UNDERGRADUATE OPPORTUNITIES

Kellogg International Scholars Program

Conduct RESEARCH in Africa, Asia, and Latin America

Gain RESOURCES to prepare you and fund your research

Build RELATIONSHIPS with faculty and peers

 

The Kellogg Institute for International Studies offers selected students the opportunity to learn how to do research through one-on-one mentorship with a Kellogg faculty fellow and allows students to engage with an intellectual peer community as well as a well-established alumni network to access opportunities students might not otherwise encounter.
 

ISP Spotlights

 

Description

The Kellogg Institute for International Studies offers selected students the opportunity to learn how to do research through one-on-one mentorship with a Kellogg faculty fellow and allows students to engage with an intellectual peer community as well as a well-established alumni network to access opportunities students might not otherwise encounter. The program is designed to bring highly talented and intellectually motivated students with an interest in international studies into the activities of the Institute. Students gain research skills and meet scholars and practitioners from around the world with a goal of completing their own research project in their senior year.

Entering the program after their first year, students develop their research skills by working as a research assistant with a faculty member associated with the Kellogg Institute. During this time, students focus on developing their research skills and gain a greater understanding of their own research interests.  In the junior year, students may choose a new faculty member with whom to work or continue with the same faculty member.  Students also begin to develop the details for a senior thesis or capstone project. As they develop their own research interests, students can apply for summer grants and fellowships of up to $6000 to cover expenses to do research in the summer. Fellowships are available for sophomores through the Experiencing the World Fellowships and for juniors through the Kellogg/Kroc Undergraduate Research grants. 

During the senior year, students write a senior thesis or capstone project on an international issue under the direction of a Notre Dame faculty member. Students may also continue to do research with their faculty fellow.

Opportunities

Kellogg International Scholars not only have direct access to Kellogg faculty fellows but also to Kellogg events. The Institute hosts prominent scholars and politicians from around the world through its lecture series and conferences. Special opportunities for Kellogg International Scholars to meet with Kellogg visitors and fellows are made available through dinners and meetings.

The community of Kellogg International Scholars is an important part of the program. Younger students in the program gain knowledge about ND programs and classes from upperclassmen. Students also have the opportunity to network with alumni of the program to learn about internships and gain career advice.

Funding

Kellogg International Scholars are compensated for the research they conduct for fellows. As a research assistant to a faculty fellow, students have the opportunity to work up to 225 hours per year, for which they are paid a stipend of $17.00 per hour. Hours are scheduled with the Kellogg faculty member to whom the student is assigned to work so all hours can be scheduled around classes. Some of these hours may be worked over the summer.

National Fellowships

Since its establishment in 2003, the Kellogg International Scholars Program has drawn high achieving students who have been honored through many fellowships and awards. Many International Scholars have been awarded Fulbrights, Boren Fellowships, the Gilman Scholarship, as well as the Truman Scholarship. Kellogg International Scholars were named Rhodes Scholars in 2014, 2015, 2017 and for 2022.  See the full list of award recipients.

Application

Students who would like to apply for this program should be in excellent academic standing and should be completing their freshman year of study. To learn more, click on the “Application” tab above.

Program Selection 

Each year, a limited number of students will be selected for this program through a highly selective process. Faculty recommendations, student interests, and academic records will all contribute to the selection process. Priority will be given to applicants who have already identified, and been recommended by, a Kellogg faculty fellow with whom they would like to work. Interested students should contact Program Manager Rachel Thiel with questions about the program.

2025 Deadline: Thursday, April 3, 2025

 

Application

Students who would like to apply for this program should be in excellent academic standing and should be completing their first year of study.

Faculty
Students applying for this program must seek out a faculty member with whom to work prior to submitting the application. If a faculty member agrees to work with the student, students should ask the faculty member to send an email to Holly Rivers (hrivers@nd.edu) indicating this.

Through this program, students may work with Kellogg Faculty (click here for a full listing).

To apply for the Kellogg International Scholars Program, please go to the online application page. You can login to the application system using your Notre Dame credentials. Before sending questions to the program administrators, please review the online application form.

2025 Deadline: Thursday, April 3, 2025

 

When you log in, you will be asked to submit the following documents:

  • A short essay (2-3 pages, double-spaced, 12pt. font) explaining your interests in international studies, your research interests and why you would like to be in the program.
  • A résumé
  • A letter of recommendation -The name and email address of a Notre Dame faculty member whom you have asked to write a letter of recommendation. Please request the letter from your faculty recommender several weeks ahead of the deadline, and please inform him/her that the email will come from Submittable.
  • An e-transcript. Please be sure to include current courses. (Click here for instructions on requesting an e-transcript.)
     

