About
Applications are now being accepted for the ILR Travel Grant. Application deadline: 11:59 p.m. Tuesday, October 22nd, 2024 for Winter Break activity.
Every year, the ILR International Programs Faculty Committee conducts grant competitions that provide students and other members of the ILR community partial funding to enable them to pursue some international activity, be it independent research, honors thesis research, service learning, attending international conferences, or other international educational experiences.
Since 2005, IP has given hundreds of students the opportunity to travel to over 34 countries, from Austria to Zambia and almost everywhere else in between.
For advice on proposed activities, or for further questions about eligibility, please contact Donna Ramil, Associate Director, ILR International Programs.
Eligibility
ILR International Programs invites students to apply for a limited number of international travel grants aimed at supporting ILR-related activities abroad during the winter or summer break. These small grants are competitive and are only intended to subsidize a student's budget and should not be seen as an exclusive source of financing.
How much funding can I receive?
- Awards are competitive and typically range from $500-$2,000* to cover the cost of a student's airline ticket.
*Awards may be considered taxable income.
Who can apply?
- ILR undergraduate and graduate students can apply (not intended to support M.S. and Ph.D. students who have access to research funds).
- Travel must be completed while still registered as a full-time student.
When must the international activity take place?
- These grants help support international activities that take place during the winter or summer break and should not be used when semester classes are in session.
How do I know if my international activity meets the qualifications to apply for funding?
- Funding is awarded on a competitive basis to support international activities that enhance a student's ILR education such as
- international volunteer work with a group or organization engaged in activities broadly related to ILR's mission;
- the international fieldwork component of a research project of honor's thesis;
- presenting or serving as a panelist at an ILR-related global conference; and
- a language immersion program for a language in which prior university study can be demonstrated.
- Grants are not available for the following activities/items:
- ILR credit internships;
- ILR exchange programs;
- ILR/UCD Semester in Dublin program;
- other study abroad programs (including winter break credit bearing programs);
- program tuition and fees; and
- personal travel to a student's home country.
- Grants are only awarded on an individual basis. Group projects are not funded. If more than one student applies for the same project, applications must be separate and will be decided on independently.
Application
Application deadline: 11:59 p.m. Tuesday, October 22nd, 2024 for Winter Break activity.
How do I apply?
- It is highly recommended students get advice on their proposed activity prior to applying. Schedule an appointment with Donna Ramil, Associate Director, ILR International Programs.
- Complete the ILR International Travel Grant application form. The online application form will require you to upload the following documents:
- A detailed description of the proposed activity, including an overview of how it will enhance or supplement your ILR education, your learning objectives/goals, and expected outcome(s).
- A budget indicating the amount and proposed use of funds (max: $2,000)
- Graduate students should not use this grant as a primary source of funding and must show other sources of support.
- Graduate students should not use this grant as a primary source of funding and must show other sources of support.
- Submit a letter from the host organization indicating willingness to accept the student for the proposed activity or from your project facilitator if doing honors thesis research. Email letter to rb786@cornell.edu.
- Submit a letter of recommendation from an ILR faculty member. Email letter to rb786@cornell.edu.
- This letter should address the specific merits of your proposal, expected outcomes, and budget. Allow time for faculty to review your proposal well in advance of the deadline.
Proposals will be reviewed by the ILR International Programs Faculty Committee. Awards will be made based on the depth and richness of the proposed activity and on relevancy to an ILR education. Notifications will be sent to students by end of March.
For further questions on the application process, contact Becky Baines at rb786@cornell.edu.
If I am awarded a travel grant, what else do I need to do?
- If granted an award, to comply with the University's Travel Policy, students applying for this grant will be asked to complete the Travel Registry Form or the ITART Form after award notification.
- Students will be required to share a reflective summary (1-2 pages) of their project and document their experiences through photos, blogs, video clips and/or stories. Student documentaries will be posted on the ILR International Programs website.
