Some potential sources of funding support to participate in archaeological fieldwork are listed below. For additional opportunities, see https://www.bu.edu/archaeology/additional-funding-links/

Archaeological Institute of America (AIA)

AIA Jane C. Waldbaum Archaeological Field School Scholarship

Deadline: March 1, 2025 Announced: In April 2025

Amount: $1,000 per winner

Purpose: Established in 2007 in honor of AIA Honorary President Jane Waldbaum, this scholarship is intended to help students who are planning to participate in archaeological field work for the first time. Students majoring in archaeology or related disciplines are especially encouraged to apply. The Scholarship Fund provides $1000 each to help pay expenses associated with participation in an archaeological field work project (minimum stay one month/4 weeks).

Eligibility:

  • The scholarship is open to students who have begun their junior year of undergraduate studies at the time of application and have not yet completed their first year of graduate school at a college or university in the United States or Canada.
  • Applicants must be at least 18 years old and must not have previously participated in archaeological field work of any kind. The committee will consider both academic achievement and financial need in its deliberations.
  • AIA scholarships are open to students from all backgrounds. Minority and disadvantaged students are encouraged to apply.

For more information, please contact the Fellowships Coordinator at Fellowships@archaeological.org.

The Waldbaum Scholarship will be awarded to junior and senior undergraduates and first-year graduate students only.

Click here to make a gift in support of the Waldbaum Scholarship.

Contact: Fellowship Coordinator fellowships@archaeological.org

Information about other AIA grants and awards can be found at https://www.archaeological.org/programs/professionals/grants-awards/

AIA Elizabeth Bartman Museum Internship

Deadline: April 1, 2025

Amount: $1,000 – $4,000

Purpose: A scholarship established in honor of AIA Honorary President Elizabeth Bartman to assist advanced undergraduates, graduate students, or those who have recently completed a master’s degree with the expenses associated with participating in a museum internship either in the United States or abroad.

The internship fund is intended to help advanced undergraduates, graduate students, or those who have recently completed a master’s degree, in Archaeology or a related field (e.g., Anthropology, Art History, Classics, History, etc.) meet expenses associated with undertaking a museum internship (minimum duration a summer or semester). Specific projects will vary and might include the following: collection cataloguing, provenance or archival research, exhibition preparation, the writing of labels and/or didactic panels, assisting with websites and presentations in other media, such as audio guides and exhibition videos, and participating more broadly in museum activities, working with conservators, art handlers, designers, and other museum professionals.

The committee will consider academic achievement, past experience (or lack thereof), and financial need in its deliberations. AIA scholarships are open to students from all backgrounds. Students from historically marginalized communities are encouraged to apply.

Requirements: Applicants are not required to be members of the AIA at the time of application. Successful applicants will receive a one-year complimentary student membership to the AIA. Applicants must be enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate program in Archaeology or a related field. Please note that all application materials (including references and transcripts, and the online application form below) must be received at the AIA by the April 1 deadline. Awards are contingent on confirmation of acceptance by a host institution. At the conclusion of the internship tenure, the recipient is required to submit a report on the use of the award to AIA Headquarters (directed to David DeVore). Within two years of tenure of the internship, the recipient is also expected to submit an abstract to the Program for the Annual Meeting Committee, in order to be considered for participation in the AIA Annual Meeting.

ASOR (American Society of Overseas Research) Fieldwork Participation Fellowships

In the summer of 2007, ASOR renewed its emphasis on providing funding scholarships that enable individuals to participate in fieldwork in Western Asia and the wider Mediterranean, and also by awarding grants to support the archaeological projects themselves. Since 2007, ASOR has awarded well over $1 million to more than 900 researchers and students with project grants, fieldwork scholarships, travel scholarships, and other research fellowships. In 2025, ASOR plans to award over $250,000 in scholarships, fellowships, and grants.

Application Deadline: February 24, 2025

Universal Application Form (for all scholarships)

Guidelines: What do I need to apply for a scholarship?

