Student Funding

You may only apply for one experience type in the initial application and the application must be tailored to a specific opportunity.

Internships (including Colby’s Education Practicum): Internships, including “volunteer” opportunities, provide insight into an industry and career path of interest at an off-campus job site and monitored by an onsite work supervisor affiliated with the organization (80 hours minimum). You do NOT need to have fully secured an opportunity to apply but the application must be based on one specific, well-researched opportunity. If the committee offers an award based on the merits of the application, you have up to one opportunity to revise and submit for a different experience, excluding independent studies. Living expenses for internships within your hometown (or locally if living on campus or in Waterville) will not be awarded. We recommend meeting with a DavisConnects advisor before you apply to develop persuasive outreach skills, refine your resume, and explore opportunities within an industry that interests you and aligns with your goals. If your internship may be paid, please see information in the FAQ section below regarding award eligibility. 

Research and Other Independent Study Projects: Independent studies are individual projects in an area where you have demonstrated the interest and competence necessary for independent work (in most cases, only upperclassmen and/or those who have taken the appropriate coursework within their discipline will be approved to undertake them). Only pre-approved independent studies are eligible for funding. You will need to find a faculty member well before the funding deadline to help you develop and approve your project as well as agree to be your faculty supervisor for a registered independent study. Internships that include a research component are not considered independent studies, and should therefore be registered as an internship. Independent study funding through DavisConnects is intended for living and travel expenses for abroad experiences only but other departments may fund domestic experiences, materials, and equipment as their budgets and criteria allow.

Programs: A program is an experience in which a non-Colby third party charges tuition or a fee to facilitate experiential learning or training. Funding through DavisConnects is reserved for short-term study abroad and language immersion programs (like those offered by CIEE, CET, or SIT) for seniors on financial aid who have not yet had a global experience (either semester abroad or short-term). Even then, committees will consider funding these programs on a case-by-case basis as funds are extremely limited. Courses offered by other colleges and universities in the U.S. are prohibited. You do not need to have been accepted into the program to apply. If the committee offers an award based on the merits of the application, you have up to one opportunity to revise and submit for a different experience, excluding independent studies.

Bunche and Presidential Scholar Grants have broader criteria and so Scholars are eligible for these programs (up to the $3,000 grant limit) at any time, as approved by the funding committee, as well as other types such as conferences or online skills and certification courses (only one course per application). DavisConnects does not have funding available for conferences or online programs.

Grants do not cover academic semester (or yearlong) abroad or domestic experiences as financial aid is portable. Off-Campus Study (OCS) within DavisConnects will be reaching out to you in September of your sophomore year with an information session to get you started on planning for your time away junior year. You will need to apply through OCS in your sophomore year to be away as a junior. Please email [email protected] for more information.

Civic Engagement Projects: These are initiatives in direct partnership or collaboration with a non-profit organization working to address a pressing social issue or community need in the State of Maine. The Office of Civic Engagement and Community Partnership awards these through their O’Hanian-Szostak Fellowship for Civic Leadership.

Off-Campus or Fee-Based On-Campus Colby Courses (Jan Plan): Academic departments will be your first point of contact but courses will be listed on the DavisConnects website in early September and will include info session dates and contact information for faculty leaders. You must apply and be accepted into the course or waitlisted to submit an application for funding. Faculty leaders will be hosting information sessions for Jan Plan off-campus courses in mid-September and applications for admission will be open soon after. Students who do not come off the course waitlist and subsequently the funding waitlist may apply for funding or other experience types below (in November) and will need to first email [email protected].

You may apply for funding only during the application period under “Start Your Funding Application” below.

First, fill out and submit the General Application Part I. You will then proceed to the General Application Part II. After you submit these, you will automatically be considered for all DavisConnects funding sources (we match you with a funding source if awarded). Presidential Scholars and Bunche Scholars will also need to complete these steps to be considered for their grants (there is no direct application).

You may also be eligible for funding through other academic departments and programs. As you complete the General Application Part II, a list of  “Recommended Opportunities” will appear. Only after you click “Finish and Submit” at the bottom of the General Application Part II will you have access to fill out these short supplementary ones.

Your candidacy will then be considered by both the DavisConnects funding committee and the committee within that respective department. As DavisConnects funds are limited, applying to these other opportunities will increase your chances of being funded.

* Only DavisConnects will be hosting funding opportunities for fall semester.

During each funding cycle, the application will only be live on our online platform for a limited number of days and can be accessed below under “Start Your Application.” We recommend developing your application in advance in Word docs and then pasting it into the online platform when it opens.