Personal interviews may be required of applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the program.

Inquiries about the program or the status of an application can be submitted to Rachel Thiel at rthiel@nd.edu or 631-4846.

APPLY

 

Students who are completing their first year and who possess strong international interests will be considered each year for this program. The program recognizes that freshmen are only beginning to determine their majors and research interests. As a result, students will have the opportunity to work with several faculty fellows throughout their years in the program.
 

Sophomores

Students should consider the sophomore year a time to dedicate to developing research skills. The research of the student's first faculty adviser may or may not directly relate to the student's interests but students will gain valuable skills and will begin to develop their own research interests. Sophomores will make a one- semester commitment to their first faculty adviser. Depending on the project deadlines of the faculty adviser and the students' interests, students may choose to work with a different faculty adviser during the spring semester. During the spring semester, students should consider applying for an Experiencing the World (ETW) Fellowship to receive funds to carry out research abroad during the summer. Sophomores who have previously received an ETW Fellowship may apply for a second Experiencing the World Fellowship with permission from Holly Rivers. Sophomores should request approval at least a month in advance of the deadline.
 

Juniors

During the junior year, students may continue to work with a faculty adviser from the sophomore year or may choose to work with a new faculty member. Students should also begin to develop their research ideas for their senior thesis during this year. Many students will choose to participate in a study abroad program as juniors and all students are encouraged to do so. Depending on the relationship built with the faculty adviser and the research he/she is conducting, it may be possible for the student to continue to work with the faculty adviser during the study abroad experience. Juniors may apply for funding to conduct research abroad during the summer through the Kellogg/Kroc Undergraduate Research Grants Program.
 

Seniors

Most seniors will write a thesis or capstone essay on an international topic under the direction of a Notre Dame faculty member. (The thesis or capstone essay is written in the student's major or minor department.) Students interested in continuing to do research for their faculty adviser during the senior year will have the option to continue research and to be paid. Students should indicate their intent to continue working with their faculty adviser during the senior year on the reapplication submitted in April.

Fall 2024 Meetings

  • Sophomore Orientation
    Monday, August 26, 4:00pm 
    1030 Jenkins and Nanovic Halls

  • Wednesday, August 28, 5:30pm
    Auditorium and Courtyard, Hesburgh Center for International Studies 

  • Monday, September 23, 6:30pm
    Hesburgh Center Room C103

  • Monday, November 4, 6:30pm
    Hesburgh Center Room C103
    Register

Alumni Virtual Talks
Schedule and Alumni Attending:  

  • Monday, Oct. 28 @ 5:00pm
    Annie Foley ‘22, Analyst, US Government
  • Tuesday, Oct. 29 @ 5:00pm
    Alex Coccia ‘14, Senior Policy Analyst, Center for the Study of Social Policy (CSSP)
  • Wednesday, Oct. 30 @ 5:00pm
    Sean Long ‘15, JD Student, Georgetown University Law Center; MPP Student, Harvard Kennedy School
Check-In Report

Scholars are responsible for ensuring that they complete mid-term and end of the semester reports. These reports are necessary in order to track scholar progress and report to funder. Report

2024-25 Due Dates:

Wednesday, October 16

Wednesday, December 11

Wednesday, March 5

Reapplication - Wednesday, April 30 - Reapplication Form

 

 

Trainings/Workshops

Students can develop their research skills through a variety of trainings and workshops across campus. Below are several resources available to undergraduate students.

 

Conferences | Funding Opportunities | Publications

Conferences

Kellogg International Scholars may apply for funding up to $1500 to present their research at and/or attend domestic conferences or to present at international conferences. The conference should have a clear relation to the student’s academic program at Notre Dame.

In order to have their conference application considered, students should send the following information by email to Rachel Thiel:  the name of the conference and link to the conference website, the dates and location of the conference, and whether or not the student is presenting at the conference. Based on the information provided, a meeting may be required before the student can submit his or her application. Proposals must be submitted  by email to Rachel Thiel at least 5 weeks in advance of the conference and should include the Conference Funding Requirements listed below.

Students may receive up to two conference grants per academic year.

Conference Funding Requirements:

  • A two-page proposal that includes a brief conference description (one paragraph), a web link for the conference, justification for attendance, and an explanation of how the student will utilize his or her time at the conference (the more specific, the better).
  • A budget
  • A statement of support from your ISP faculty adviser, sent directly from the adviser to Rachel Thiel

Can be submitted with application or after acceptance:

  • Students applying to present at an international conference are required to register their travel with Notre Dame Global and purchase GeoBlue insurance coverage. Students will need to submit several documents to the Kellogg Institute to demonstrate that these requirements have been met in order for funding to be released. Students interested in this option should meet with Rachel Thiel before submitting an international proposal.
  • Students who are attending but not presenting at a conference will be required to consult with a graduate student which can be found at the bottom of this page, about how to best utilize their time at a conference and submit a one-page document based on that conversation. The document should include the graduate student's name and department. (Note that you are not limited to this group.) Funding will not be released until this document is submitted.

