If you are planning to study or intern abroad or take an overseas vacation, you’ll need travel documents, including a valid passport. Currently, there are major delays in passport processing, with regular processing listed at 10-13 weeks, not including mailing times. If you want to study intern or travel abroad in the next year, it will benefit you to APPLY EARLY.
What documents do US citizens need to travel outside the US?
Passport:Apply several months in advance for a new passport. If you already have one, it should be valid for at least six months after you return home and have two or more blank pages, depending on your destination. Otherwise, some countries may not let you enter.
Visas: You may need to get a visabefore you travel to a foreign destination. Contact the embassy of the countries you will be visiting for more information.
Learn more about passport application requirements, procedures, and processing times at https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports.html.
If you don’t have a passport, apply now! If you do have one, please check your passport validity! Email us at internationalaffairs@chatham.edu with questions.
How will you spend your summer break? Yes, it may be February, but now is the time to make your summer plans.
Why not get ahead with classes or internships that can fulfill Chatham undergraduate degree requirements AND travel to another country to experience a new culture? You can expand your worldview, and build your resume, all while you make new friends from around the world.
A study or intern abroad program can be part of your summer plan. Here are some affordable Chatham partner options with a variety of coursework for you to consider as well as funding opportunities.
All Chatham undergraduates can receive $1,200 toward any credit-bearing experience abroad. The Study abroad voucher is available one time to all full-time undergraduate students who have earned at least 30 undergraduate credits. You don’t need to apply for the voucher – it will be awarded to all eligible students for the term in which they study abroad, reducing the amount owed by $1,200.
Chatham offers two experiential learning scholarships, the Glenda Rich DeBroff and Sally Mercke Heym scholarships which students may apply for toward a summer international experience. There are two Rachel Carson-named experiential learning scholarships available for students whose summer programs include environmental fieldwork. Applications (see link for application) for Chatham summer experiential learning scholarships are due to internationalaffairs@chatham.edu by 2/28/23.
Students who receive a Pell grant at the time of application (or will receive a Pell grant during the term they study abroad) can apply for a Gilman Scholarship, see https://www.gilmanscholarship.org/ . The application is open now with a deadline of 3/9/23. This cycle encompasses Summer 2023, Fall 2023, Academic Year 2023-2024, and Spring 2024 programs or internships.
The Office of International Affairs is here to help! Please contact us with any questions about study and intern abroad programs, the application process, or funding. We can be reached at internationalaffairs@chatham.edu.
Thinking ahead to summer 2023 and beyond, now is the time to make your plan to study abroad; review the below opportunities, check eligibility and deadlines, and apply!
FUNDED OPPORTUNITIES/SCHOLARSHIPS:
Study in Indonesia on the 10-week Summer Studies Program! Program cost is $2,000 including airfare, housing, and tuition. Scholarships available! Applications for the 2023 Summer Studies Program are due on January 15, 2023.
FEA Scholarships (of up to $5,000) for students underrepresented in study abroad for the study/intern program of your choice. Summer 2023/Fall 2023/Academic Year 2023-2024 application will close on January 18, 2023, at 12:00 PM EST
Apply for a Frederick Douglass Scholarship for summer 2023. Twelve exceptional student leaders of color will be selected to conduct a comparative study of social justice leadership in America, South Africa, and Ireland – application deadline is February 14, 2023.
Chatham Experiential Learning scholarships. Chatham undergraduates may apply to listed scholarships offered through the generosity of donors, for participation in summer study abroad programs. Apply by February 28, 2023.
Do you receive a Pell grant? You can receive up to $5,000 for the study/intern abroad program of your choice. Apply for a Gilman Scholarship. Application deadline is March 9, 2023.
SUMMER STUDY ABROAD OPPORTUNITIES WITH CHATHAM PARTNERS:
Study in Taiwan this summer with Chatham partner Tunghai University. Take courses in Business and Economics, STEM and Sustainability, Arts and Culture or Chinese Language & earn up to 6 credits– Attend an Information Session onJanuary 19 (Thursday) at 8 PM(EST) Link: google.com/xgm-tpjb-jwu(no pre-registration required!)
Study in Japan. Summer 2023 Japanese Language Immersion Course (JLIC) at Chatham partner Doshisha Women’s College of Liberal Arts. See this link for details and application requirements. Application deadline is February 24, 2023. Please email internationalaffairs@chatham.edu if you are interested in applying.
Other Chatham partners offer affordable summer programs in Costa Rica, France, Germany, Italy, and Spain. If you have questions about these programs, or are looking for other course, intern, program, or country options, please reach out – we are happy to help you find the right program for you!
