Research & Funding Opportunities

Research & Funding Opportunities

The research interests of the Faculty members of South Asia Studies department are vast and cover many periods, regions and cultures. 

Each year faculty members from the South Asian Studies department supervise Penn students to complete a research project of their choice. Some students complete research projects in-country, and others choose projects which involve traveling to India for research purposes. 

Undergraduate Research Awards

Information about how to participate in and apply for grants for research projects 

South Asia Studies majors do research as assistants on large projects, within courses, and on independent projects (including writing an honors thesis). Some major-based opportunities for doing research:

  • SAST Independent Study
  • SAST Honors/Senior Thesis

To see faculty specializations and department resources, visit the SAST Department Faculty Page 

Research Grants for Undergraduate Students

The Department of South Asia Studies offers up to two $3500 Summer Research Grants each year for undergraduates conducting original research in a South Asian country.  Additional grant opportunities for research in India are offered by the Center for the Advanced Study of India (CASI).

For information on undergraduate research awards and funding, go to: 

For information about human research participants (IRB approval) go to: 

Opportunities to publish undergraduate research in the College:

For information about research assistant jobs contact: 

Undergraduate Awards and Fellowships

Holden Furber Undergraduate Writing Prize

Deadline: April 1, 2025

This is awarded annually for the best undergraduate essay on any topic related to South Asia. The award will be for $300 and competition is open to all students of the University of Pennsylvania. There is no set number of pages or format for submissions. Writings may be prose, poetry, research, or scientific papers as long as the subject involves South Asia. Papers should be submitted by April 1, 2025, as a PDF to Courtney Brennan.

SAST Summer Research Grant 

Deadline: April 1 by 12 noon

The Department of South Asia Studies invites applications for the South Asia Undergraduate Research Grants with a deadline of April 1 by 12 noon. The South Asia Studies department will award up to two research/travel grants (maximum of $3500 each) for Spring-Summer to support undergraduate research projects involving travel to South Asia.

Applicants should submit:

  1. A statement of 500 words or less indicating the nature of their project and how it fits into their academic program at Penn (preference towards South Asia Majors/Minors)
  2. An unofficial Penn transcript
  3. A budget and funding request
  4. A brief statement from a faculty member who would be guiding the research (this may be addressed to "SAST Awards Committee")
  5. A list of other applications being submitted to support this research. (Applications for other grants will be viewed favorably in the review process.)

The competition is restricted to undergraduate students in their first, second, or third year of study; applications from seniors graduating in May will not be considered.

Please provide COMPLETE applications to: Courtney Brennan at 820 Williams Hall (you may drop off paper applications or send in PDF form via email)

The deadline for COMPLETE applications is April 1 by 12 noon.

Additional Opportunities

Financial Support with Research Grants

The department has a mandate to support academic excellence, and has a generous research budget to help achieve this. This means that students can apply for grants to complete summer academic research projects in South Asia where the funds help offset some of the costs relating to fieldwork.