Scholarships Available in 2025: (Apply for all using the universal application form above. All scholarships support participation on ASOR-affiliated projects.)

  • BIPOC Scholarships for Fieldwork Participation: BIPOC Scholarships for fieldwork participation are made possible through an endowment that was established by many generous donors who contributed to ASOR’s Diversity Initiatives campaign in 2020 and 2021. Six scholarships of $2,000 each will be awarded to African American or Indigenous people of color for the summer of 2025.

Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program

The U.S. Department of State’s Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship is a grant program that enables students of limited financial means to study or intern abroad, thereby gaining skills critical to our national security and economic competitiveness. The Gilman Scholarship Program is open to U.S. citizen undergraduate students who are receiving Federal Pell Grant funding at a two-year or four-year college or university to participate in study and intern abroad programs worldwide.

Center for American Archeology: Women in Archeology Scholarship

The Center for American Archeology offers merit-based scholarships for women students to attend either the High School Field School or the Adult Field School. These scholarships are made possible through a generous grant from the Monticello College Foundation in Godfrey, Illinois.

Scholarships cover a portion of tuition. Scholarship recipients are responsible for their remaining tuition balance, travel expenses, and personal spending money. Awards are determined by review of the Statement of Interest and teacher recommendations (as appropriate for program). Award amount varies by applicant; we hope to assist as many women as possible.

Please Note: WIA Scholarships are available only for those applying to the CAA’s field schools.

Questions: If you have any questions, please contact the CAA at education@caa-archeology.org or 618-653-4316 for more information.

Center for Field Sciences Sun Duck Scholarship

The Center for Field Sciences is offering four individual $1,500 Sun Duck scholarships to help cover the cost of any field school in our 2025 offering. The Sun Duck scholarships are designed to support students with demonstrated financial need so to reduce barriers for entry to academic archaeology and/or the Cultural Resource Management sector. While focusing on financial need, a minimum level of merit is required. This scholarship has no cash value and will only be used to cover a portion of a CSF field school tuition.

Application Deadline: March 7, 2025 at 5:00 pm Pacific Time

Award Decision: March 21, 2025 at 5:00 pm Pacific Time

Eligibility

  • Must be enrolled as a student in an academic institution (undergraduate or graduate level) or have completed a BA/BS degree the past three years or an MA/MS degree in the past two years.
  • Must be at least 18 years old on the day the field school begins.
  • Must have a minimum GPA of 3.0 (a B or 80% average in none US based academic systems).
  • Students from any major may apply.
  • Students from any country may apply – you DO NOT need to be a US Citizen.
  • Must apply and be admitted to a CFS field school. No need to pay the nonrefundable deposit to be eligible for this scholarship.
  • Must complete and submit the Sun Duck scholarship application.

Requirements

  • Apply, and be admitted to any CFS 2025 field school.
  • Complete Sun Duck scholarship application and answer all essay questions.
  • Upload unofficial copy of transcripts showing GPA.
  • Upload your latest FAFSA application. If you are not a US Citizen, upload tax records showing your/your family financial status.
  • Submit application on time.

Institute for Field Research Scholarships

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.

The Vera R. Campbell Promise Scholarship supports undergraduate students attending higher education institutions in Los Angeles County, CA to participate in IFR field schools. Priority is given to first-generation college students with demonstrated financial need.

This scholarship provides:

  • Direct financial support of up to $5,000 towards the cost of attending an IFR field school.
  • One-on-one mentorship sessions with IFR Academic Board members and/or IFR staff before and after the field school.

Scholarship Application Deadline: March 15, 2024 Priority Deadline: March 1, 2024

Phi Kappa Phi Study Abroad Grants

Phi Kappa Phi Study Abroad Grants are designed to help support undergraduates as they seek knowledge and experience in their academic fields by studying abroad. Seventy-five $1,000 grants are awarded each year. Applicants do not have to be Society members but must attend an institution with an active Phi Kappa Phi chapter.