FALL SEMESTER ’26:

Application Opens: Wed., Aug. 5 @ 12:00 AM
Application Closes: Sun., Aug. 16 @ 11:59 PM 
Award Notifications:Mon., Aug. 24
Fund Disbursement Requirements: Fri., Sept. 4

JAN PLAN ’27 FEE-BASED COURSES:

Application Opens: Mon., Sept. 28 @ 12:00 AM
Application Closes: Sun., Oct. 4 @ 11:59 PM 
Award Notifications: Wed., Oct. 14
Deadline to Accept/Decline Funding: Fri., Oct. 16

JAN PLAN ’27 (INTERNSHIPS, RESEARCH, PROGRAMS):

Application Opens: Mon., Oct. 5 @ 12:00 AM
Application Closes:Tue., Oct. 13 @ 11:59 PM 
Award Notifications: Fri., Oct.r 30
Fund Disbursement Requirements: Fri., Dec. 4

SPRING SEMESTER ’27:

Application Opens: Wed., Jan. 13 @ 12:00 AM
Application Closes: Fri., Jan.  22 @ 11:59 PM 
Award Notifications: Fri., Jan. 29
Fund Disbursement Requirements: Wed., Feb. 10

SUMMER BREAK ’27:

Application Opens: Wed., Mar. 10 @ 12:00 AM
Application Closes: Tue., Mar. 23 @ 11:59 PM 
Award Notifications:Wed., Apr. 21
Fund Disbursement Requirements: Wed., May 19

ESSAYS

The questions listed below appear in the General Application Part II and can be prepared in advance. It is our hope that you use these prompts beyond the funding application, developing them throughout your remaining time at Colby in order to practice writing persuasive narratives that help to tell your story. They will be useful to leverage for cover letters, job interviews, or perhaps a personal statement for graduate school or a fellowship.

1) At Colby, you can explore your interests, learn about yourself, discover new professional pathways, and refine your postgraduate plans. Write a reflection explaining how the experience for which you are requesting funding connects to your academic, professional, and personal goals, making clear how it supports, informs, or advances your current or emerging professional path (200 words max).

2) Using the three prompts below, write a focused reflection explaining how the experience for which you are seeking funding will help you develop key competencies, skills, and knowledge. Your response should address all three components below, provide specific examples whenever possible, and explain how the competencies and learning objective you selected connect to your goals for this experience (200 words max).

a) The National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) has identified eight core competencies for what they call “career readiness.” These are a set of foundational skills that prepare you to enter any industry. They are, understandably, in high demand across all industries.

Use this link to review the list of eight core competencies and then choose the competency that you believe will be most important for you to develop through this experience:

• Career & Self Development
• Communication
• Critical Thinking
• Equity & Inclusion
• Leadership
• Professionalism
• Teamwork
• Technology

b) Global engagement is integral to a Colby education. By “global” we mean both the diverse peoples, cultures, and languages beyond the United States and the range of peoples, cultures, and languages that live and thrive right here—in the United States, Maine, Waterville, and on Mayflower Hill. Colby aims to support the development of core competencies related to global learning and literacy.

Choose the global learning competency that you believe will be most important for you to develop through this experience.

• Understand how one’s actions affect and are affected by local and global systems
• Think critically about how social identities are constructed
• Develop intercultural competence, which is the ability to communicate with, understand, and work with people of various backgrounds, values, worldviews, and behaviors
• Work collaboratively to address the world’s most pressing and enduring challenges

c) Include at least one specific learning objective for this experience that is not fully captured by the competencies above. This may be a skill, knowledge area, professional capability, or personal area of growth that you hope to develop.

3. Describe the significance of the experience’s geographic and/or cultural location and its potential impact on your personal, academic, and professional growth. If the experience takes place abroad, explain why it could not occur in the U.S. International students proposing experiences in their home country should also explain why it is essential for the experience to take place there. (100 words max)

4. Describe how your academic and extracurricular experiences at Colby have prepared you for this opportunity. If pursuing an independent study, highlight relevant coursework—especially methods courses—that have equipped you with the skills or knowledge to succeed. (100 words max)

5. Explain the unique contributions you will bring to this experience and how you hope to further develop, apply, or share what you gain within the Colby community. (100 words max)

STAFF/FACULTY REFERENCE

All applicants will need to send a reference form on the funding application to a Colby staff or faculty reference by inputting their name and email address. All references should be informed of your plans and asked well in advance if they would be willing to provide a reference. Once you submit their information, they will receive a short questionnaire in their email inbox to fill out and submit.

