Through scholarships and mentorship, IFR continues to work toward our goal of improving access to field research training opportunities and promoting equity and diversity in the field sciences. Please scroll below to learn more about our Vera R. Campbell Promise Scholarship. In addition, we provide links to funding search engines and to grants and scholarships available to students from external organizations.
You could help IFR send more students into the field who otherwise would not have the financial means to do so. Please click on the donate button below or visit our Donate to IFR page to learn more.

IFR Possibility Scholarship
IFR is bringing back the Possibility Scholarship, which combines our past need, merit, and opportunity scholarships into a single scholarship. Our goal is to support students with demonstrated financial need who also exhibit excellence in academics. Students can leverage an intensive field school to advance their careers – within or outside academia – and become leaders in their field of interest. We believe that training in evidence-based science, primary data collection, and the transformative rigors of field life will produce global citizens, leaders, and decision makers that will benefit us all.
The Possibility Scholarship awards up to $5,000 to help cover the cost of an IFR field school and travel expenses. If the program tuition is under $5,000, the remaining balance of the scholarship will have a cash value that may be credited towards travel expenses.
- These scholarships are valid only for IFR field programs. To be considered for this scholarship, students must submit at least one application for a Summer 2023 IFR field school by the scholarship deadline. If a student is awarded a scholarship, in order to receive the award, the student must be admitted to an IFR Summer 2023 program.
- Scholarship awardees are not guaranteed participation in the IFR program of their choice. Placement in an IFR field school is first-come, first-served and programs are filling up quickly for summer 2023. Students are highly encouraged to apply to more than one field school.
- If you apply for the Possibility Scholarship, IFR will waive the application fee for up to two Summer 2023 programs. After you have started an application, please contact IFR staff at admissions@ifrglobal.org for assistance in waiving this application fee before you submit your application.
- Students may apply to all other IFR scholarships, if available. Applying to this scholarship does not prevent students from applying to any other IFR scholarship.
- Late or incomplete applications by the deadline published on this webpage will not be accepted or considered.
Applicants must:
- Complete and submit the Possibilities Scholarship application online on or before the May 17, 2023 deadline at 11:59 PM (PT).
- Provide the contact information of one recommender, preferably a faculty member at a university or community college, who will write a recommendation letter for them through the online scholarship application. Another mentor who knows the capabilities and resilience of the applicant may supply a letter if no faculty member is able to write one. The deadline for recommendation letters is the same as the scholarship deadline, May 17, 2023.
- Upload an unofficial copy of transcripts showing GPA.
- Upload your Student Aid Report (SAR) for your 2023-2024 Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
- Answer all essay questions in the scholarship application.
- Submit at least one IFR field school application by May 17, 2023.
- Be accepted into an IFR program that has available space in order to receive the scholarship.
- Participate in all pre-program IFR orientations and any required mentorship sessions.
- Upon completion of the program:
- Schedule and participate in post field school mentorship session(s).
- Complete at least one blog entry for IFR’s blog, Trials and Trowels
- Prepare a recorded presentation (5-10 minutes long) about their field school experience and its impact
- Attend the post field school event featuring presentations by awardees.
The Possibility Scholarship will award up to $5,000 to help cover the cost of an IFR field school and travel expenses. This scholarship may not be applied to any field school outside those offered by the IFR. If the program tuition is under $5,000, the remaining balance will have a cash value that may be credited towards travel expenses. To receive and to retain any funds awarded, awardees must complete all scholarship requirements as well as participate in and complete the entire field school program.
- Must complete both a scholarship application and at least one IFR field program application online.
- Must be accepted into an IFR field school (students do no need to pay the deposit fee to be eligible).
- Must be 18 years old or older on the day the field school begins.
- Minimum GPA 3.0 (equivalent to 80% grade average).
- Current student or recent graduate (in 2022 or 2023) from any institution of higher education (community college, university, etc.) in the United States.
- Students from any major are encouraged to apply.
