The Fulbright Commission Durham University Summer Institute is a
four-week cultural and academic programme for US students held at Durham University in the UK.
The theme of the institute is The Northern Borders of Empire.
Participants in this summer school will get the opportunity to:
•
participate in a major archaeological project focused on the northern
edges of the Roman Empire in Britain playing a full part in the
excavations and gaining first-hand knowledge and experience of UK
archaeological professional practice.
• receive on-site seminars
and workshops with expert visitors exploring matters of cutting edge
concern in archaeology and cultural history.
• have a full
understanding of the archaeology of the military frontier of Roman
Britain including Hadrian’s Wall and a wider appreciation of the
archaeology and history of Northern England.
• Explore the culture, heritage and history of the UK on a variety of cultural and social outings
• Make friends and experience life as a real student in the UK
• Become an ambassador for studying in the United Kingdom, and for the prestigious internationally renowned Durham University
•
Develop their academic knowledge, be taught by world leaders in their
field and receive credit they can transfer to their US University.
The Institute will run from 1 July – 28 July 2012
Since 2009, an international team drawn principally from Durham
University (UK) and Stanford University (US) has been excavating the
Roman fort and town at Binchester and surveying its place in one of the
richest archaeological landscapes in the world. The Summer Institute
students will join this team.
Previous excavation of Binchester has so far uncovered the
best-preserved Roman bathhouse in the UK and some of the most impressive
mausolea seen on a Roman site for 150 years. Geophysical survey has
revealed a large town that continued to thrive long after the empire
fell. Across the river at Escomb is one of the oldest churches in
Britain, built from the stones of Binchester in the 7th century, is
still standing as a reminder of the kingdom of Anglo-Saxon Northumbria,
the heartland of Celtic Christianity and land of Arthurian romance.
Through
the excavation of both fort and town, joined with a broader site and
regional survey, the project aims to investigate the character and
diversity of the local population, to explore connections between fort
and town, and to pursue questions concerning the way the border was
conceived and worked from Roman to medieval times. The project also
looks at the way in which archaeology may contribute to senses of
identity and belonging in a region such as the English/Scottish borders.
For more information on the progress of the Binchester excavation take a look at the team’s blog.
For more information on the Institute see the Programme Outline below.
Award Benefits
The majority of the participant costs will be covered. This includes:
• round-trip airfare from the US to the UK;
• tuition and fees at Durham University;
• accommodation and social programme;
• subsistence e.g. food and drink
Participants are expected to pay for their own travel, health and accident insurance.
Summer
School students will stay in one of the University’s sixteen colleges,
St John’s, situated in the heart of the medieval city of Durham. More
information on St John’s College can be found here.
Selection Criteria
To meet the minimum eligibility for this Institute you need to:
• be a US citizen (resident anywhere except the UK) and possess a US passport;
• be at least 18 years old by the start of the programme;
• be able to participate in the programme in its entirety;
• have a high level of academic achievement with a minimum GPA of 3.5 (confirmed by academic marks, awards and references);
•
have at least two years of undergraduate study left to complete, i.e.
applicants should currently be a Freshman or Sophomore in
college/university;
• be mature, responsible, independent, and open-minded;
•
be willing and able to fully participate in an academically intensive
programme that includes attending all sessions, completing all
assignments, contributing to classroom discussions and supporting
student ambassador style work as required;
• have had little or no study or travel experience in the UK or elsewhere outside of the US and;
• expect to return to the US and continue your education.
Note: The programme is open to students in all courses of study
Those holding permanent residency ‘green cards’ may not apply.
Please read the Terms and Conditions for this award before making an application.
In
making these awards the Commission is looking not only for academic
excellence but a focused application, a range of extracurricular and
community activities, an indication of ambassadorial skills, a desire to
further the Fulbright Programme and a plan to give back to your home
country upon returning.
Candidates will be considered without
respect to race, colour, religion, national origin, ethnicity, sexual
preference or gender (including gender reassignment). Individuals from a
broad range of ethnic, religious, geographic, and socio-economic
backgrounds are encouraged to apply.
Applying
All applications are due Friday 16 March 2012 by 5pm (UK Time)
To apply please download an application form
If you have a query about applying please read the FAQs document before contacting the Commission.
Please note: Applications which arrive by email, by fax or late will
not be considered. Please ensure that you attach sufficient postage when
sending forms/letters to the US-UK Fulbright Commission in London. We
will not accept excess charges for items of mail which have been
underpaid – they will be returned unopened.
If you would like
confirmation that your application has been received by the Fulbright
Commission, you must send your application via Recorded Delivery.
Commission staff will not confirm receipt of applications by email or
phone.
Interviews
Applications will be short-listed and successful applicants will be
invited to telephone interview sometime between the dates of 18 April – 27 April 2012.
Interviews will only be held these days and may not be rescheduled.If
you are making an application, please save these dates as an invitation
to interview may come within a few days of the interview date.The
selection committee will be comprised of Fulbright Commission staff and
on occasion representatives from a relevant field, academics, US Embassy
and/or Consulate representatives.
Important note: The US-UK Fulbright Commission is unable to give
feedback on individual applications or to provide reasons for their
refusal.
Candidates will be considered without respect to race, colour,
religion, national origin, ethnicity, sexual preference or gender
(including gender reassignment). Individuals from a broad range of
ethnic, religious, geographic, and socio-economic backgrounds are
encouraged to apply
Timeline
December Competition opens
16 March Application deadline
Early April Short-listed candidates invited to Interview
18-27 April Telephone Interviews
Early May Notification for successful applicants
May/June Preparation and Pre-Departure Information
30 June Departure for UK
1 July Arrival in the UK
28 July Return to USA
Additional Information
Programme Outline
Sunday 1 July: Arrive in Durham. City orientation and Welcome dinner
Monday 2 – Friday 6 July: Introduction to the Roman fort at Binchester: excavation and finds processing on site. Evening talks and social events (these include lectures from key staff in the Department of Archaeology, the Centre for Roman Cultural Studies and the Institute for Medieval and Renaissance Studies)
Saturday 8 July: Visit to Lindisfarne and Bamburgh Castle
Monday 9 – Friday 14 July: Excavating and processing artefacts on site at Binchester. Evening talks and social events.
Saturday 15 July: Visit to Housteads Roman Fort and Vindolanda.
Monday 16 – Friday 20 July: Excavating and processing artefacts on
site at Binchester. Evening talks and social events, including annual
Durham versus US soccer match and BBQ
Saturday 21 July: Visit to Barnard Castle, Escomb church and Piercebridge Roman fort.
Monday 24 – Friday 27 July: Excavating and processing artefacts on site at Binchester. Evening talks and social events
Friday 27 July: Farewell Dinner
Saturday 28 July: Depart Durham
All
course content is subject to change. The information is intended to
provide an initial scope of the programme and should not be considered
final.
Student support:
Student will be supported by academics, International Office and St
John’s College staff throughout the duration of the Institute.