For independent studies, the reference must be provided by the faculty member that has reviewed your project proposal and has agreed to supervise your registered independent study. This reference must be submitted by the funding deadline in order to be considered. No exceptions.

For internships or programs, the reference should be provided by a staff or faculty member that knows you well and can provide a character and/or academic reference. It is important to notify them of your plans and ask if they would be willing to provide one in advance. References for these experience types do not need to be in by the funding deadline but they will help committee members make a decision. If you are offered funding, fund disbursement is conditional on a positive reference submitted by the “Post-Acceptance” (fund disbursement) deadline.

BUDGET SHEET

Applicants are required to use a standard budget sheet, available to download on the funding application and to download below in advance. The budget sheet below is an example of what a good budget looks like. You may delete the example information and use this sheet to develop your application. They will also be available for download in the actual application.

Download example budget

Looking to learn about budgeting and saving? Colby Student Financial Services (SFS) has launched a new personal finance platform to help empower students with their own personal finance goals. iGrad is designed to provide practical insights and tools to help students make informed decisions about budgeting, saving, and so much more. Go to colby.igrad.com and sign-up today with your @colby.edu email address at colby.igrad.com to get started right away!

How are applications prioritized? Due to high demand, applications are prioritized based on quality of the application and the proposed experience, whether a student has previously received funding, level of financial need, and class year. Juniors and seniors with strong applications, who are on financial aid, and have not yet received funding are typically given the highest priority. Students may receive funding multiple times during their time at Colby (in most cases, up to three awards), depending on funding availability and the nature of the opportunity in each cycle. Students who have previously been funded are still eligible to apply but should expect lower priority in the review process. In these cases, applicants are encouraged to meet with Scott Lamer ([email protected]) prior to the deadline to discuss eligibility.

What makes a good application? Above all, applicants should submit a complete application by thoroughly answering all essay questions and including a reference and a budget sheet with detailed expense justifications. While the evaluation criteria may vary slightly by experience type (see Eligible Experience Types) and review committee, strong applications clearly outline specific learning objectives as well as career, academic, and personal goals, and explain how the proposed experience will help achieve those goals. Applicants should also demonstrate that the experience is distinctive and make a compelling case for its value to their personal, academic, and professional development.

If I am not on financial aid, may I apply for funding? While all awards are competitive, funding is primarily designated for students with demonstrated financial need. Students who are not receiving financial aid for tuition may still apply but must submit a financial need statement explaining their level of need. Students receiving financial aid will receive priority in the review process.

How does funding compensate me if my internship is unpaid or underpaid? The purpose of our student grants is to help make experiential learning opportunities financially accessible by offsetting approved living and travel expenses, such as housing and transportation, and, when applicable, providing some lost wages support. Only students receiving financial aid may include lost wages in their budget. Lost wages support is intended to provide some additional financial assistance for students participating in unpaid or underpaid experiences that limit their ability to earn income during that time. Eligible students may request lost wages funding as part of their grant budget and, if awarded, may receive up to $500 for Jan Plan experiences or up to $2,000 for semester and summer experiences.

How much funding can I ask for? Typical grant awards range from $2,500–$3,500, depending on a student’s level of financial need, the overall budget proposal, and any income received from the experience. Students with greater financial need or higher eligible expenses may receive larger awards. The maximum award available through DavisConnects is $8,000 for experiences that do not provide any income (funding limits from other departments may vary). The exception to the $8,000 maximum is Colby’s Tuck Business Bridge course during Jan Plan, which follows a separate funding structure.

Will I receive the full amount I request? Committee members carefully review all budget requests and may conduct additional research if needed. Awards may be approved for less than the amount requested based on funding guidelines, budget justification, and overall demand. In some cases, when funding is competitive, partial awards may be made to ensure broader access to available funds and to reflect expected student contribution toward the experience.

Do I need to contribute my own funds to this experience? Students are expected to contribute toward the cost of the experience when they are able to do so. This may include reducing a lost wages request below the $2,000 maximum or covering a portion of expenses not funded through the grant.

Can I receive funding for a paid internship? Yes, you may still be eligible for funding if your internship is paid. However, all internship income, including hourly wages or stipends, must be reported and documented in your budget worksheet. Internship earnings are considered a resource available to support your experience and will be factored into your funding eligibility and award calculation. Failure to accurately disclose internship compensation or other financial resources is a violation of the student code of conduct and may result in the denial or revocation of funding.

