Versailles Fellowship
The Graduate School at the College of Charleston and the Université de Versailles - Saint Quentin have an exchange program which affords a unique opportunity for graduate students to teach and conduct independent research at a university in the southwest suburbs of Paris. Established in 1994 by Dr. Olejniczak of the History department, the Graduate School has sent nearly 20 College of Charleston students to France with great success.
Eligibility and Requirements
- 3.5 GPA
- US citizen
- Completed 12 hrs of graduate coursework
- Currently enrolled as a degree-seeking student in a master’s program at the College
This teaching fellowship grants one graduate student per academic year employment at the Université de Versailles as an instructor of conversational English for undergraduate students. The fellowship recipient must commit to a year-long contract with the Université, which includes 10-12 hours of class time per week from September to June. Fellows will be expected to have a basic reading knowledge and speaking ability in French so as to be able to function in a university environment. To this end, a fellow may have the opportunity to undergo intensive language training before departing for France.
Fellowship recipients are also expected to conduct independent research while in France. Students must develop an independent study project with a faculty advisor in their program. If completing a thesis, students can use this requirement to continue their research and writing. With the approval of their graduate program director, a fellow can receive up the 12 hours of graduate credit which may count towards their degree.
Please fill out the applicant information form electronically and submit all materials to the Graduate School office or gradstud@cofc.edu by MARCH 1, 2019.
A complete application includes:
- Statement of Proposed Study
Describe your study and research plans and your reasons for wishing to undertake them. Outline a plan that realistically can be completed in one academic year abroad. Describe the kinds of projects, courses, etc., which you and your faculty sponsor have agreed upon. Include any coursework you plan to do, how you will carry out your research, and the planned results of your work abroad. Please include your name, program and CWID on the first page and limit your statement to three typed pages or 750 words.
- Biographical Sketch
This statement should be a narrative giving a picture of you as an individual. It should deal with your personal history, influences on your intellectual development, the educational and cultural opportunities to which you have been exposed, and the ways in which these experiences have affected you. Also include your special interests and abilities, career plans, life goals, and any foreign experiences excluding vacations. It should not be an elaboration of your statement of proposed study. Please include your name, program and CWID on the first page and limit your statement to two typed pages or 500 words.
- Three References
Please fill out the top portion of the Reference Form electronically before distributing to your references. You should provide your references with a copy of your statement of proposed study. Your referees can submit their forms and letters directly to the Graduate School office, or you may include them in a sealed envelope when submitting your other application materials.
- Foreign Language Report
Please fill out the top portion of the Foreign Language Report electronically and contact Dr. Olejniczak (olejniczakb@cofc.edu / 843-953-5930 / Maybank 308) to make an appointment with a language instructor.
- Transcripts
If requested, the Graduate School office can provide any transcripts submitted when applying to a College of Charleston graduate program to fulfill the transcript requirements for this application. For any other academic institutions, please provide official transcripts. Using DegreeWorks to provide an unofficial College of Charleston transcript is sufficient.
