The Dr. Ross N. Berkes Scholarship Fund is a testament to the legacy of the former director of the USC School of International Relations. Established with the generous support of Dr. Berkes’ family and friends, this fund aims to assist deserving students majoring in International Relations and Political Science.

Scholarship recipients will be awarded up to $3000 for two essential purposes: attending conferences, which covers costs like transportation, accommodations, meals, and conference fees; and pursuing internships with organizations connected to the field of international relations. These scholarships are awarded based on merit and are exclusively available to current USC Dornsife students majoring in International Relations and Political Science.

Eligibility Requirements:

  • GPA of 3.0 or higher.
  • Must be either an INCO, POSC IR, IRGB, or IRGE major.
  • Must have completed IR 210 and at least one other IR 200-level methods course (if an IR major).
  • Recipients must be registered for the Spring 2026 term.
  • The internship or research must be completed before the student graduates from USC Dornsife.

Application Procedure:

Applications open: October 24, 2025
Deadline: November 7, 2025 at 11:59pm PST

To apply, please submit a completed Application Form and the following materials as a single PDF to Akeya Harmon-Collins at akeyahar@usc.edu:

  1. An updated CV or resumé that is tailored to this award.
  2. A research or internship proposal, including if you have applied to other funding resources.
    • Internship Proposal: Identify the sponsoring organization, its mission, address, the name and contact information of the intern’s supervisor, the nature of the intern’s work, the number of weeks and hours per week, and explain why this internship would be valuable.
    • Research Proposal: Identify the research question and methods used, detail how you will use the funding to complete your research, include the number of weeks and hours per week, and explain why funding your research would be valuable.
  3. A budget showing living expenses for the internship period and travel to and from the site.
  4. A STARS Report.
  5. Contact information for a USC Faculty member who you’ve asked to provide a recommendation.

For students applying for internship support

In order to disburse the award, POIR will require a letter from the organization offering the internship to the student for the specified period. This letter should also agree to provide POIR with a simple report on the student’s work at the end of the internship.

You may submit an application that contains all of the materials except this letter and provide the letter if the grant is approved and you decide to accept it.