How much funding can I receive for a paid opportunity? For paid internship experiences, the combined total of Colby funding and net internship earnings (after taxes) cannot exceed $8,000. For example, a student with $4,000 in net pay and $6,000 in approved expenses may receive up to $2,000 to cover the expense gap plus up to $2,000 in lost wages support for semester and summer experiences. By contrast, a student with $4,000 in net pay and $10,000 in approved expenses would only be eligible for up to $4,000 in funding. The student would still be responsible for any remaining expenses not covered by internship earnings or grant support.

Can I get funding for supplies? DavisConnects funding is intended primarily to support living and travel-related expenses associated with experiential opportunities. It does not cover equipment, materials, or other physical supplies. Other academic or administrative departments may support these types of expenses depending on the nature of the request.

What should I do if I am not funded? Because these awards are competitive, applicants should not assume they will receive funding and should make alternative plans accordingly. We strongly encourage students to plan for the possibility that they may not be selected or may not meet eligibility criteria. To avoid financial risk, non-refundable deposits for airfare or housing should not be made before award notifications are released, unless applicants are willing to accept that potential loss.

Can I apply for funding if I have not yet secured my experience? Students do not need to have a confirmed internship or program in place to apply for funding; however, they must provide confirmation from the host organization before funds can be released. Applications should be based on a specific opportunity that is likely to take place. Colby faculty-led courses and independent study experiences must be approved prior to the funding deadline.

What if my plans change after I am offered an award? If a student’s plans change (for internships and programs only) after receiving an award offer, they may request a one-time update and resubmission of their application by emailing [email protected] by the communicated deadline. The funding committee reserves the right to adjust the award amount based on the revised application and updated circumstances. Faculty-led courses and independent study experiences cannot be revised to support a different opportunity once submitted.

After I received my funds, my internship was canceled. Can I use the funds for something else? Funds granted must be used solely for the purpose outlined in the final application submission. Students have an obligation to disclose in writing any changes to the application information or outright cancellation of the experience by emailing [email protected]. Failure to do so may result in an obligation to repay or forfeit the funding, and may constitute misconduct under Colby’s student and academic misconduct procedures.

Can I apply for funding with a friend or if other students are having the same experience? Students may apply individually for funding even if they are participating in the same internship, program, or project as other students. However, each application is reviewed separately and must reflect the student’s own experience and plans. All essays and budget materials must be completed independently and written in the student’s own voice. Even when students are participating in the same opportunity, each applicant is expected to submit original responses. Submitting application materials that are substantially identical to another student’s submission, or using artificial intelligence to generate application content, is not permitted and may be considered a violation of the student code of conduct, which may result in denial of funding.

Can I receive funding from another source at Colby that is not managed through this platform? If a student receives funding from another Colby source that is not managed through this platform, they must notify Scott Lamer ([email protected]). Each funding committee reserves the right to adjust award amounts for students who receive additional funding from other sources.

Can I receive funding if I am on a leave of absence? Applicants must be current Colby students and may not be on a leave of absence during the term in which the funding will be used.

Can I receive funding as a senior for an experience taking place after graduation? We are not able to fund seniors for experiences that take place after graduation. The final funding cycle available to seniors is the spring semester of their senior year.

Do you fund tuition or fees for non-Colby programs or courses at other U.S. colleges and universities? Courses offered by other U.S. colleges and universities are not eligible for funding. Bunche and Presidential Scholars may be eligible for funding for certain professional certification or training programs in the U.S. Funding toward tuition-based programs abroad is limited to seniors who have not yet participated in a global experience through Colby, whether through a semester abroad or a short-term experience. Bunche and Presidential Scholars may also be eligible for such funding prior to senior year up to $3,000.

Can I receive funding for a conference? Only Bunche Scholars and Presidential Scholars are eligible to apply for conference funding, provided they have not exhausted their $3,000 grant allocation.

Can I get funded while I am on a semester or year-long abroad program? Grants do not support semester or year-long study abroad programs, including internships, research, projects, or other experiences completed during a term abroad, as financial aid is portable. For more information, please contact Global Education Opportunities at [email protected].

Can I receive funding for an internship with a Colby coach, faculty, or staff member? Funding is not available for internships at Colby supervised by a faculty or staff member, as these positions are considered paid employment and are not eligible for internship funding. This includes summer research assistant positions through Colby.

How can I thank my donor if I am funded? Donor Relations will contact all grant recipients after their experience with a required questionnaire. Responses will be shared with donors to help them understand the impact of their support. Failure to comply may compromise your eligibility for future funding opportunities.

Meet with a DavisConnects Career Design Advisor and Industry Specialist first, if you haven’t already (schedule an appointment in Handshake), before beginning the funding process.