- Applying to this scholarship does not prevent you from applying to any other IFR scholarship.
- Applicants who have already placed a deposit or paid tuition for an IFR field school are still eligible for the Possibility Scholarship.
Deadline: May 17, 2023 at 11:59pm (Pacific Standard Time).


Vera R. Campbell Promise Scholarship
The Vera R. Campbell Promise Scholarship is dedicated to the support of California State University Los Angeles (CSULA) undergraduate students. CSULA attracts students from local neighborhoods, many coming from economically challenged backgrounds and many the first in their families to attend university. Most have never traveled outside California, let alone the US. This scholarship provides significant funding for selected CSULA students to participate in IFR field schools around the world and across disciplines. This scholarship provides the following benefits:
- Direct financial support of up to $5,000 to offset the cost of attending an IFR field school.
- Mentorship sessions (via video conferencing) with IFR Academic Board members and/or IFR staff so that you get the most out of this field school experience and leverage it for careers, both inside and outside academia.
- Access to a broad system of support that will help you leverage financial, intellectual, academic and community gains to support and advance your long-term life and career goals.
- These scholarships are valid only for IFR field programs. To be considered for this scholarship, students must submit at least one application for a Summer 2023 IFR field school by the scholarship deadline. If a student is awarded a scholarship, in order to receive the award, the student must be admitted to an IFR Summer 2023 program.
- Scholarship awardees are not guaranteed participation in the IFR program of their choice. Placement in an IFR field school is first-come, first-served and programs are filling up quickly for summer 2023. Students are highly encouraged to apply to more than one field school well before the deadline for this scholarship.
- If you apply for the Vera Campbell Scholarship, IFR will waive the application fee for up to two Summer 2023 programs. After you have started an application, please contact IFR staff at admissions@ifrglobal.org for assistance in waiving this application fee before you submit your application.
- To inquire about withdrawal and cancellation policies for Vera Campbell Scholarship applicants and options for securing a place in a program before scholarship awards are announced, please contact admissions@ifrglobal.org.
- Students may apply to all other IFR scholarships, if available. Applying to this scholarship does not prevent students from applying to any other IFR scholarship.
- Late or incomplete applications by the deadline published on this webpage will not be accepted or considered. No exceptions.
Applicants must:
- complete Vera Campbell Promise Scholarship application online and answer all essay questions.
- provide the contact information of one recommender, preferably a faculty member at a university or community college, who will write a recommendation letter for them through the online scholarship application. Another mentor who knows the capabilities and resilience of the applicant may supply a letter if no faculty member is able to write one. Recommendations need to be submitted on or before the scholarship deadline.
- upload an unofficial copy of transcripts showing GPA.
- submit scholarship application on or before the March 19, 2023 deadline at 11:59 PM (PST).
- submit an application for an IFR field school and be admitted to a program in order to receive the scholarship.
- schedule and participate in two mentorship sessions with an IFR Academic Board and/or staff member prior to the field school.
- review and complete all asynchronous materials online.
- schedule and participate in post field school mentorship session(s).
- prepare and record a 5–10-minute presentation about their field school experience and its impact.
- attend the post field school event featuring presentations by awardees.
Each Vera Campbell Promise Scholarship awardee will receive up to $5,000 to help cover the cost of an IFR field school and travel expenses. This scholarship may not be applied to any field school outside those offered by the IFR. If the program tuition is under $5,000, the remaining balance will have a cash value that may be credited towards travel expenses. To receive and to retain any funds awarded, awardees must complete all scholarship requirements as well as participate in and complete the entire field school program.
To be eligible for this scholarship, you must:
- be an undergraduate student or recent graduate (in 2022 or 2023) at California State University Los Angeles (CSULA) in good standing.
- Students of any nationality or major at CSULA may apply.
- have a minimum GPA of 2.7.
- be at least 18 years old by the first day of the field school program.