Dec. 15, 2024: Application portal opens

March 15, 2025: Application deadline

May 1, 2025: Recipients will be notified

May 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026: Study Abroad program must begin during this time

Eligibility

You are eligible to apply if you meet ALL of the following:

  • you are an undergraduate attending an institution with an active Phi Kappa Phi chapter;
  • you have a cumulative grade point average of 3.75 or higher on a 4.0 scale.
  • your study abroad program begins between May 1, 2025, and June 30, 2026;
  • you have applied to or been accepted into an accredited study abroad program before the session deadline and provide a letter of acceptance or a letter confirming your application, on official letterhead, as part of your application.
  • you are not a sitting Phi Kappa Phi board member, divisional vice president, member of the Study Abroad Award committee or Society employee at time of application.

Society for American Archaeology Scholarships:

SAA Native American Scholarships Fund

Open for applications. The application deadline is January 31, 2025.

2025 SAA Native American Scholarships Application

If you have any questions about the application process, please email amy_rutledge@saa.org.

The Native American Scholarships endowment fund was established in 1988 to foster a sense of shared purpose and positive interaction between archaeologists and Native Americans. Since 1998, the SAA has used endowment income to award the Arthur C. Parker Scholarship. In 2009, the Society added two new awards to support undergraduate and graduate education in archaeology. These scholarships are funded through individual donations, a silent auction held at the SAA Annual Meeting, and external grants. The following competitive scholarships are currently offered:

  • SAA Arthur C. Parker Scholarship for Archaeological Training for Native Americans supports archaeological training for Native Americans who are students or employees of tribal, Alaska Native, or Native Hawaiian cultural preservation programs. Amount award is variable. Any form of archaeological training may be funded, not just limited to field schools. Learn more about Arthur C. Parker (1881–1955). (One available for 2025)
  • SAA Native American Undergraduate Archaeology Scholarship supports undergraduate studies for Native American students. For 2024, funding includes: tuition, travel, food, housing, books, supplies, equipment, family and dependent care, medical expenses, on-line archival research costs, and archaeology related analysis costs. Amount awarded is up to $6,000 with one scholarship available each year. (One available for 2025)
  • SAA Native American Graduate Archaeology Scholarship supports graduate studies for Native American students. For 2024, funding includes: tuition, travel, food, housing, books, supplies, equipment, family and dependent care, medical expenses, on-line archival research costs, and archaeology related analysis costs. Amount awarded is up to $10,000 with one scholarship available each year. (One available for 2025)
  • Bertha Parker Cody Award for Native American Women supports undergraduate and graduate studies, including but not limited to tuition, travel, food, housing, books, supplies, equipment, and child care. All Native American, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian women, including gender non-conforming individuals, who are undergraduate or graduate students in the fields of archaeology and museum studies, are eligible for this award. This award is partially funded by the Autry Museum of the American West. One scholarship available each year. Learn more about Bertha Parker Cody. (1907–1978). (One available for 2025)

Eligibility: Scholarships are open to all Native peoples from anywhere in the Americas, Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians, and Indigenous Pacific Islanders. See scholarship descriptions above for any other eligibility requirements.

SAA Historically Underrecognized Student Archaeology Scholarships

Open for applications. The application deadline is January 31 2025.
The online application will open by mid-October 2024.

2025 HUSAS Application

2025 HUSAS Online Application

If you have any questions about the application process, please email amy_rutledge@saa.org.

