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Global Fellowship in Urban Practice

The Gallatin Global Fellowship in Urban Practice (GGFUP), which is managed by the Urban Democracy Lab, provides funding of up to $5,000 and support for 6-10 advanced undergraduate and Master's students to pursue extended, community-engaged, practice-based research projects in partnership with urban social justice organizations. Based on a vision of sharing resources, producing practical scholarly research, and self-reflexively critiquing systems of power and privilege, this fellowship is built upon established long-term partnerships with community-based organizations. Each research project is co-designed by the host organization with faculty mentors and GGFUP fellows. 

 

A Two-Semester Program

Spring Semester

Fellows are required to attend and participate actively in a four-credit seminar during which they will engage in background reading on their topics and study cities, review the ethical framework of community-engaged research, and learn research methods. The seminar will culminate in a required, week-to-week research plan devised in collaboration with partner organizations and faculty mentors. All fellows must plan to enroll in the seminar, whether it is offered in person, online, or in hybrid format.

Summer Term

Fellows must commit up to 10 weeks of work on a summer project with a partnering community organization. This means devoting at least 20 hours per week to the organization. Note: The length of the summer research term is determined by the community partner and, in the case of research taking place in cities where NYU has a site, by the site’s summer calendar. Fellows should be prepared to work remotely in the event that travel and/or in person work is not possible due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Fellows will be supported in their work by a supervisor at the organization, a local faculty mentor, and the fellowship coordinator. They are required to be accountable to each of these stakeholders through regular meetings, the successful completion of on-line assignments, and a pre-determined reporting schedule. When appropriate, all stakeholders will meet in person or via web conferencing at the midterm of the summer research period.

Meet the Fellows and View Past Projects

Visit the Gallatin Global Fellowship in Urban Practice site to meet our fellows, mentors, and learn about their summer research projects and experiences. 

Hear from 2023 Fellows by joining the GFUP Symposium

The 2023 urban practice fellows will present about their summer work to the Gallatin community at the GFUP Symposium on October 26th. RSVP to attend

Attend an Info Session 

Interested applicants should attend an information session. Use the links below to RSVP for an upcoming info session:

Application Procedures

The application deadline for 2024 is November 27th, 2023 (extended).

The program is open to undergraduate and master's students in Gallatin, Sociology, Social and Cultural Analysis, Environmental Studies, Wagner (including the Public Policy major in CAS), and Global Public Health. Master's only students in Latin American Studies are also eligible. Students should have a clear academic focus on urbanism or urban studies. All fellows must plan to enroll in the 4 credit spring seminar, whether it is offered in person, online, or in hybrid format. Fellows cannot graduate earlier than September 2024. Interested doctoral students, please see the Doctoral Fellowship in Urban Practice.

Please note that advanced language proficiency in Spanish for Madrid fellows is required and desirable for New York and Chicago. For the African Communities Together partnership, advanced French, Arabic, or other African languages are desirable.

After reading about the program, interested students should:

Go to the Gallatin Global Fellowship in Urban Practice Application form for specific instructions and requirements. Applicants should plan to commit to participate in all elements of the program as outlined above, including the spring seminar, summer research collaboration, and on-line component.

For more information, check out our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) page or contact the Urban Democracy Lab at urbandemos@nyu.edu.

urban democracy lab