*Note: Previous Vera Campbell Scholarship awardees are not eligible, but may apply to other IFR scholarship programs, if available.
Deadline: April 8, 2023 at 11:59 PM (Pacific Standard Time).
Watch this tutorial on how to apply!
Vera R. Campbell Promise Scholarship Application Checklist
Follow these steps to apply to the Vera Campbell Scholarship:
Request a recommendation letter from a faculty member or mentor.
Apply online for the Vera Campbell Promise Scholarship. For your application you will need:
Contact information for your recommender.
Unofficial copy of your transcripts.
Funding Search Engines & Directories
NAFSA Financial Aid for Study Abroad Students
NAFSA, the Association of International Educators, has put together an extensive page with federal, state and private grants that support a variety of study abroad program types.
Institute for International Education Study Abroad Funding Directory
The Institute for International Education created a searchable directory that features detailed descriptions of hundreds of study abroad scholarships, fellowships, grants, and paid internships for U.S. undergraduate, graduate and post-graduate students, and professionals.
Maryville University: Scholarships and College Guide for Native American Students
Maryville University has written a blog compiling information on various scholarships for Native Americans, specifically for educational opportunities.
Society for Classical Studies (SCS)/American Philological Association (APA)
Comprehensive listing with multiple scholarships/fellowships available for students pursuing education in Classical studies. Many opportunities for funding travel and excavation for both graduate and undergraduate students.
External Scholarships
The Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program
Application deadline: Thursday, March 9, 2023 at 11:59pm Pacific Time (advisor certification deadline is Thursday, March 16, 2023) for programs that start between May 1, 2023 to April 30, 2024.
The Gilman McCain
Application deadline: Thursday, March 9, 2023 at 11:59pm Pacific Time (advisor certification deadline is Thursday, March 16, 2023) for programs that start between May 1, 2023 to April 30, 2024.
Jane C. Waldbaum Archaeological Field School Scholarship
Application deadline: March 1, 2023.
Sacramento Archaeological Society, Inc. Student Scholarship Site
Application deadline: TBD.
American Schools for Oriental Research (ASOR) Scholarships
Application deadline: TBD.
Fulbright-National Geographic Digital Storytelling Fellowship
Details on the new opportunity will be released later in 2022. Interested applicants should mark “Yes” to “Are you interested in applying to the Fulbright-National Geographic Storytelling Fellowship?” within the Fulbright U.S. Student Study/Research application.
American Center for Oriental Research Jordan
The American Center for Oriental Research in Jordan (ACOR) offers a number of modest fellowships, including the de Vries Fellowship, Groot Memorial Fellowship, Harrell Fellowship, MacDonald & Sampson Fellowship and the Russell Fellowship. These are funded from ACOR’s own endowments, including some for US and Canadian undergraduate students attending field schools in Jordan.
Application deadline: February 1, 2023.
Fund for Education Abroad
Fund for Education Abroad (FEA) provides scholarships and ongoing support to students who are underrepresented among the U.S. study abroad population.
The Esherick-Ye Family Foundation
Application deadline: March 1, 2023.
The Classical Association of the Middle West and South Award
Application deadline: January 30, 2023.
The Leaky Foundation Grant
Application deadline January 10 and July 15, 2023.
Baldwin Fellowships for Students from Developing Countries
Deadline for new applicants: TBD
Deadline for returning applicants: TBD
SAA Native American Scholarships
Scholarships include:
- National Science Foundation Scholarship for Archaeological Training
- SAA Native American Undergraduate Archaeology Scholarship
- SAA Native American Graduate Archaeology Scholarship
- Bertha Parker Cody Award for Native American Women
Opens for applications on January 31, 2023.
Cheryl L. Wase Memorial Scholarship
Opens for applications on January 31, 2023.
Elizabeth Bartman Museum Internship Scholarship
Application deadline: April 1, 2023.
The Sportula: Microgrants for Classics Students
Grants provided by The Sportula are created by classicists for classicists.