Update on COVID-19

The Leve Center recognizes the massive disruptions that the coronavirus (COVID-19) is having on people’s plans for travel, research, and study for the foreseeable future. In such a rapidly-evolving situation, it can be incredibly difficult to anticipate what programs might be cancelled and what travel restrictions might remain in place during the summer months.  Sympathetic to these concerns, we want to be as supportive and as flexible as we can be with our scholarship application process so that students can prioritize their safety and wellbeing.

We invite students whose plans involve travel – for programs, research, or language study – to submit their applications based on their current, preferred plans. We will award the scholarships based on the merits of your proposals and if the plans you outlined end up being cancelled or changed, we will work with you to modify your budget and schedule as needed. And, for those who need extra time to adjust their plans, contact the Leve Center.

Who is eligible for Leve Center Scholarships?

All undergraduate and graduate students registered and enrolled at UCLA are eligible, including non-Jewish Studies Majors/Minors.  Scholarships are awarded in two-quarter cycles: Fall/Winter and Spring/Summer. Students applying in the Fall/Winter cycle should be enrolled the following Spring and students applying in the Spring/Summer cycle should be enrolled the following Fall. If you are planning to graduate during the award cycle or will not be enrolled for other reasons, or your plans for graduation have changed, please contact the Leve Center to confirm your eligibility.

Please note that Leve Center scholarships can impact students’ financial aid packages. We strongly recommend that applicants consult with their department’s Students Affairs Officer and the Financial Aid Office before applying.

What do Leve Center scholarships cover?

Leve Center scholarships can be used to cover costs related to travel programs, research projects, language study, and internships. Each scholarship covers a specific range of activities and/or area of study, although there are significant areas of overlap between them. Other projects and proposals not specifically listed in the descriptions of the scholarships will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Providing a detailed project description tailored to these individual scholarship funds will strengthen your application.  That includes a rich description of the project you have in mind (i.e. research trips, programs, internships, courses, etc., heretofore referred to as “project”), what completing that project entails (ex. archival research, oral history interviews, language study, travel, etc.), and why your project is important, for your own career and/or your field of study as a whole.  To put it another way, your description should articulate clearly a what (you want to do), a how (you will achieve it), and a why (this endeavor is important). When applicable, identifying a clear deliverable (for example, a paper, a digital media project, a piece of creative work) that you will complete and/or submit at the end of the award cycle will also enhance your application.

Can I apply for more than one Leve Center scholarship?

We encourage you to apply for as many of our scholarships as fit the project description in your application. That allows the selection committee flexibility in determining the best fit. However, we will only award one scholarship to each application. Under exceptional circumstances, an applicant can apply for funds for two different projects from two different funds, but priority will be placed on spreading the funds in an equitable manner.

We also require that you disclose all other pending and secured funding for your project, including other Leve Center scholarships.

What can I include in my budget?

Each Leve Center scholarship requires that you submit a budget detailing how you will use the funds you are requesting. While these budgets will vary for each applicant, in general, these budget items can include: travel-related costs, tuition-related costs, and material expenses.

Travel-related costs can include, but are not limited to:

– air travel and lodging (for cross-country and international travel)

– visa and/or passport related costs

– Mileage rates for transportation (and/or public transit costs) – consistent with UCLA guidelines

– parking and/or entrance fees for archives and other institutions

– Per diem travel meals – consistent with UCLA guidelines.

Please note: UCLA has strict guidelines and rates for travel-related costs, available at the UCLA Travel office. Budgets that are unreasonable and/or over-estimated are not likely to be awarded all of the money that the applicant requests.

Tuition-related costs include any tuition required for travel programs and/or language study programs. In some cases, such as the Olive Tree Initiative and the Helix Fellowship, the Leve Center works directly with the organization that administers the program to arrange payments for students that enroll. In other cases, students will be responsible for making those payments on their own. Costs related to private tutoring, online courses, and/or directed study can also be included.

Material expenses can include, but are not limited to:

– duplication and/or digitization fees

– membership fees for archives and other institutions

– subscriptions to web platforms and/or hosting services

– art supplies for creative projects

– specialized technology, including hardware, software, and high-speed internet

Unfortunately, in most cases, Leve Center scholarships cannot be used to cover living expenses and routine costs for students who do not leave the L.A. area.

What is required to apply?

Each scholarship has specific requirements, but some pieces are required of all applicants. These include a project description (up to 500 words) and either contact information for, or letters from, two recommenders.  At least one of your recommenders must be a member of the UCLA Faculty. The charts below summarize the specific requirements for each application. Additional requirements for each scholarship are listed on each individual page.