Chatham has received funding from the Institute of International Education (IIE) to award up to 25 first-year Pell eligible students with funding for a US passport to study abroad. Pell eligible Chatham students with 0-29 earned undergraduate credits can submit an application.
What is study abroad?
Study abroad is an opportunity to pursue an educational program in a foreign country. Study abroad is available for students in every field of study and the length of these opportunities varies – Chatham students participate in study abroad and internship abroad programs ranging from short-term programs of just a few weeks to spending a whole academic year abroad. Students receive academic credit toward their undergraduate degrees through successful completion of these programs abroad.
What options are available? Is there funding to study or intern abroad?
To review Chatham’s Education Abroad and Field Experience opportunities, please see our website. Chatham students may also study or intern abroad on non-Chatham programs provided they meet Chatham approval criteria.
Apply now for funding for a US passport (valid for 10 years!)
To apply for funding for a US passport to pursue study abroad during your Chatham educationcomplete this form. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis and will close on October 18, 2021 or earlier if all passport funding has been allocated.
Please reach out to the Office of International Affairs, internationalaffairs@chatham.edu, if you have any questions about the passport funding application or opportunities abroad!
The China-U.S. Scholars Program (CUSP) is an exchange fellowship program for Chinese and American scholars and students in the arts, humanities and social sciences to teach, study or conduct research abroad in China, Hong Kong SAR or the US. in 2021-2022. The program will award 48 grants to selected faculty and students. The distribution of grants is anticipated to be roughly equal among Chinese students and scholars traveling to the US, and US students and scholars traveling to China. The program is funded by Carnegie Corporation of New York, Ford Foundation, Harvard-Yenching Institute, Henry Luce Foundation and Rockefeller Brothers Fund.
The application for the China-U.S. Scholars Program (CUSP) will open on March 1, 2021 and close on April 15, 2021. Programs can range from five to ten months and must take place between August 2021 and May 2022.
Please email CUSP@iie.org to receive a notification once the application is open.
All students and alums are invited to attend an Information Session on the Fulbright U.S. Student Program on Tuesday, March 30, 2021 at 5 PM EST.
This information session is open to any Chatham student or alum with an interest in the Fulbright program, and will be particularly helpful for those looking to apply for the 2022-23 cycle. Speakers will include ambassadors from the Fulbright US Student Program. To attend, please register at the link below and email Fulbright Program Adviser Karin Chipman, kchipman@chatham.edu, with any questions. The Fulbright U.S. Student Program provides opportunities abroad for U.S. citizens to pursue graduate or professional study, conduct research, or teach English.
Are you a Chatham student looking to fund your future study or internship abroad in-person or virtual experiences? We can help! See scholarship opportunities with upcoming deadlines below.
Gilman International Scholarship – Pell grant recipients can apply for funding toward in-person or virtual study abroad and receive up to $5,000 (or $8,000 if you’re studying a Critical Need Language) to go abroad. The March 9, 2021 deadline application is open for applicants whose in-person or virtual programs start between May 1, 2021, to April 30, 2022 (Summer 2021, Fall 2021 or Spring 2022 programs).
Freeman-Asia Awardsprovide need-based funding to assist students studying in East or Southeast Asia with the cost of the study abroad program and related expenses, including airfare, basic living costs, local transportation, books, etc. Check your eligibility and application instructions. Applications due March 30, 2021.
Bridging Scholarship – The Bridging Project is accepting applications from American students who will participate in study-abroad programs in Japan beginning Fall 2021. The deadline for receipt of applications is April 16, 2021. Funding from private foundations, corporations, and individuals has made it possible to award scholarships for travel and living expenses while studying abroad in Japan beginning in August-October of 2021. Bridging Scholarship recipients will receive a stipend of $2,500 (for students on single-semester programs), or either $4,000 or $4,500 (for students on full-year programs).
Inclusive Ireland Scholarships 2021 – Sponsored by Education in Ireland, these scholarships will offer €3000 scholarships to study for a semester at one of 14 Irish institutions. In order to be considered for the scholarship, you must be currently enrolled as an undergraduate student at a college or university in the United States; identify as BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color); intend to study abroad at one of the participating colleges or universities in Ireland during the Fall 2021 term; and have a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or above. The application will close on April 1st, 2021, at 11:59 PM PST. The application requires contact information and two essay questions.