International Education Week (IEW) at Chatham University begins on Thursday, November 10, 2022. You don’t want to miss the International Symposium, Thursday, November 10th 3:00 pm-5:00 pm in Mellon Board Room. Please join us, and bring a friend! Support our 5 student speakers, 6 poster presentations, and learn from our keynote speaker, activist, and published writer of poetry, fiction, and nonfiction, RaMa who will present Resistance Committees Today for Better Tomorrow. Light refreshments will be available.
Applications are due November 15 for this fully funded summer immersive language learning opportunity!
The Critical Language Scholarship (CLS) Program is an immersive summer opportunity for American college and university students to learn languages essential to America’s engagement with the world.
The Application for the 2023 CLS Program is now live! Applications are due November 15, 2022 at 8pm Eastern Time. To start an application, visit https://clscholarship.org/apply
The CLS Program provides opportunities for American college and university students to study languages and cultures essential to America’s engagement with the world.
Each summer, American undergraduate and graduate students enrolled at U.S. colleges and universities across the country, spend eight to ten weeks learning one of fourteen languages at an intensive study abroad institute. The CLS Program is designed to promote rapid language gains and essential intercultural fluency in regions that are critical to U.S. national security and economic prosperity.
CLS Spark, an initiative of the CLS Program, provides opportunities for American undergraduate college and university students to study Arabic, Chinese and Russian virtually at the beginning level.
Designed to leverage best practices in online language learning, CLS Spark provides students with the opportunity to study critical languages virtually when they may not have access to studying these languages on their campuses.
The Application for the 2023 CLS Program is now live! Applications are due November 15, 2022 at 8pm Eastern Time. To start an application, visit https://clscholarship.org/apply
For information on studying abroad as a Chatham student, and more information on study abroad vouchers, programs, and scholarships please contact internationalaffairs@chatham.edu.
All are invited to stop by Chatham’s Study Abroad Fair on Wednesday, September 21st from 11 am to 2 pm in the Mellon Board Room on the Shadyside campus. It’s a big world. Don’t miss out, study or intern abroad! Drop by Mellon Board Room to learn more about Chatham programs, provider programs, Summer 2023 Chatham Field Experiences, study abroad vouchers, scholarships & fellowships, how to apply for a US passport, financial aid for study abroad, internships abroad, giveaways, and more.
At the fair, students can meet with the below providers who can share information about their program options (all over the world) and answer any questions.
Do you have questions about studying abroad or where you can go? Please come learn more. We’ll share details on Chatham exchange and partner programs as well as information on applying for Summer 2023 Chatham Field Experiences to Costa Rica, Germany, and Greece.
Campus partners will also be on-site to answer your questions about financial aid, scholarships, and career readiness resources specific to the study abroad experience.
We hope to see you at the fair!
For information on studying abroad as a Chatham student, and more information on study abroad vouchers, programs, and scholarships please contact internationalaffairs@chatham.edu.
Meet Chatham’s Study Abroad Ambassadors for 2022-2023. These students are study abroad returnees who are available to answer questions and share their experience with interested students!
Michael Douglas
Program: Taiwan, summer 2022
My time abroad was like nothing I have ever experienced. The freedom, exploration, friendships, and experiences I had from traveling abroad have all made me a better and more enriched person.
Students can reach out to Michael via email at: michael.douglas@chatham.edu.
Max Heller, Summer 2022, internship at Fame Lab, Thessaly, Greece
Here’s a roundup of scholarship opportunities to consider:
Gilman International Scholarship – Undergraduate students who are US citizens and Pell grant recipients can apply for up to $5,000 toward a credit-bearing study abroad or internship program. The March 2023 deadline application will open in January for applicants whose programs start between May 1, 2023 to April 30, 2024. This cycle encompasses Summer 2023, Fall 2023, Academic Year 2023-2024, and Spring 2024 programs or internships. The application deadline is Tuesday, March 7, 2023 at 11:59pm Pacific Time.
The VIH Program for Women, Non-Binary, and Transgender Global Leaders – Undergraduate women, non-binary, transgender students of sophomore or junior status with a GPA of 3.0 or higher and no previous international experience can apply to win a $5000+ scholarship toward a summer international experience. The application deadline is November 1, 2022.
Isabel Smith, Summer 2022 VIH Scholar, Jordan
Fund for Education Abroadsupports US citizen or permanent resident undergraduate students who are underrepresented in study abroad. Applications for Summer 2023, Fall 2023, and Academic Year 2023-2024 will open on November 16, 2022.