Students may not miss any classes while using funding from the Kellogg Institute.

Students must accept the award in writing no later than three business days after receipt of the award letter and fulfill several requirements once awarded before the Kellogg Institute can process funding. The Kellogg Institute will initiate a check request once students accept the award and turn in the required paperwork. (Note that all paperwork must be completed one week before the conference for funding to remain available to the student.)

Funded students must submit a follow-up article to be posted on the website, describing what they gained from the experience. The Conference Follow-Up Form should be submitted to Rachel Thiel within two weeks of return.

 
Campus Conferences

Edith Stein Project (early Spring): The Identity Project of Notre Dame hosts its annual Edith Stein project conference on masculine and feminine human dignity within the context of the Catholic Church. Faculty, students, and members of the larger community are invited to present research and join in the dialogue on issues of faith and culture. For more information visit https://edithsteinprojectnd.weebly.com/

Human Development Conference (Spring): This conference hosted by the Ford Family Program in Human Development Studies and Solidarity brings together students from Notre Dame as well as other universities in the US and abroad to share their research experiences and perspectives on human development. For more information, visit http://kellogg.nd.edu/hdc

Notre Dame Student Peace Conference (Spring): The Student Peace Conference hosted by the Joan B. Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies is planned by undergraduate students at Notre Dame. It provides students from across the country with a forum to explore issues of peace and social change and to present their research on these topics.https://sites.nd.edu/peacecon/

Off Campus Conferences

United States Air Force Academy Assembly
African Studies Association Meeting
The American Anthropological Association’s Annual Meeting
American Association for Chinese Studies Annual Conference
American Conference for Irish Studies
American Economic Association’s Annual Meeting
American Historical Association Annual Meeting
The Asian Conference on the Social Sciences
Association of Celtic Students Conference
Eastern Economic Association Conference
Global Forum on Health Promotion
Haitian Studies Association Conference
Human Trafficking and Social Justice Conference
Global Development Conference
Latin American Studies Association Conference (LASA)
National Collegiate Research Conference (NCRC)
Society for Research in Child Development
Society for Applied Anthropology’s Annual Meeting
Southern Economic Association’s Annual Meeting
Student Conference on US Affairs
UNICEF UK Baby Friendly Initiative
United Nations Climate Change Conference
United Nations International Conference on Sustainable Development
United Nations Sustainable Development Summit
UNC Water & Health Conference
Western Political Science Association Conference


Funding Opportunities

The following resources are available to International Scholars. When applying for funding, be sure to meet with the administrator of that program before submitting an application.

Fellowships
Internships
Language Study Grants
Research Grants
Publications for Undergraduate Research

Below are a few examples of journals that publish undergraduate work. Feel free to send Kellogg information that should be added to this list.

Campus Journals

Journal of Undergraduate Research: The Journal of Undergraduate Research features original scholarship by students from all departments in the College of Arts and Letters and is peer-reviewed by an undergraduate student editorial board. Submissions are accepted through January. For more information visit http://www.nd.edu/~ujournal/

Through Gendered Lenses: Through Gendered Lenses is published annually by the Gender Studies Honor Society and features undergraduate research on issues of gender. For more information visit https://genderstudies.nd.edu/undergraduate/student-opportunities/triota/through-gendered-lenses/

Scientia: Scientia is a student-run online publication that aims to provide a forum through which students can contribute to the advancement of Notre Dame’s scientific community through original research and writing. Submissions are accepted on a rolling basis, and a print copy is produced annually. For more information visit http://science.nd.edu/research/undergraduate-research/scientia/

Off Campus Journals

The journals below offer scholars the opportunity to learn about research produced by undergraduates around the country.

The Council on Undergraduate Research provides a fairly lengthy list of journals that publish undergraduate research. These journals represent a variety of institutions. For the list of journals visit http://www.cur.org/publications/curquarterly/  | https://www.cur.org/type-of-submission/undergraduate-journal/

Columbia University Journal of Politics and Society

Issues in Political Economy

Aporia (Philosophy)

Undergraduate Research Journal for Human Sciences

Search and engage with ISP Alumni ​​​​​​

Alumni Page

 

Kellogg hosted the first ISP Reunion in September 2017

REUNION PAGE

 

Kellogg International Scholars

News