The Princeton Institute for International and Regional Studies (PIIRS) Undergraduate Fellowship Program provide recipients with a grant of up to $7,500 to pursue a project or initiative that promotes collective understanding of other countries and/or that addresses global challenges. Fellows will be part of a cohort that will meet several times throughout the academic year. Rory Truex, associate professor of politics and international affairs and Ralph O. Glendinning University Preceptor, directs the program and advises fellows on their projects and convene group meetings.

The goal of the PIIRS Undergraduate Program is to provide students with the opportunity to build leadership skills and advance regional understanding by creating their own project or initiative. We are open to a range of proposals, including (but not limited to) the following: organizing talks or a conference, creating a documentary film, supporting an international service project, creating a podcast or Youtube channel, or anything else that improves regional knowledge and understanding at Princeton and beyond. Be creative and think big!  

Students can submit individual applications for a single project or a joint application from two students committed to working together on the same project. The fellowship is open to all current first-year students, sophomores and juniors.

The following materials are required:

• Project proposal (no more than 1000 words).
  • Describe the project being proposed. How will it promote understanding of other countries and global challenges?
  • What are the key outputs, outcomes and deliverables for the project? Is this a new initiative or will it advance new initiatives for an existing project?
  • What is the timeline for executing the project?
  • Is this a solo or joint project?
• Budget.
  • What is the proposed budget for the project?
  • If the proposed project is larger than the maximum PIIRS grant, identify other likely sources of funding for this project (tbd, pending, or granted).
  • Please provide a detailed budget with a specific explanation of how each of the projected costs were calculated.
• Personal Statement for each applicant (no more than 200 words).
  • What are your personal qualifications for executing the proposed project?
  • Indicate if you are pursuing a regional certificate and/or have pursued other international experiences (such as an international internship, global seminar, study abroad, bridge-year program, etc.).
• One letter of recommendation for each applicant from a faculty member or professional contact that assesses the feasibility of the project and the applicant’s preparation.
• A transcript for each applicant (unofficial copy is acceptable).
• 1 page CV (optional).

The application deadline for the 2026-27 AY fellowship will be announced in fall 2025