Through the generosity of donors, two Chatham scholarships are offered to Chatham undergraduates for participation in semester study abroad programs:
IFSA Scholarship— Scholarships of up to $4,250 to study abroad for semester in Cyprus (Nicosia), Thailand (Mahidol) or Costa Rica (Veritas). The deadline to apply for a IFSA Scholarship for Fall 2023 study abroad is March 15, 2022.
Benter Scholarship – Scholarships of up to $5,000 to study abroad for a semester go support students’ study, international travel and interactions with diverse populations outside of North America, with the highest priority given to study in Middle Eastern nations and Muslim cultures, or for any semester study abroad with a Chatham exchange or partner institution. The deadline to apply for a Benter Scholarship for Fall 2023 study abroad is March 15, 2023.
Walker Orner, Spring 2020, Benter Scholar, France
There are several experiential learning scholarshipsoffered by Chatham for summer study abroad. These include the Glenda Rich DeBroff Memorial Scholarship Fund, the Sally Mercke Heym Award for Cross-Cultural Understanding, the Lorin Maazel- Rachel Carson Award for Environmental Field Studies, and the Theo Colburn-Rachel Carson Endowed Scholarship for Environmental Field Studies. The application deadline for summer experiential learning scholarships is February 28, 2023.
Are you looking for information on study and internship abroad program options? If you have any questions, or for more information on study abroad vouchers, programs, and scholarships contact internationalaffairs@chatham.edu or make an appointment: https://calendly.com/kchipman.
The Fulbright US Student Program funds one year of English teaching assistantship, research, or graduate study abroad. The application for grants for 2023-24 is open now with a deadline of October 12, 2022.
Where Can I Go With a Fulbright?
Applicants will select a grant opportunity in a country in East Asia, Europe and Eurasia, the Middle East and North Africa, South and Central Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa, or the Western Hemisphere. Programs may differ in competitiveness based on the number of applicants to a specific grant opportunity. For more information on individual programs visit the “countries” section of the Fulbright site. Grants are available to conduct research, study in a graduate program, or teach English.
Research grants
Fulbright applicants for research grants design their own projects, usually alongside advisors at universities abroad or other institutes of higher education. The requirements vary by country and more information can be found on the country information pages. There are also field-specific award opportunitities. Creative and performing arts applicants are encouraged, with supplementary portfolios required based on their disciplines.
Study grants
Applicants may apply to study in a degree program through an Open Study/Research grant. Each country’s information page will indicate if that country accepts applications for graduate enrollment. Several countries offer named Graduate Degree Grants to specific graduate programs or institutions.
Teaching grants
The English Teaching Assistant (ETA) Programs place Fulbrighters in classrooms abroad to provide assistance to the local English teachers. ETAs help teach English language while serving as cultural ambassadors for the U.S. The age and academic level of the students varies by country, ranging from kindergarten to university level. Applicants for ETA Programs can apply to only one country.
Eligibility
Applicants must be United States citizens with a bachelor’s degree or equivalent prior to the start of their grant, meaning that students who are seniors, graduate students, or alums at the time of application are eligible to apply. For more information see the eligibility section of the Fulbright website.
While applying for Fulbright can be a long process, Chatham University has resources available to help you strengthen your application.
Karin Chipman in the Office of International Affairs is Chatham’s Fulbright Program Adviser (FPA). She is available throughout the application process and has experience helping students in the Fulbright process. Applicants can click here to set up an appointment or reach her by email.
Academic Advisors: Your academic advisor and professors are helpful resources for the review of your application. Your application will be strengthened with feedback from multiple perspectives.
The Writing Center: The Office of Academic & Accessibility Resources (OAAR) includes a Writing Center. Fulbright applicants are encouraged to meet with the Writing Center when writing and revising their applications. Use the OAAR scheduler to make an appointment.
Fulbright Alumni Ambassadors: Applicants may visit the Fulbright Alumni Ambassadors page to read about and connect with a diverse group of individuals who have completed their Fulbright grants. The Fulbright Grantee Directory can also be useful to identify returnees who may have similar research, study, or teaching experiences that may relate to an applicant’s proposal.
Fulbright webinars, videos, and tutorials: The Fulbright program has a variety of helpful live and recorded resources on its website, including grant and location-specific sessions as well as office hours.
Learn online – get started with basic and practical greetings and sentences in Chinese with Tunghai University. It’s free and the next two-week session begins on April 11. Another session will be offered in October 2022. Sign up at https://form2.thu.edu.tw/1750571