Fund for Education Abroadsupports US citizen or permanent resident undergraduate students who are underrepresented in study abroad. The application will open July 1, 2021 at 12pm EST for Spring 2022 study abroad programs.
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, 2021.
Two Chatham scholarships are offered to Chatham undergraduates for participation in semester study abroad programs:
IFSA Scholarship— Scholarships of up to $4250 to study abroad for semester in Cyprus (Nicosia), Thailand (Mahidol) or Costa Rica (Veritas). The deadline to apply for a IFSA Scholarship for Fall 2021 study abroad is March 15, 2021.
Are you looking for information on program options (in person or virtual)? If you have any questions, or for more information on study abroad vouchers, program options and scholarships contact internationalaffairs@chatham.edu or make an appointment: https://calendly.com/kchipman.
Consistent with current Chatham study abroad approval policies, Chatham will approve individual students to participate in mobility-based study abroad for summer and upcoming terms in locations that have a U.S. Department of State Travel Advisory of Level 1 (Exercise Normal Precautions) or Level 2 (Exercise Increased Precautions) andCenters for Disease Control (CDC) COVID19 Travel Health Notice of Level 1 (Low) or Level 2 (Moderate). Virtual study and internship opportunities are available for many locations that do not meet these health and safety levels. Students must submit Chatham’s study abroad application for consideration of any credit-bearing international experience and should contact the Office of International Affairs, internationalaffairs@chatham.edu, with any questions.
What does this mean for students planning to study abroad in summer 2021 and upcoming terms?
Many students have indicated a plan to study/intern abroad in countries that do not currently meet Chatham’s approval criteria. To review the safety levels for your program location, please click on the above links and search for your program location. Locations with US Department of State (USDOS) Level 3 or 4 and/or Centers for Disease Control (CDC) COVID19 Level 3 or 4, do not currently meet Chatham’s approval criteria, though conditions may change prior to a program’s start date.
Students may still choose to apply for these programs, but Chatham will not fully approve students for mobility-based study or internship abroad unless the program location’s USDOS and CDC levels are reduced. As you may be aware, there is no guarantee that a location’s USDOS and CDC levels would improve to an acceptable level prior to a program start date. If a student’s program location’s USDOS and CDC levels does not improve to USDOS Level 1 or 2 and CDC COVID19 Level 1 or 2 by 60 days before the program start date, Chatham will not approve study or internship abroad to that location. In these situations, students should make alternate arrangements; some options are listed below.
In any case, it is not recommended that students make nonrefundable deposits or definite plans for travel until students receive full approval to participate in a mobility-based study or internship abroad program. It is the student’s responsibility to know and understand their study abroad location’s entry requirements, health and safety policies and protocols of their study abroad destination, any program-specific codes of conduct or other local requirements, as well as the financial and withdrawal policies of their selected study abroad program.
Other options students may consider include:
choose to study abroad in another location that meets approval criteria
opt for a virtual study/intern abroad program (for which Chatham study abroad voucher and International Studies certificate funding will be honored)
if possible, defer their study abroad to a future term
Please reach out to internationalaffairs@chatham.edu with any questions.
The Chatham University English Language Program recorded a short video about the Spring 2021 semester, and the options to study virtually or in-person.
If you are not able to join us for in-person classes, you can still register for the virtual English Language Program for Spring 2021!
Please apply by January 4 to join Spring 2021 virtual classes!
We will also have options to join the English Language Program to study a 7.5 week intensive course from March 4- April 23. Please contact us for more details!
Ready to change the world? Apply for the Frederick Douglass Global Fellowship, a full scholarship to study abroad with a cohort of student leaders from around the country.
The Frederick Douglass Global Fellowship was founded to empower students of color with a transformative experience abroad, much like Frederick Douglass was inspired by his travels. All program fees are covered, as well as airfare.
This year’s cohort is co-sponsored by the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs to commemorate the 175th anniversary of Douglass’s four-month journey around Ireland. You’ll be based in Dublin and visit other cities where Douglass campaigned, while meeting with government leaders and social justice activists.
The application is open to first-, second- and third-year students who have a GPA of 3.0 or higher and are from ethnic backgrounds typically underrepresented on study abroad programs.
