The Office of International Education at Beloit College administers three funds for student projects undertaken during winter and summer breaks: Asian Studies Grants, International Education Grants, and Weissberg International Human Rights Grants. A common application allows students to be considered for one or more of the grants at the same time.   Additionally, Study Abroad Enhancement Grants enable students to carry out small projects during study abroad.

Award Criteria

• demonstrated commitment to Asian Studies, International Education, and/or International Human Rights as evidenced by coursework, language study, study abroad, and other activities
• the strength and feasibility of the proposed project
• demonstrated connection between the proposed activity and the student’s prior educational experiences and other activities, and
• the strength of the student’s academic record

Faculty Support

Applicants should work with a faculty member to develop a strong project proposal and request a letter of recommendation.  Also, the applicant's academic advisor must submit a note of approval.  Both the recommendation and advisor approval can be sent to oie@beloit.edu.  

Funding can support

• international and local travel (see exceptions below)
• research expenses
• room and board for the period of the project activity
• attendance at conferences
• enrollment in short courses

Funding cannot support

• Faculty-led projects either related or unrelated to courses
• Projects undertaken during vacation terms (taking a full semester off)
• Transportation to and from international students’ home countries
• Transportation connected to a study abroad semester or year
• Projects in regions of countries under US State Department Travel Warning

Application deadlines

• The Monday after fall break for winter break projects
• The Monday after spring break for summer projects

Applications received after these dates will be considered on a case-by-case basis pending the availability of funding.

Note: All applications must be sent via email to moorej@beloit.edu by 5 pm (Central Time) on the due date.

Award amounts

$1,000-$3,000 with the average award $1,500. Grant amounts are disbursed in two installments: ¾ of the award before the start of activity, and ¼ of the award upon receipt of a project report following the completion of the activity.

Note: all grant recipients planning to travel for their project must purchase international health insurance for the full duration of their trip.  Costs should be reflected in the grant request.  Short-term policies can be purchased through CMI/Medex. 

Award announcements

Awards will be announced approximately two weeks after the application deadline.

Project reports and dissemination

Grant recipients are required to report on their projects by means of an evaluation, which must be submitted within 1 month of the end of project activities. Recipients are also asked to disseminate the project results through a public presentation, exhibit, website, or other means in the semester following the project activity.

More information

Download an application form here

View sample proposals: Asian Studies/International Education, Human Rights

Read reports about what students have done with these grants by clicking below:

International Education Grants Report 2009 - 2010

Weissberg Human Rights Grants Report 2009 -2010

Asian Studies Grants Report 2009 - 2010

Projects involving research on human subjects, such as interviews, should be approved by the Beloit College Institutional Review Board (IRB).  Please see guidelines here.