The SBL International Travel Awards offer opportunities to current SBL members outside North America to attend the Annual or International Meeting, to participate in the program, to enhance their professional development, and to build their network with fellow scholars. These grants help facilitate the work of Program Units and the International Cooperation Initiative (“ICI”). These grants are intended to support underrepresented and underresourced scholars. As such, preference will be given to women, people of historically underrepresented ethnicities, and members from ICI-qualifying countries. A key criterion is an applicant’s demonstrable financial need.

Four International Travel Award Panels (ITAP) will administer the awards each year, serving four geographic regions:

• Africa and Middle East
• Asia and Pacific 
• Eastern Europe
• Latin America and Caribbean

For awards offered in and after 2024, each ITAP will administer two $1,500 awards in each region. The applicants must attend the Annual or International Meetings, but may or may not participate in the program, depending upon their needs expressed in the application. All grants include lodging (one room, single or shared) for four nights and complimentary meeting registration. Recipients may not have attended an Annual or International Meeting within the last five (5) years.

The International Travel Awards defray transportation, hotel accommodations, and other expenses incurred for the Annual or International Meetings. Award monies will be distributed as reimbursement for expenses incurred for travel to/from the meeting and meals while attending the meeting.

Who is eligible?

• Current SBL members outside North America who have not attended an Annual or International Meeting within the last five years.
• Applicants must have completed at least a Masters degree or be enrolled in a Ph.D. program.
• Preference will be given to women, people of historically underrepresented ethnicities, and members from ICI-qualifying countries.
• Persons who have previously received a SBL Travel Award are not eligible.

What does a travel award include?

• Reimbursement of travel, visa application fees, meal and Annual or International Meeting expenses up to the amount of the award.
• Lodging (one room, single or shared) for four nights.
• Complimentary Annual or International Meeting registration.

What is the procedure for a grant application?

• Submit your Travel Award Application here and your letter of recommendation to the travel grant administrator no later than 28 February. The online application is also available via the link below.
• The application form must include the following information:
• Participant’s contributions to the scholarly conversation as a result of Annual or International Meeting participation
• Participants plans to advance quality of biblical scholarship as a result of International Travel Award
• Financial need
• Explanation on how grant will facilitate collaboration between scholars of different countries and areas of expertise
• Opportunities created for scholar as a result of Travel award
• A letter of recommendation from a person who knows the applicant’s academic work and can confirm his or her interest in SBL (i.e. advisor, mentor, research supervisor). Email this letter to the travel award administrator.

Criteria for awards
The more criteria met, the stronger the application.

• New contribution: How will this person bring something new into the scholarly conversation at the Annual or International Meeting?
• Quality of contribution: How will this person advance the academic quality of biblical scholarship?
• Financial need: Is there sufficient need? Are there other sources of funding available?
• Partnership with other scholars: How will the grant facilitate broad collaboration between scholars of different countries and different areas of expertise?
• Opportunity to participate: Has this person participated in scholarly conferences previously?

Travel Award Application Form