This opportunity is offered by CIEE, a student exchange organization whom Chatham partners with. As a next step, start your application at www.CIEE.ORG/FDGF. (If you enter your name and email, you’ll receive updates before the February 14, 2021 deadline.) All eligible students who submit an application also qualify for a $1,500 scholarship towards any CIEE summer program.
Chatham’s Office of International Affairs (internationalaffairs@chatham.edu) is available to support students and answer questions related to this opportunity as well as other study abroad scholarships and post-graduation fellowships.
DHS Proposal to eliminate D/S
On September 25, 2020, a proposed rule was published to the Federal Register that would, if finalized, impact students and scholars on F and J visa status. The proposed rule seeks to eliminate D/S (duration of status) for these visa types, and instead implement date-specific admission. This impacts many aspects of international student and exchange visitor programs, including: limitations on how long a student can study, reduction of the F-1 grace period, required extension applications, and impacts on employment authorization, to name a few.
It is important to note that the proposed rule isnot finalized. A period of public comment recently closed on October 26th. Members of the Chatham community, including OIA, submitted comments opposing the proposed rule change.
Additional information on the proposed rule change, as well as current updates, can be found on the NAFSA interest site.
USCIS Fee Rule injunction (important for those filing OPT applications)
On September 29, 2020, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California issued a nationwide preliminary injunction and stay on implementation of the 2020 final USCIS fee rulein its entirety. New fees and form versions associated with that rule that were to be required on October 2, 2020, as well as all other aspects of the rule, are now on hold while the injunction is in place. Read the court’s order.
Based on the court injunction, USCIS is blocked from implementing the fee increase and new forms. As you are preparing to file an OPT application, or STEM-extension application, you will be able to use the current fees ($410) and the current form (issued 8/25/20) for your I-765 application.
OIA will keep you updated on the outcomes of these items. If you have any questions, please contact us at InternationalAffairs@Chatham.edu
Please click on the above links for program and application information. The application deadline is 12/2/2020.
Important Notes:
At this time, Summer 2021 field experiences are conditionally approved and will only run if health and safety conditions, including visa and entry restrictions, US Dept. of State Travel Advisory and CDC Travel Health Notice for each location, permit. Chatham does not approve study abroad to US Dept. of State locations with a Level 3 or Level 4 Travel Advisory; or to locations with a CDC Travel Health Notice of Level 3. Restrictions on entry, including quarantine and testing requirements, and other travel conditions may also affect Chatham’s ability to offer these field experiences.
Chatham will announce a decision on if summer 2021 study abroad will be permitted in January 2021. There is no risk or cost to students in applying for a summer field experience. Deposits for students participating in these field experiences would not be due until after the January 2021 announcement.
Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, conditions may require changes to field experience programs, including program dates, cost, facilities, activities, transportation, and itinerary. Students considering participating in these field experiences will need to be flexible, understand the risks of participation, and will be required to agree to health and safety protocols and any restrictions put in place by Chatham, in-country partners, and country, regional and local agencies. Chatham is monitoring travel conditions and is working closely with in-country partners for updates on current protocols, restrictions and health and safety information. Chatham is committed to transparency in communicating information that may affect these field experience programs.
Students may apply their $1,200 study abroad voucher toward any of these field experiences. This one-time voucher is available to each undergraduate student who has 30+ credits, at least 15 of which have been completed at Chatham. Students do not need to apply for the study abroad voucher; it is applied to your Chatham account for the term in which you study abroad, reducing the amount you pay by $1,200. For the Cyprus and Taiwan field experiences, students completing an International Studies Certificate may apply their $1,800 certificate funding toward the program cost. For more information the International Studies Certificates, please see the Certificate checklists at https://my.chatham.edu/tools/_departments/advising/checklists/
Students who receive Federal Pell grants may be eligible to use Pell funding toward summer programs of 6 or more credits (please contact Office of Financial Aid for details of your award) and should consider applying for a Gilman Scholarship for additional funding (there are two application deadlines -10/6/20 and early March 2021 for summer 2021 study abroad).
Join the Zoom Q&A on Summer 2021 Chatham Field Experiences on Friday October 9, 12:30-1:30 pm. See https://my.chatham.edu/happenings/details.cfm?EventID=28393 to register for this Zoom meeting.
Questions? Please reach out to field experience faculty leaders and/ or internationalaffairs@chatham.edu
