevin Clinton, 120 Goldwin Smith Hall, Department of Classics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853.
Advanced Undergraduate Students: Please submit a project proposal (up to three double-spaced pages) describing how participation in the ARCS Fall/Spring program will serve your academic interests. The proposal, together with the application form, a CV, copies of official transcripts from each undergraduate institution you have attended, and two letters of reference in a signed sealed envelope from professors who are familiar with your academic work, should be mailed to the Chair of the Fellowship Committee (address as above).
Faculty Members: Please submit an application form, a project proposal (up to three double-spaced pages) describing how participation in the ARCS Fall/Spring program will serve your academic interests, and a CV to Professor Kevin Clinton (address as above).
Application deadline: All application materials must be postmarked by February 28th, 2009. The candidates will receive notification by April 1st, 2009.
US and European citizens can stay in Bulgaria without a visa for up to three months. If you wish to stay beyond this 90-day period, a D-visa is necessary, which can be issued by the closest Bulgarian consulate. Visas need to be obtained before arriving in Bulgaria. We recommend that those choosing the three-month program stay in Bulgaria within the 90-day period.
FELLOWSHIPS
ARCS plans to offer at least one 9-month fellowship for the period September-May; at least three fall and spring term fellowships. The stipends will amount to $550 a month. (It is estimated that $550 will be entirely sufficient to cover daily expenses given the current cost of living in Bulgaria). In addition, ARCS will pay for accommodation, on-site language instruction, and travel expenses within the academic program. Travel expenses between North America and Bulgaria and meals in Bulgaria are not included.
ESTIMATED COST
Applicants who have been accepted without a fellowship are welcome to look for alternative sources of funding: the total cost of the programs for participants from member institutions is estimated as $10,000 for the 9-month program and $5,000 for either the fall or the spring semester program. This estimate is based on the assumption that the participants will reside at ARCS. Participants from non-member institutions will be charged an additional fee of $100 per month.
Please visit the ARCS website (http://www.einaudi.cornell.edu/arcs/) for more information about the American Research Center in Sofia, or contact Professor Kevin Clinton at the address given above, or via e-mail at kmc1@cornell.edu.