Off-Campus Studies Funding
You may be eligible for InAct off-campus studies funding to help offset the cost of traveling for an off-campus course or program. To apply, you will submit the OCS InAct application by the application deadline. The Ingenuity in Action Committee determines the funding awards prior to course deposit deadlines.
InAct OCS funding applications for the 2025-2026 academic year are due on Friday, April 4, 2025.
The Ingenuity in Action Committee determines the appropriate funding source and the scholarship amount. The committee considers the following criteria:
- GPA
- Cost of the off-campus course or program
- The content and quality of writing in the personal statement
- Level of financial need (when applicable)
Priority deadline: April 4, 2025, by 4:30 p.m.
This deadline applies for both the academic year and the summer off-campus study programs. If you miss the deadline because you're a new transfer student, contact us, and we'll see what resources we can find to help you.
Application steps
Please complete the following by the deadline:
- Apply for Off-Campus Studies in the InAct Portal.
Personal statement guidelines
In about 350-500 words, please tell us why you would like to participate in this course/program, what you hope to gain, and how it relates to your academic, professional, and/or personal goals.
You are strongly encouraged to bring your statement to the Dungy Writing Studio for review prior to submission. Statements that have multiple errors or are lacking in clarity may prevent you from being selected for a scholarship.
All scholarship recipients must compose a thank-you report to the donors upon completion of the course. Details about the report requirements will be sent by the Office Off-Campus Studies upon your return.
We can help you find additional funding sources to support your off-campus study experience. Subject-specific scholarships and grants can also help offset the costs of an off-campus course or program. Location-specific scholarships and grants may also be available.
| Additional funding source | Contact | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Berry Career Institute | Jodi Schafer | Interested in a specific field and want to study abroad to gain more experience in that field? Research, internships, and other experiential learning opportunities may be funded through one of the programs at the Berry Career Institute. |
| Academic Affairs | Laura Farmer | Various scholarships and fellowships are available dependent on the academic area of interest associated with your study abroad experience. |
| Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship | Laura Farmer | This Department of State scholarship might be a good fit for you if you are Pell Grant eligible. Although not funded by Cornell’s off-campus studies program, we can help you determine if you should apply for this scholarship. |
| Financial Assistance | Financial Aid Staff | Many loan providers have special financing packages for students studying abroad. Meet with your counselor in the Financial Assistance office for some guidance on loans. |
| Institute of International Education | Online resource | You’ll find hundreds of scholarships, fellowships, grants, and paid internships for U.S. undergraduates on the Institute of International Education’s Study Abroad Funding Directory. |
| Richard H. Thomas History Award | Catherine Stewart | The Thomas Award provides support for Cornell students majoring or minoring in history to study and conduct research off-campus. |
Get started
Make sure to review the registration process for studying off-campus. If you would like to discuss scholarship options, contact us.