Amy Lowell Traveling Poetry Scholarship FAQ
Who is eligible to apply for the Amy Lowell Travelling Poetry Scholarship?
Is this a scholarship for college?
What is meant by American birth?
What is the application deadline?
What is the application process?
What is required for a poetry sample?
How much is the Scholarship?
How is the Scholarship paid to the winner?
When does the travel abroad begin?
May I return to North America during my scholarship year?
Who were the past winners of the Scholarship?
Who are the members of the Selection Committee?
When is the winner notified?
Who is eligible to apply for the Amy Lowell Travelling Poetry Scholarship?
Any poet of American birth who is able and willing to spend one year outside the continent of North America. There is no age requirement, and there is no requirement that applicants be enrolled in a university or other education program. While many recent winners have been published poets, there is no requirement that applicants have previously published their work.
Top of PageIs this a scholarship for college?
No. This is a poetry contest. The money won is generally spent on travel and living expenses.
Top of PageWhat is meant by American birth?
Applicants must be citizens of the United States by virtue either of birth within the United States or of birth outside the United States to a U.S. citizen parent.
Top of PageWhat is the application deadline?
Applications must be received by the firm of Choate, Hall & Stewart by October 15. Applications may be downloaded from this website at any time before October 15. Applications may be requested by email, regular mail, or telephone no later than October 1.
Top of PageWhat is the application process?
Contact the Trustees in writing by email, regular mail, or telephone to request an application form and guidelines, or download the necessary information from this website. Two full copies of the application and attachments must be submitted with each entry. The paper copies of the application and attachments must be mailed. Emails or faxes will not be accepted.
Top of PageWhat is required for a poetry sample?
The sample must consist of either (1) up to 40 typed pages or (2) a printed volume of your poetry and no more than 20 additional typed pages.
Top of PageHow much is the Scholarship?
The 2025 - 2026 Scholarship award will be approximately $74,000, adjusted for inflation. If there are two winners, each will receive the full amount.
Top of PageHow is the Scholarship paid to the winner?
The award is paid in quarterly installments, beginning before departure to allow the winner to make travel arrangements.
Top of PageWhen does the travel abroad begin?
When does the travel abroad begin? In recent years, winners have generally begun their travel in the fall of the year for which the Scholarship was awarded. For example, travel for the 2024-2025 Scholarship would begin in the fall of 2024. Travel may, however, commence at any time during the first year for which the Scholarship was awarded.
Top of PageMay I return to North America during my scholarship year?
Travel back to the continent of North America during the scholarship year is not permitted for any reason without the prior approval of the Trustees. Travel to North America may be approved in cases of pressing need but will not be approved merely to visit. If travel back to North America during the scholarship year is approved by the Trustees, the scholarship recipient should return for as brief a period as is possible.
Top of PageWho are the members of the Selection Committee?
The Selection Committee is composed of one member of the English Department of Harvard University, two poets of recognized standing, and the Trustees themselves, who collectively have one vote. For privacy reasons, we do not release the names of the Committee members.
Top of PageWhen is the winner notified?
The winner will be notified by the end of March of the year for which the Scholarship is awarded.
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