Travel Grant Opportunities

Students may apply for these competitive grants through the Center for International and Intercultural Studies (CIIS) to support projects which supplement their off-campus study experience or travel in connection with independent study and research. The purpose of these grants is to enhance immersion in a different culture and extend international or intercultural awareness. These grants are not an alternative form of financial aid for supporting the SLU comprehensive fee for off-campus study.

Preference will be given to those students who have not previously received a grant through CIIS. 

  • Travel Enrichment Grants are intended for students participating in off-campus programs who want to pursue an academic or personal/extra-curricular interest during their off-campus study program.  These grants permit students to pursue an area of interest by providing supplementary funding for activities not included in their off-campus study program.
  • Travel Research Grants are intended to support students who wish to pursue independent study and research, to be conducted off-campus on international or intercultural topics. These grants support projects which require additional time outside the calendar of an off-campus program. Applicants should plan to stay on after completing an off-campus program or to travel independently to a site. Proposals normally support independent study that is grounded in prior academic course work and that will contribute to subsequent academic work on campus.      
  • Patti McGill Peterson - The Glocal Exchange GrantStudents accepted to off-campus study programs have the opportunity to apply for a $300 Patti McGill Peterson grant through The Glocal Exchange, a citizen journalism article series published by Weave News. Accepted students will receive the funds in exchange for researching, writing, and publishing a story related to their abroad coursework and interests for Weave News. Topics that best fit the series'  emphasis on global-local connections will be preferred.
  • Patti McGill Peterson - Weaving the Streets/People's History Archive Grant: Students accepted to off-campus study programs have the opportunity to apply for a Patti McGill Peterson grant through Weaving the Streets & People’s History Archive, an ongoing collaboration between the Richard F. Brush Art Gallery and Weave News. This project focuses on the creative ways ordinary people make use of public space. Accepted students will receive funds in exchange for researching, writing, and publishing several short articles related to their abroad coursework and interests for the Weaving the Streets blog hosted by Weave News, keeping in mind the general purpose of the project, and to collect several artifacts for the People’s History Archive. Students may also contribute born digital photographs to The Streets are Talking: Public Forms of Creative Expression from around the World, published in Jstor.

While completing an application for these grants, students are to consult with a faculty or staff member who will advise, review the final draft of the proposal, and write a recommendation about the student and the proposal. Students applying for Independent Travel/Research Grants must also make an appointment to discuss their proposal with the Associate Dean of International Studies.

Applications are reviewed by the Committee on International and Intercultural Studies and/or a Committee of Weave News Editors. Decisions are announced about two weeks after the deadline. We encourage you to review the previous Grant Recipients for an idea of projects that have been funded. Previous grant recipients' stories can be found at our Travel Grant Map and Archive.

Grants will be made only to matriculated SLU students whose grant project is completed before by February 15 (for fall programs) or June 15 (for spring programs). Grants may not be used for equipment, internships, package tours, or tuition/fees for courses or programs. Other SLU Scholarships, Fellowships and Grants are available to St. Lawrence students who are interested in working on international internships and enrichment projects. Detailed information is available through Career Services.

Students who are awarded CIIS grant funding will be required to provide information and photos about their experience to be included on the CIIS Grant Recipients page when they return to campus. Recipients are also required to present about their experience during the semi-annual Festival of Scholarship.

To apply for a CIIS Grant please complete the appropriate application on each grant's page. Applications are due on April 8th for Fall and Academic Year programs. Applications are due on November 5th for Spring programs.