The Historically Underrecognized Student Archaeology Scholarships (formerly the Historically Underrepresented Groups Scholarship) endowment fund was established in 2010 to increase recruitment and retention of underrepresented minorities obtaining degrees in archaeology. Embracing diversity in heritage and narratives is key to understanding the past. However, minority groups have long been underrepresented and marginalized in American archaeology, creating an imbalance with consequences, not only in research goals and interpretations, but also in communication with diverse publics. Since 2015, the SAA has used the endowment to help minority students enhance their education and successfully prepare for careers in archaeology and heritage management. The Society along with the Minority Scholarship Committee is committed to the inclusion of under-represented minorities in archaeology. Support for these scholarships comes from individual donations and corporate partnerships. The following competitive scholarships are currently offered:

  • For Undergraduate Students supports archaeological training or participation in a research program for undergraduate minority students, including but not limited to tuition, travel, food, housing, books, supplies, equipment, and childcare. Any form of archaeological training during the summer may be funded, not just limited to field schools. Amount awarded is up to $3,000 with one to two scholarships available each year.
  • For Graduate Students supports archaeological training or participation in a research program for graduate minority students, including but not limited to tuition, travel, food, housing, books, supplies, equipment, and childcare. Any form of archaeological training during the summer may be funded, not just limited to field schools. Amount awarded is up to $3,000 with one to two scholarships available each year.

Eligibility*

To apply for a scholarship, the following criteria must be met:

  • You must be a member of historically underrepresented minorities in archaeology, including but not restricted to African American, Hispanic/Latino, Asian American, and other non European minorities.
  • You must be a resident of either the United States or Canada.
  • At the time of application, you must be enrolled in a regionally accredited university in the United States or Canada or, if outside the United States, a university with equivalent accreditation.
  • If the applicant is a graduate student, s/he must be in their first or second year of graduate studies and may not have an MA/MS degree at the time of application.

Please note: Native Americans, Alaskan Natives, or Native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders are encouraged to apply to the Native American Scholarships program for parallel funding opportunities.

SAA Matthew Tobin Cappetta Archaeological Scholarship Endowment

Open for applications. The application deadline is January 31.
Please see the guidelines for instructions on preparing your application.
Cappetta Scholarship Guidelines 2025 v1

2025 Matthew Tobin Cappetta Online Application

If you have any questions about the application process, please email amy_rutledge@saa.org.

The Matthew Tobin Cappetta Archaeological Scholarship provides funding for graduate students studying archaeology or ethnoarchaeology of the American Southwest and the South American Andes. Students working in other American regions, whether they are from the United States or other countries, will be considered if their research involves significant collaboration with Indigenous peoples. The scholarship covers tuition, course fees, and books or course materials for graduate-level classroom and field-based courses in anthropology, with emphasis in archaeology or ethnoarchaeology. It also supports travel to attend field schools or directed study projects that lead to research papers, reports, journal articles, or advanced field research. Both Masters and Doctoral students are encouraged to apply. Amount awarded is variable with four scholarships available each year.

Matthew Tobin Cappetta was an archaeologist who spent a decade in the American Southwest, working with Native American tribes on archaeological sites. He instilled trust and humor in those around him. Matthew intended to attend graduate school to get advanced training in archaeology before his tragic death in 2019. His parents, Patricia and Les Cappetta, established an endowment in his name to honor his memory and lifelong passion for archaeology that will support, in perpetuity, other aspiring archaeology students to attend graduate school and achieve their dreams of becoming professional archaeologists. They hope that others will be inspired to contribute to the endowment. To make your donation, visit the Cappetta Scholarship Donation page.

Learn more about Matthew Tobin Cappetta.

Eligibility

To apply for a Matthew Tobin Scholarship, the following criteria must be met.

  • You need to be enrolled in a graduate program (MA or PhD) in a university accredited by the country in which you reside.
  • You should be conducting advanced study of the archaeology/ethnoarchaeology of the US Southwest and the South American Andes, which are the two regions that most impacted Matthew’s life.
  • Students working in other American regions, whether those students are from the United States or other countries, will be considered if their research involves significant collaboration with Indigenous peoples of those regions.
  • You can receive the award in subsequent years, but you must reapply each year because this is a single-year grant.
  • You must have a cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0.

The Matthew Tobin Cappetta Scholarship Committee strongly encourages applications from students who are affiliated with historically underrepresented groups.

