Wesleyan Summer Grants

Wesleyan University

Apply for a Wesleyan Summer Grant

2025 Application Window
Information will be released in late fall/early winter

The Wesleyan Summer Grants Program provides funding to alleviate costs associated with pursuing career-related summer experiences and is made possible by the generosity of donors. Applications open annually at the start of the spring semester and funds are awarded up to $5,000. Funding can be used to cover expenses directly related to the experience, including housing, food, travel, clothing/equipment, and program costs. Experiences eligible for funding include internships, volunteer work, academic programs, research (with an organization), independent projects/research, thesis research (Juniors only), entrepreneurial ventures. All applicants will complete ONE general application, which will include information about your experience, essays, and a budget outlining your request for funding.

In order to apply, you must:

  • Be an actively enrolled undergraduate student
  • Be a current First Year, Sophomore, Junior, or Senior (December graduates only)
  • Have ONE confirmed experience for the summer – students cannot combine multiple experiences
  • Confirm you have an approved resume by the Gordon Career Center uploaded on Handshake
    • Please note that once you upload your resume to Handshake it will be reviewed, not necessarily approved, within 48 hours or 2 business days. Please plan accordingly and expect that your resume may not be approved the first time you upload it. It is strongly encouraged that you schedule a resume review appointment with a peer career advisor before you upload it to Handshake for the first time.
    • View Wesleyan Resume Guide & Resources

This program prioritizes sophomores, juniors, and students who are receiving need-based financial aid. Seniors graduating in May and previous Wesleyan Summer Grant recipients are not eligible for funding.

Student Eligibility

  • Actively enrolled undergraduate student
  • Current First Year, Sophomore, Junior, or Senior (December graduates only)
  • An approved resume by the Gordon Career Center uploaded on Handshake
    • Please note that once you upload your resume to Handshake it will be reviewed, not necessarily approved, within 48 hours or 2 business days. Please plan accordingly and expect that your resume may not be approved the first time you upload it. It is strongly encouraged that you schedule a resume review appointment with a peer career advisor before you upload it to Handshake for the first time.
    • View Wesleyan Resume Guide & Resources

Seniors graduating in May and previous Wesleyan Summer Grant recipients are not eligible for funding.

This program prioritizes sophomores, juniors, and students who are receiving need-based financial aid.

Experience Eligibility & Requirements

Students must have one confirmed experience for the summer in order to apply for funding. The following types of experiences are eligible for grant funding:

  • Internship
  • Volunteer Position
  • Academic Summer Program
  • Research Opportunity (with organization/employer)
  • Entrepreneurial Venture
  • Independent Project or Research
  • Thesis Research – Juniors only

All experiences must meet the following requirements:

  • Career-focused: Opportunities must be related to career development and/or exploration
  • At least 6 weeks long with a minimum of 225 total hours. ( ie 37.5 hours/week)
  • Take place during Summer 2024 (May-August)

Internship, Volunteer Position, Academic Summer Program, Research Opportunity:
Applicants will need to include their offer letter in the application. If awarded funding, a supervisor from the organization will be required to submit a confirmation form. Supervisors cannot be family members or current Wesleyan students.

Entrepreneurial Venture, Independent Project/Research, Thesis Research:
Applicants are required to have a Wesleyan faculty member serve as their advisor. Faculty members will be required to complete a form confirming your experience as part of the application process.

Applying for funding on a project or venture with other classmates?
Grants are awarded to individual students, so each student that would like to be considered for funding must complete a separate application. If you are doing a joint venture, please make sure your essays are done individually as well as your budget.

The Wesleyan Summer Grants Committee, comprised of staff outside of the Gordon Career Center, will review and score all essays with a rubric. All applicants will remain anonymous to the committee. Please do not disclose your name in your essays. All applicants will be required to answer the following two essays:

  • Provide a detailed description of your summer experience and your role. Dependent on your experience, this should include your main responsibilities, focus of work and/or project information, information about the employer/organization/program, anticipated challenges you foresee, and any other additional information you would like to include. (500 words maximum)
  • What personally motivates you to pursue this summer opportunity? Discuss how this experience aligns with your academic and career goals, highlighting the skills and knowledge you hope to gain. Additionally, share your expectations for personal and professional growth throughout the duration of this summer endeavor. (750 words maximum)

View Rubric

Additional Essays
Please note the following grants require an additional essay. If you would like to be considered, you will select the grant on the application and upload the corresponding essay. These grants are part of the Wesleyan Summer Grants Program and are NOT additional funds.

