FMS Research Grant

• DEADLINE: Fall 5 p.m. October 1, 2025. Spring 5 p.m. February 15, 2026
• All undergraduate and graduate students majoring in Film & Media Studies are eligible to apply.
• Students may receive up to $1,500.
• Students must have a faculty sponsor.
• As part of the project, students must include a public component such as a performance, exhibition, screening, or presentation - appropriate to the discipline of the project.
• Proposals will be reviewed by the FMS Faculty & Staff, who will make the final funding decisions.
• Notification of awards will be made by October 15th (Fall), and March 1 (Spring).

Questions? See our FAQ or contact Rhiannon Cusolito.

The Film & Media Studies Research Project Grant Application is an online form. You will be asked to provide

1. Your name, student ID, and contact info.
2. Project title.
3. A proposal not to exceed four single-spaced pages. This should be prepared in advance and uploaded when you complete the online form. -- You are welcome to include script, shooting schedule, break downs, pictures, video, etc.
4. A proposed budget explaining how the grant funds will be spent.
5. The name and email of your faculty sponsor from whom we can request a letter of reference.
6. If you have previously received a research grant from Film & Media Studies, please include a section of your proposal summarizing what was accomplished under the previous grant and explain how the current project differs from the earlier one.

Applications for Film & Media Studies Research Project Grants are due by Fall 5 p.m. October 1, 2025. Spring 5 p.m. February 15, 2025

1. Do I need to have a major in Film & Media Studies, or can this be a minor with a major in another School? Also, can I be employed by Film & Media Studies but majoring in another area?
   
   You must be a major in Film & Media Studies in order to be eligible. Unfortunately, grant funding will not include majors in other departments with a minor/employment in Film & Media Studies.
    
2. Can I apply for the grant if I'm graduating in May?
   
   You must be enrolled during the time period of award including the completion of the project. You are eligible if you are graduating in May. However, you must complete the project prior to Stop Day in the Spring semester.
    
3. What semesters do I need to be enrolled for in order to be eligible for the grant?
   
   As above, you must be enrolled when you apply and during the time you carry out the project. However, we do not require that the student be enrolled full time during the summer semester. 
    
4. How many hours do I need to be enrolled in to be eligible for a grant?
   
   You must be enrolled full time (at least 12 credits for undergraduates; at least 6 credits for graduate students). If you think an exception should be made, or if you have questions about the number of credit hours or your eligibility, please contact Rhiannon Cusolito.
    
5. How many grants will be awarded?
   
   Funding is available for approximately 4 grants each semester. The total number of grants awarded depends on the quality of proposals we receive.
    
6. Do I choose the Faculty Advisor? If so, does the faculty member have to be from my area or emphasis? 
   
   You choose the faculty member who will act as your Faculty Advisor. The faculty member does not have to be in your area or emphasis, but they will need to be in Film & Media Studies.
    

7. When does the project need to be completed?

   You need to complete the project by Stop Day of each semester.
    

8. Is this a group project?
   
   This is not a group project, because one person is applying for funding and is, ultimately, responsible for seeing that the project is completed and documented. The applicant must hold a key position in the project being proposed, including producer, director or screenwriter. 
    

9. When will I receive notification of award? 

   Notification of awards will be made by October 15th (Fall), and March 1st (Spring).
    

10. Will the grant be applied to any fines or tuition that I have not paid?
    
    You must pay any fines or tuition that you owe the University before the award of this grant. However, we are working with the KU Budget Office make sure that the award of this grant does not penalize students on federal assistance by raising the cost of attendance.
     
11. Do you have any tips for writing the proposal?
    
    Yes! Please see our Grant Writing Tips section for information relevant to these proposals.
     
12. What if I have a question that is not listed here?
    
    Please contact Rhiannon Cusolito in the Department of Film & Media Studies.

Explaining the purpose of a film/media project and submitting written proposals are essential parts of film and media production. We hope the advice and pointers below help you write an application that clearly represents your proposal and addresses the necessary material for a full and fair evaluation by the Review Committee. These pointers assume you already have a general topic that connects to a theme, such as ‘How X impacts a local neighborhood’, ‘The story of X community’, or ‘Engaging audiences in X.’ They also assume you have a specific research proposal within that topic, such as making a fiction film about a first-year law student or producing a podcast about a flag football team in Kansas.

Advice Pointers:

Write sincerely about why you are interested in this topic.

• Briefly describe your personal history with the topic. Be specific about what first drew you to it and what has sustained your interest.
• Alternatively, connect this interest to experiences in your KU education (such as coursework, seminar discussions, recommended texts, exhibitions, or field trips).
• Reflect on how your life experiences have shaped your perspective on the topic.

Write plainly about what you will do in your project.

• State clearly what you plan to do in your proposal.
• Provide a descriptive list of your proposed activities.
• Consider adding a timeline to make your plan more concrete and convincing.

Write about why this is a significant proposal.

• Tell the Committee why this is an important proposal for you at this time.
• Describe its importance for the University community, especially its scholarly or creative value.
• Use quotations or references to texts and other resources to show the scholarly or artistic significance of your topic.

Write clearly about how you intend to exhibit the results of your project and its intended audiences.

• The public component is an important part of completing the work. It helps you gain valuable insights into the creative and scholarly process and allows you to engage an audience, which is central to the arts.
• You do not need to have the precise plans for the public component in your proposal. Your faculty sponsor should work with you to finalize these arrangements as part of the project. However, you should develop several concrete ideas for what you intend to do and how much it will cost. 

In a concluding paragraph, write imaginatively about what results you expect and how you will reflect on the outcomes of your project.

• Tell the Committee what new knowledge you personally expect to have about the topic once your project is completed.
• Reflection is an important part of the research process. Explain how you will evaluate the success of your project.
• Add a Bibliography and citations of relevant creative works from your discipline.