Charles H. Koch, Jr. Award

The Charles H. Koch Jr. Award provides financial support to help cover the expenses of internships in international affairs, public policy, and/or legal studies for undergraduate students in the College of Arts and Sciences. Internships can take place in the U.S. or abroad. Funds can be used for travel, housing, and living expenses. Award amounts vary according to the duration, location, and costs associated with an internship, but are capped at $5,000.

Application deadline: March 16, 2026.

To apply, send the following materials to Undergraduate Assistant Sharon Marsh: 

• A one-page statement of purpose, describing the internship opportunity you have identified, its relationship to international affairs, public policy, and/or legal studies, and how it will advance your learning as a student of politics. Be sure to provide as much detail as possible: location, host institution, dates of the internship, and your responsibilities.
• A letter of invitation or support from the host organization (an email confirming the internship will suffice).
• A brief budget estimate and how you will use the funds.
• A resume or CV.
• Your UVA transcripts.
• Funds can be applied toward internship and travel expenses during Summer 2026 or January 2027. 

Who is Charles H. Koch Jr.?

Professor Charles H. Koch Jr. was a professor of law at the College of William & Mary from 1979 until his passing in 2012. Professor Koch's areas of expertise included administrative law, comparative constitutional systems, the European Union, and federal courts. While he primarily focused on U.S. administrative law, he began learning and teaching about the European Union because he saw its growing importance domestically and globally.

He received his B.A. from the University of Maryland, his J.D. from George Washington University and his LL.M. from the University of Chicago. Prior to joining the William & Mary faculty in 1979, he worked as a staff attorney in the Office of the General Counsel of the Federal Trade Commission and taught at DePaul University College of Law. He served as Assistant Chief Reporter of the ABA's Administrative Law of the European Union Project and was Past President of the Committee on Sections and Annual Meetings of the Administrative Law Section of the Association of American Law Schools. He was a member of the ABA's United Nations Affairs Coordinating Committee. He also served for seven years as Editor-in-Chief of the Administrative Law Review and twice acted as a consultant to the Administrative Conference of the United States.

Professor Koch was a prolific writer, publishing books for both teaching and practice, and numerous articles in law reviews and practitioner-oriented journals.

Small Research & Travel Grants

The College of Arts & Sciences provides competitive Small Research and Travel Grants to College students conducting research, engaging in artistic activities, or presenting their own research at professional conferences. Grants are for up to a maximum of $1,500. Proposals are accepted on a seasonal basis with two annual deadlines: November 1 and March 15. 

To apply, students must be in good academic standing and have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0. The project also must be completed BEFORE they graduate (4th years may not apply for summer funding).

Applying is easy—simply visit the College research/travel grants website to learn more about the program and how to apply. Each student applicant also must have a letter of support from a UVA faculty member (this is not a recommendation letter, but instead a letter from a UVA faculty who has specific knowledge of the student’s project and who has some background relevant to the project). The Academic Works system has the applicant submit the name and email contact for the faculty project supporter. The system then sends an email to the faculty, providing a link where they can submit the letter.

If you have questions as you prepare an application, please contact Bridget Cullinane-Anthony in Monroe Hall (434-924-8986). 

Support for Honors and DMP Thesis Research

The Politics Department is pleased to announce competitive funding for undergraduate thesis research. The Department will award grants of up to $1,000 up to five students in the Politics Honors and Distinguished Majors Program for whom the money can enhance their project (e.g., costs associated with conducting original survey research, data access, travel). 

Applicants should submit their proposals to Undergraduate Assistant Sharon Marsh via email. Applications must be received no later than Monday, November 28, 2025. We will announce award recipients by the end of the semester.

Proposals must include:

1. Cover sheet, including your name, contact information, thesis advisor, and project title.
2. Project description – no more than 2 pages, 12 point font – delineating the research question, summarizing the research design, and describing how the grant money will be used and why it’s necessary. We will not read beyond two pages, but you may include works cited on a third page.
3. Transcript
4. Letter of recommendation from your thesis advisor (this can be sent directly by your advisor to Sharon Marsh).

The selection committee will only consider complete applications.