The Marcus Bach Fellowships for graduate students in the humanities are awarded by the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences to support the completion of an MFA project or doctoral dissertation. The fellowship’s goal is to foster intercultural communication and/or the understanding of diverse philosophies and religious perspectives, and projects in this area are the most appropriate.

The Marcus Bach Fellowships are made possible by a bequest from the estate of Dr. Marcus Bach. 

Dr. Bach received a doctorate from the University of Iowa in 1942 in Speech and Dramatic Arts (now the Department of Communication Studies and the Department of Theatre Arts). Awardees must successfully demonstrate how their research relates to the ideas and research of Dr. Bach. 

Bach Fellowships provide a single semester of support, which includes:

$10,700 Salary
Associated Fringe Benefits
Tuition Scholarship for 2 s.h. credit
50% of Mandatory fees

Application Process
Eligible graduate students apply through their departments. The DGS or DEO may recommend up to three student applications to the CLAS Associate Dean for Research and Infrastructure. Applications for the AY 2025-26 fellowships should be sent by the DEO or DGS to the Assistant to the CLAS Associate Dean for Research and Infrastructure, Catherine Moore.

More information can be found on the CLAS Graduate Funding website.

Note: This memo was also published on October 16, November 6, November 20, and December 4, 2024.