Maison des Sciences de l´Homme Foundation - Louis Dumont Funds Scholarships for research in Social Anthropology

What you get

You will receive 12,000 EUR plus a paid flight for approximately 12 months of long-term fieldwork in social anthropology. This involves living in one place and gathering first-hand material for a monograph (a detailed written study). There is also a smaller grant category worth 2,000 to 3,000 EUR to cover travel and living expenses as part of shorter, exploratory or ongoing projects. The fund is administered by the Fondation Maison des Sciences de l’Homme (FMSH) in Paris. It supports fieldwork abroad, outside the location where you are enrolled.

Who can apply

• Level: You are a Master’s student, PhD student or postdoctoral researcher in anthropology.
• Field of study: Your project is a fieldwork project in the field of social anthropology (anthropology or ethnology).
• Where you study: You are enrolled on a French Master’s or PhD programme. As a postdoctoral researcher, you are affiliated with a French research laboratory.
• Nationality: Applicants of all nationalities are welcome to apply, provided they are resident in France and registered there.
• Training: You already have a sound knowledge of the methods of social anthropology.

How to apply

Please submit your application as a single PDF file (maximum 30 pages) by email to the Fund between early December and 15 February. Please include a covering letter, a detailed CV, an overview of your educational background and a research proposal of between 5 and 10 pages. You may be invited to an interview before the selection committee makes its decision.

How realistic are your chances?

This is a highly selective funding scheme. You must be enrolled at a French university, be working in the field of social anthropology, and propose a serious, long-term fieldwork project; consequently, the pool of eligible applicants is small. As only a handful of grants are awarded each year, a compelling project is more important than a polished CV. If you clearly fit the subject area and submit a clearly defined fieldwork plan, your chances are realistic.