Discover Funding Opportunities

The American Institute of Pakistan Studies (AIPS) offers co-sponsorship awards to support institutional members hosting Pakistan-related academic events in the United States. These awards provide financial support of $1,000 to current AIPS Institutional Members organizing conferences and workshops focused on Pakistan studies. The program operates on a rolling application basis, making funding accessible throughout the year. Applications require submission of conference details including title, theme, program agenda, proposed dates, faculty information, and a budget. This initiative supports the advancement of Pakistan studies scholarship and academic exchange within the United States by facilitating scholarly gatherings and collaborative events.

The American Institute of Pakistan Studies (AIPS) Conference Travel Grants fund travel to scholarly conferences for the presentation of papers or organization of panels on topics relevant to Pakistan Studies. All applications undergo a competitive review process consistent with the goals and aims of the organization. Awards have a maximum of $500 per recipient. The grants support attendance at invited conferences or workshops where the applicant is presenting research relevant to Pakistan Studies. International travel to Pakistan is limited to post-doctoral, US citizen applicants for Islamabad and Lahore only, subject to US State Department security restrictions. Applications are reviewed on a quarterly basis with four annual deadlines throughout the year.

The American Institute of Pakistan Studies (AIPS) Book Prize is an annual award recognizing excellence in Pakistan Studies scholarship. The prize is awarded to single-authored monographs relating to Pakistan Studies, defined broadly across all academic disciplines. Books must have been published within the last three years or be soon-to-be published with galleys available. The award recipient receives a monetary prize of $500. This academic book prize welcomes applicants from all disciplines and aims to recognize works that demonstrate depth of research, innovativeness of approach, and potential to attract new scholars to Pakistan Studies. The prize is funded by AIPS unrestricted funds and is not supported by United States federal grant funds. A prize committee evaluates submissions based on research quality, scholarly impact, and writing excellence.

The American Institute of Pakistan Studies (AIPS) offers Senior and Junior Research Fellowships for scholars conducting research related to Pakistan studies. These competitive fellowships support research periods lasting between 2 and 9 months. The program includes two fellowship types: Post-Doctoral Fellowships (Senior) and Pre-Doctoral Fellowships (Junior), with the latter available to PhD candidates who have completed all requirements except the dissertation. Funding for US citizens is provided by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) of the U.S. Department of State through a grant from the Council of American Overseas Research Centers (CAORC). Limited funding for non-US citizens is available through AIPS unrestricted funds. Senior fellows can conduct research in Pakistan (Islamabad and/or Lahore) or in other countries excluding the US. Junior fellows who are US citizens cannot conduct research in Pakistan or the US, while non-US citizen junior fellows can conduct research in Pakistan or other countries but not the US. Fellows conducting research in Islamabad and Lahore are expected to stay in AIPS guesthouses and must complete their fellowship in one continuous trip with no breaks. The program includes stipends determined by the Fellowships Committee based on availability of funds and US State Department rates, along with support for economy airfare, lodging, and other research-related expenses. Fellowship awards cannot be used to replace salary for any applicant. Note: AIPS is not currently accepting applications for fellowships at this time. Interested applicants are advised to check back in November 2026.

The AIPS Pre-Doctoral Fellowship (Junior Fellowship) supports doctoral candidates who have completed all PhD requirements except their dissertation to conduct research related to Pakistan Studies. The fellowship is designed for US-affiliated scholars to conduct research for a period of at least 2 months and less than 9 months. US citizens may conduct research in one or more countries excluding Pakistan and the US, while non-US citizens may conduct research in Pakistan or other countries (but not both simultaneously, and not in the US). The program aims to advance scholarly research on Pakistan and related regional studies. Fellowships are awarded through a competitive review process conducted by a committee of Pakistan Studies scholars and Executive Committee members. The program requires applicants to be AIPS individual members in good standing and affiliated with a US institution. Selected fellows must sign a liability waiver addressing security issues and fellowship terms. AIPS reserves the right to adjust the duration of research based on fund availability. The fellowship supports pre-doctoral researchers at a critical stage of their academic career, enabling them to conduct essential dissertation research. Applications are accepted annually with a standardized online application process. The review process is completed in mid-April with fellowship announcements made by early May each year.