Scholars who wish to apply to be a visiting scholar in the department must first seek out a faculty member able to support their research. This person is called a faculty sponsor. Contact the faculty member directly and send the following items via email:

• A research proposal of approximately two pages that includes your proposed start and end dates at the top of the document. The proposal should briefly describe your position and recent and/or current research. The remainder of the proposal should describe what work and research you want to accomplish while at Indiana University. It should include a specific explanation of why being a visiting scholar in the Department of Folklore and Ethnomusicology is necessary to facilitate this research.
• Curriculum vitae.
• Domestic scholars should submit their application a minimum of two months before the proposed start date. This means that a faculty sponsor must be secured more than two months before the proposed start date.
• International scholars should submit their application a minimum of eight months before the proposed start date to allow enough time to complete the J-1 visa request process, which can take four to six months. This means that a faculty sponsor must be secured more than eight months before the proposed start date.

Once you have a faculty member who has agreed to sponsor you, proceed to Step 2.

After you have secured a faculty sponsor, you must complete the following application for departmental approval:

• A completed visiting scholars application form.
• A commitment in writing from a Department of Folklore and Ethnomusicology faculty member stating that they will serve as your faculty sponsor.
• A proposal of no more than two pages describing the work and research to be accomplished while at Indiana University Bloomington, including a specific explanation of why working at the Department of Folklore and Ethnomusicology is necessary to facilitate this research.
• A current curriculum vitae.
• Proof of English-language proficiency that is sufficient to meet US J-1 Exchange Visitor visa requirements. The proof must be dated within the last twelve months and must be one of the following methods:
  1. A recognized English language tests. See the Office of International Services for a list of accepted tests and minimum scores.
  2. Signed documentation from an academic institution or English language school confirming proficiency level.
  3. A documented interview conducted by the faculty sponsor either in-person or by videoconferencing.

Send the completed application via email to the department’s visiting scholar coordinator. Once the application is received, it will be reviewed for eligibility and approval by the department, usually at the next full faculty meeting after the application submission. The full application process then begins.

Visiting scholar applications are not accepted during the academic summer sessions.

Our Approved Applications page contains the next steps in this process.

Apply for department approval

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