Principal Investigator Nasser Rabbat
The Aga Khan Program for Islamic Architecture at MIT accepts applications for Student Travel Grant Awards for Summer and the Independent Activities Period (IAP). Awards are open to all students in the MIT School of Architecture and Urban Planning, especially graduate students preparing theses, or undergraduate students preparing an Optional Senior Thesis.
Proposed research must be primarily focused on some part of the Islamic world or an Islamic community. Comparative research that includes an Islamic topic is acceptable. Theses requiring research in an archive or collection with holdings related to the Islamic world, past or present, are also eligible. At least one award will go to an undergraduate or graduate student who has an internship in an architectural firm or a design-oriented NGO dealing with design or planning projects in some part of the Islamic world.
The maximum for each grant is $2,700. The AKPIA award may be combined with other sources of funding if necessary. AKPIA reserves the right to prorate its award when combined with another grant or fellowship.
There is no formal application form. The application consists of:(1) A preliminary thesis proposal or description of design project(s).(2) Plan of travel and research (dates, places to be visited, specific research to be undertaken, duration, and budget).(3) Letter of support from adviser stating research topic, feasibility of the research, and verification of the need for travel. For design awards, a letter from the hiring person in charge stating project scope, specific duties of student, and conditions of internship (duration, payment, travel) is required.(4) Statement of language proficiency where relevant.(5) Portfolio in the case of a design award or if relevant to research proposal.