Dissertation Fieldwork Time
Students spend two consecutive regular term semesters, along with any adjacent summer semesters conducting dissertation fieldwork. For students on the 2.5 year plan, this means Spring of year 3, Summer of year 3, and Fall of year 4. For students on the 3 year plan, this means Summer of year 3, Fall of year 4, Spring of year 4, and Summer of year 4. Students who receive an external fellowship or grant for their fieldwork may stay a third Fall or Spring semester. See below for details.
Students are expected to leave for the field promptly after completing their portfolio review. For students on the 2.5 year plan, this means no later than the end of the first week of Spring Term (generally, around January 10). For students on the 3 year plan, this means no later than the end of the first week of Summer Term (generally, around May 15). Students are expected to remain in the field conducting research throughout their fieldwork period, ending no sooner or later than three weeks before the Fall or Spring semester they are scheduled to return.
Dissertation Fieldwork Grants
Students who receive an external fellowship or grant ($20,000 minimum) for their dissertation fieldwork receive two additional benefits from the department:
The option of remaining in the field for an additional regular term (Fall/Spring) semester.
If a student enters the field with external funding in place, they will be supported by the department for their third semester in the field, at the guaranteed stipend rate.
If a student begins fieldwork with departmental support and is awarded an external fellowship or grant during their first semester in the field, then the external grant will constitute their funding for the second and third semesters.
One semester of "banked" funding for their sixth or seventh year of study. Banked funding means that the department will pay the student's tuition, fees, and stipend at the standard, guaranteed rate. Banked funding will be applied the first semester a student is otherwise unfunded. For example, if a student has no other funding source for Fall of their sixth year, it will be used Fall of the sixth year. If a student receives a 6th year fellowship, the banked semester rolls over to their seventh year. Students on banked funding are required to provide departmental service as a GA, TA, or Graduate Instructor.
See Departmental Service and Stipend Support for more information.
If the value of an external dissertation fieldwork fellowship or grant is less than the standard stipend, the department will "top up" the funds you receive from the grant to bring it to the guaranteed amount. You will work with the DGSA to determine the details of this distribution.
IMPORTANT: When you receive any external grant or fellowship, inform the DGS and DGSA by email as soon as possible.
Residency Post-Fieldwork
All post-field students are required to be in residence in Durham. Exceptions to this policy will only be considered for reasons of serious personal or family health issues, uncontrollable interruptions to your fieldwork, or other extraordinary circumstances. If you seek exemption on the grounds specified above, you must petition your dissertation advisor and the DGS in your final semester of fieldwork.