SAA Ofer Bar-Yosef Scholarship

Open for applications. The application deadline is January 31, 2025.
Please read the guidelines for information on preparing your application.

Ofer Bar-Yosef Scholarship Guidelines 2025

2025 Ofer Bar-Yosef Online Application

If you have any questions about the application process, please email natalie.munro@uconn.edu.

The Ofer Bar-Yosef Scholarship for Advanced Doctoral Students in Old World Prehistory

The Bar-Yosef family created the Ofer Bar-Yosef Scholarship to honor and celebrate the life and remarkable archaeological career of Professor Ofer Bar-Yosef. Professor Bar-Yosef’s research made foundational contributions to our understanding of human evolution and cultural development from the Lower Paleolithic to the development of Neolithic farming economies and sedentary villages, and geographically spanned the entire Old World from Western Europe to China.

The Ofer Bar-Yosef Scholarship acknowledges and supports excellence among advanced graduate students pursuing a doctoral degree on some facet of prehistoric archaeology in the Old World. The scholarship is intended for students who have already completed their coursework and all other requirements for the doctoral degree except the dissertation itself (research and/or writing). The Ofer Bar-Yosef Scholarship is given specifically to facilitate completion of the applicant’s doctoral degree. The scholarship is open to students whose research focuses on Paleolithic, Mesolithic, or Neolithic archaeology (or their broadly equivalent temporal or cultural manifestations) in Europe, Asia, Africa, or Australia. The goal is to help promising advanced students to produce superlative dissertations in these fields.

Eligibility and Who Can Apply:

  • Any advanced graduate student enrolled and in good standing in a PhD-granting program, regardless of home country and nationality of the applicant.
  • The applicant must be a student of prehistoric archaeology or a closely related discipline who is conducting research in Eurasia, Africa, or Australia on archaeological sites/materials dating to the Pleistocene or early Holocene.
  • At the time of applying for the scholarship the student must have: (1) already completed all coursework and other requirements (e.g., languages, statistics, etc.) for the doctoral degree except the dissertation itself; (2) a designated principal advisor or supervisor; and (3) an approved dissertation proposal or prospectus.

What the Scholarship Can Be Used to Cover:

The Scholarship is a one-time only award of $5,000 that can be used to cover field and/or laboratory expenses, as well as basic living expenses while writing the dissertation. The funds must not be used for purchases of permanent equipment, or for the main stages of excavation and data collection.

Fund for Education Abroad

The mission of the Fund for Education Abroad (FEA) is to provide scholarships and ongoing support to students who are underrepresented among the US study abroad population. FEA makes life-changing, international experiences accessible to all by supporting minority and first-generation college students before, during, and after they participate in education abroad programs. Application Open! The Summer, Fall, and Academic Year 2025-2026 application cycle is accepting applications until February 5, 2025 at 12pm (noon) Eastern Time. We are unable to accept late applications.

Additional Fellowship and Grant Opportunities:

Graduate Arts Research Grants | BU Arts Initiative | Deadline: Dec 20, 2024
Research Fellowship | The Wolfsonian | Deadline: Dec 31, 2024

Short-Term Fellowships | Newberry Library | Deadline: Jan 3, 2025

Research Fellowships | Smith College Special Collections | Deadline: Jan 3, 2025

Residential Fellowship | Yale Center for British Art | Deadline: Jan 6, 2025

Fellowships | Clements Library | Deadline: Jan 15, 2025

Fellowships | Winterthur | Deadline: Jan 15, 2025
Fellowships & Travel Grants | Science History Institute | Deadline: Jan 15, 2025

Short-Term Fellowship | American Antiquarian Society | Deadline: Jan 15, 2025

Scholarships for Undergrads | Boren Awards | Deadline: Jan 29, 2025

Fellowships for Grad Students | Boren Awards | Deadline: Jan 22, 2025

Research Fellowship | New England Fellowship Consortium | Deadline: Feb 1, 2025