Wesleyan Black Alumni Council Memorial Prize Summer Stipend
Essay: The Wesleyan Black Alumni Council (WBAC) honors the memory and spirit of alumni Bruce D. Hall ’77, James “Donnie” Rochester ’74, and Dwight L. Greene ’70 through a summer experience grant to support projects or research pertaining to the African American experience. Please share how your proposal aligns with this intention. (750 words maximum)

The Wesleyan Israel and Jewish Student Life Endowed Program Fund
The Wesleyan Israel and Jewish Student Life Endowed Program Fund was established by anonymous donors to assist students in financing summer experiences related to Jewish and Israel studies (Israeli history and culture) and/or contemporary Jewish life. Upon return, the awarded student(s) will be asked to share their experiences with the rest of the Wesleyan community in a meaningful way.
Essay: Please describe, in detail, how your proposal and/or experience will inform and enhance your understanding of Jewish and Israeli history and culture, and/or contemporary Jewish life. (750 words maximum)

Wesleyan Summer Grants Budget Sheet

All applicants must complete this sheet. Other budget sheets will not be accepted.


All applicants are required to submit a budget sheet, detailing the funding request for your summer experience. All items included in your budget must be directly related to your experience. Please be mindful of this when submitting your application. Generally, the more detailed your budget, the stronger your application. If selected to receive funding, based on the information you provide and available funds, an amount may be awarded to you, equal to or less than your request.

Your anticipated income (if any) should be less than your expenses. If your income is greater than the expenses outlined in your budget, you will not show a deficit and will be ineligible for funding.

  • The Summer Grants Program will provide funding to help alleviate costs in the following areas:
    • Living/Personal Expenses: Rent/Housing, Utilities (if not included with rent/housing),
    • Food, Clothing (only if specific wardrobe is required for your experience)
    • Travel Expenses: Airfare, Train Tickets, Bus Fare/Tickets, Subway/Metro Fare, Mileage ($.655 cents per mile)
    • Program Expenses: Tuition (non-Wesleyan), Supplies (ie notebooks, pens), Books and Equipment (student will retain)
  • Funds may not be used for any of the following
    • Purchasing or leasing a vehicle
    • Tuition at Wesleyan University
    • Payment to yourself
    • Personal expenses deemed unnecessary to completing the experience
    • Other discretionary expenses deemed unrelated to the opportunity

All funding requests must be in US Dollars. Please check the exchange rate if you will be located where the US dollar is not used.

Budget Sheet Breakdown

  • Expenses: Select the eligible items from the drop-down list that you will need funding for.
  • Description of Expenses: Provide detail on the item selected for expenses and provide its relation to your experience.
  • City, State(s) or Countr(ies) Associated with Expense: In what location(s) will this be purchased.
  • Source: Where did you find the amount listed on your budget. For example the website you found the price on. Applicants need to show they researched their expenses and are not making cost assumptions.
  • Total Dollar Amount: List the dollar amount for the item in that row.

Additional Resources

2025 Timeline will be announced in late fall/early winter

  1. Can I receive a Wesleyan Summer Grant more than once?
    1. In an effort to provide a greater number of students with the opportunity to receive summer funding – grant recipients can only receive a Wesleyan Summer Grant once.
  2. How many students receive a grant each year?
    1. This is a very competitive application process. The number of grant recipients varies depending on the funds available in a given year. In previous years, approximately 40% of the total applicants received funding to participate in an experience.
  3. How does the grant affect my taxes?
    1. Wesleyan University does not make any determination on the taxability of these awards. As these funds could be 1099 reportable, we recommend that students consult with a tax advisor on how to treat and report this grant for tax purposes. Non-US residents working in the United States will be taxed at 14%. For more information, please review the following University information: Taxation of Scholarships, Fellowships, and Stipends.
  4. What if my summer experience is going to take place outside the United States? 
    1. Please register your travel with the Office of Study Abroad prior to your departure. The Office of Study Abroad can also help you with information about your destination, health and safety, budgeting, etc., so feel free to contact them with these questions as you are applying.
  5. What if I need help completing my application?
    1. Questions can be directed to wsg@wesleyan.edu. If you need assistance with your application, please make an appointment on Handshake. For accessibility resources, please visit Wesleyan’s Accessibility Services.

Information Sessions

EventDate & TimeLocationRegister on Handshake

Locations and dates/times subject to change

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Contact & Location

Phone
860-685-2180
Address

Boger Hall
41 Wyllys Avenue
Middletown, CT 06459

Career Service Hours

Monday 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Tuesday 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Wednesday 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Thursday 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Friday 9:00 am - 5:00 pm