David Rockefeller International Experience Grants
Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Who is eligible to receive a David Rockefeller International Experience Grant?

2. What is the definition of a Significant International Experience?

3. How do I apply?

4. Are any students given preference in the competition?

5. How will Harvard determine the award amount I will receive through the David Rockefeller International Experience Grants?

6. May I apply for more than one grant?

7. Where can I find information on study, internship, and service opportunities?

8. What if my proposed program or project is not eight weeks long?

9. If I want to apply to an independent, non-Harvard program, and it is not on any of the lists of pre-approved programs, how can I find out if it will be eligible for an OIP grant?

10. Am I eligible for a grant from the Office of International Programs if I go to an English-speaking country?

11. Can I select a program that visits multiple countries?

12. Whom do I contact with additional questions?

1.  Who is eligible to receive a David Rockefeller International Experience Grant?
Currently enrolled students who have not previously received a David Rockefeller International Experience Grant are eligible. Student must be in good standing at Harvard College at the time of application and participation in the overseas experience are eligible. Second-semester seniors are not eligible, as all applicants must return to campus for at least one semester after their experience abroad. Students on a leave of absence at the time of the deadline are not eligible to apply.

2.  For the David Rockefeller International Experience Grants Program, a student’s project or program must qualify as a Significant International Experience (SIE). What is the definition of an SIE?
We refer you to the definition of a Significant International Experience, written by the Committee on Education Abroad. The CEA explains the three broad criteria for evaluating the quality of a Harvard SIE: cultural immersion, faculty involvement, and curricular integration.

The CEA states that “eight (8) weeks is the minimum reasonable time frame to insure the kind of in-depth cultural experience desired”; that linguistic immersion is strongly encouraged and desirable whenever possible; and that the “direct or indirect involvement of Harvard faculty from across the university, either individually or through one of the concentrations or departments, is a key desideratum.”

If you have questions about whether your proposed project meets the definition of a significant international experience, please seek advice from the Office of International Programs. Note: All SIEs must be at least eight weeks long.

3.  How do I apply?
To be considered for a David Rockefeller International Experience Grant, apply using the Common Application for Research and Travel (CARAT). Full application requirements including supplemental materials can be found here. The application deadline for summer 2010 is February 12th.

4.  Are any students given preference in the competition?
Applications will be evaluated based on the merit of the proposed activity. Students who have not previously received funding from a Harvard source for international travel during their undergraduate careers will be given preference for these grants. All students, however, will be considered.

5.  How will Harvard determine the award amount I will receive through the David Rockefeller International Experience Grants?
Award amounts are determined by the cost of the program and the current financial aid status of the student. If you intend to participate in a Harvard Summer School program or another Harvard-run program, consult with the program for guidelines about what constitutes a reasonable budget request. Do not list a personal contribution or summer earnings expectation in the CARAT budget. If you need help constructing your budget, please consult resources at the OIP and the OCS. Questions about financial aid eligibility for the summer grants should be directed to the Financial Aid office at 5-1581 or faoinfo@fas.harvard.edu. Students who do not receive financial aid from Harvard will also be considered for awards. In summer 2009, the average award for students not currently receiving financial aid was $1,500.

6. May I apply for more than one grant?
You may only submit one grant application to the David Rockefeller International Experience Grant program. However, you may submit multiple funding applications to other international funding resources at Harvard; a complete list of funding sources is online in the Funding Sources Database.

7.  Where can I find information on study, internship, and service opportunities?
Students have many options, ranging from Harvard Summer School to internships or research sponsored by regional and area studies Centers, from Harvard Institutes to other university-wide initiatives and schools. Students may also develop their own program. Consult the list of Harvard-run programs on the Office of International Programs (OIP) website. The list of Harvard-approved study abroad programs is available on the OIP web site. For help with your search for an international internship, service, or volunteer opportunity, visit the Office of Career Services weekdays from 2:00-4:00 and meet with a drop-in counselor. If you cannot visit OCS during these hours, call 5-2595 to schedule an appointment with a counselor at a more convenient time.

8.  What if my proposed program or project is not eight weeks long?
Although you will not be considered for the David Rockefeller International Experience Grant, you may be eligible for other funding from OIP.

9.  If I want to apply to a non-Harvard study abroad program, and it is not on the list of OIP-approved programs, how can I find out if it will be eligible for an OIP grant?
Students interested in studying abroad on a program that is not listed on the OIP Approved Programs List should be aware that they may not receive credit for the experience; however, they are still permitted to apply for a grant. If you would like to petition for your program to be approved for credit, consult the OIP web site on the procedure. Students who find an internship or service program or project on their own are urged to consult with Harvard advisers with knowledge of the project and the region in order to strengthen their applications. Students pursuing independent research projects abroad may have a faculty member evaluate the proposal and write the required letter of recommendation.

10.  Am I eligible for a grant from the Office of International Programs if I go to an English-speaking country? Yes.

11. Can I select a program that visits multiple countries?
Given that a key objective is for students to have an immersive experience in another country and culture, we expect that it will be difficult to create an experience, especially during the summer, that includes time in multiple countries and still integrates students into the foreign culture. All applications will be considered, however, and the proposal must justify why the student needs to travel to more than one country.

12. Whom do I contact with additional questions?
Contact the Office of International Programs at 5-7496 or oipgrant@fas.harvard.edu. The Office of Career Services (5-2595), faculty, advisors, tutors, and other advisers who may also be able to help you as you determine the best plan for your summer abroad.

Updated September 2009