The Ferguson Fund for Study Abroad Research
The Ferguson Fund Scholarship is one of the most distinctive opportunities available to students who want to extend their study abroad experience into the realm of serious academic inquiry. Made possible through the generosity of the Ferguson family,
the fund was created to honor his conviction that study abroad should be more than a journey of travel. It should be a journey of the mind—an opportunity for students to ask rigorous questions, pursue ambitious projects, and bring their research
into direct conversation with the wider world.
Students can apply to the Ferguson Fund for up to $1,000 award to support a study abroad project
tied
to undergraduate research.
Many students use their Ferguson project to lay the groundwork for their Honors thesis. Some possibilities might include:
Archival Foundations: A history or literature student might examine rare manuscripts or primary documents abroad, bringing back sources that form the core of their thesis research.
Cultural Immersion: A theatre, music, or art student might attend performances, study visual traditions, or analyze local practices that directly inform a creative or scholarly thesis.
Case Study in Context: A student in political science or international studies might study policies, monuments, or civic spaces in another country as a comparative example for their thesis.
Disciplinary Extension: A student in business, health sciences, or education could observe international practices in their field, later weaving those insights into their thesis analysis.
Creative Inquiry: Students writing a thesis that involves original creative work (such as fiction, theatre, or music) might use the experience abroad to inspire themes, settings, or methodologies.
The goal is not simply to “add on” travel, but to let the experience reshape and deepen the research. By tying the Ferguson project to your thesis, you create a throughline in your Honors work that demonstrates both academic rigor and global
perspective.
The Application Process
Applicants submit a research proposal as part of the study abroad application process, explaining the project they wish to pursue and how it will meaningfully shape their academic path. They also prepare a budget plan, demonstrating not only the merit
of their ideas but their practicality. Two faculty voices play a key role in the process: a recommender who attests to the student’s readiness for the challenges of study abroad and a nominator who confirms the quality and feasibility of the
project itself. Together, these letters affirm that the student is capable not only of traveling abroad but of thriving academically while doing so.
In keeping with Bellarmine’s standards, any project that involves the collection of data from human participants—such as interviews, surveys, or ethnographic observation—requires prior approval from the Institutional Review Board. This ensures that students’ work meets the highest ethical and scholarly standards, no matter where in the world it is conducted.
Ferguson Scholars return from their time abroad with more than memories of travel. They come back with research that enriches their Honors experience and contributes to our intellectual community.