To receive support for a fall semester experience funding application, you may email Scott Lamer, Director of Global Experience Funding & Resource Management, with funding questions or to setup an appointment on Zoom (after reading through the funding page and meeting with a Career Design Advisor and Industry Specialist) at any time at [email protected].

To access the fall semester ’27 funding application, click “Apply Now” on August 5 below and the sign in with your Colby username and password.

APPLY NOW

If you are offered an award in the funding portal, you will need to click “Accept” to gain access to the Post-Acceptance Application. All sections applicable to your experience type must be completed by the deadline in order to receive your funds.

FOR INTERNSHIPS, INDEPENDENT STUDIES, PROGRAMS

Once the steps below are met in the Post-Acceptance Application, DavisConnects staff will notify Student Financial Services (SFS). Your money will be released via direct deposit if you have it set up with the College. Once notified, your award will take time to be processed through accounts payable and depending on your bank policy, be deposited into your account.

1) For internships (including education practicums): the post-acceptance application will host an electronic form that you will send to the supervisor of the organization where you are interning (not a Colby staff or faculty member). You will input their name and email address to send the form. This will include the following:

• Colby Student Name
• Hosting Institution Name
• Address of Hosting Institution Work Site
• Hosting Institution Supervisor Name
• Hosting Supervisor Phone/Email Address
• Student Experience/Position
• Anticipated Dates of Experience
• Level of Compensation (if any)
• The experience will be either a) remote or b) include some form of on-site attendance

2) Provide confirmation that you have registered the experience:

INTERNSHIPS: Once your internship is secured, you are required to register the internship through myColby for transcript notation (the organization and subject area is listed right on the transcript) or notation plus one academic credit hour. Please see instructions on this page. Recipients of funding for the education practicum (ED333 or ED351) will need to register for these courses separately in myColby.

Once you submit your registration application, both your faculty sponsor and DavisConnects will need to approve (the approval request is sent automatically via email). Once it is approved, the Registrar’s Office will be notified. Once this is complete, you will receive a confirmation email. You will then need to upload a PDF or screenshot of this email or a screenshot of your approved internship status from myColby to the Post-Acceptance. Recipients of funding for the education practicum (ED333 or ED351) will need to upload confirmation of registration in these courses.

RESEARCH OR OTHER INDEPENDENT STUDIES: You will need to register this as a January ’26 independent study course via this link. Upload a PDF or screenshot of the email confirmation from the registrar or a screenshot of your registration status from myColby. This must be an “approved” and registered status NOT your pending request.

PROGRAMS: You are NOT required to register this experience but please upload confirmation that you have been accepted into or enrolled into the program. You may be eligible to transfer academic credits for selected third-party providers. If applicable, please see the Colby Registrar for details at this link.

3) All funding recipients (except those awarded for faculty-led courses) will be required to fill out a Release of Liability form. This form will be available in the post-acceptance application and can be downloaded here. If you are under 18 years of age, a parent or guardian must also sign.

4) All funded students traveling to a destination outside of the U.S., except international students returning to their home country, will be automatically enrolled in mandatory, but complimentary comprehensive travel security/medical insurance under the iNext Ultimate Plan. You are welcome to arrange for any additional insurance that you consider adequate to meet any and all needs for payment of medical or other travel-related expenses. iNext insurance is intended to provide medical and travel security coverage for abroad travel but is not a substitute for basic health insurance. Students who are enrolled in the Colby-sponsored student health insurance plan through Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield are covered within the U.S. and have coverage abroad with GeoBlue (as part of the Anthem plan), with the exception of international students. International students do not have coverage in their home country but do have coverage in the U.S. and other nations. See the Colby student Insurance webpage for more info at (https://www.colby.edu/people/offices-directory/student-financial-services/general-information/).

Please click on the links below for more information about iNext:

iNext Comprehensive Ultimate Group Plan Details

iNext Comprehensive Ultimate Group Plan FAQs

5) Colby staff or faculty reference: An award determination will be made with or without the required Colby staff or faculty reference for internships and programs. If the award is made in your favor, fund disbursement is conditional on receiving a positive reference before the post-acceptance deadline.

6) Disclosure of Changes:
An acknowledgement that by accepting funding from the College, including any DavisConnects funding, Colby College has relied on the information provided in your application in its decision to award funding and an understanding that the funds granted must be used solely for the purpose outlined in the final submission of your application. You have an obligation to disclose in writing any changes to the application information or outright cancellation of the experience by emailing [email protected]. Failure to do so may result in an obligation for you to repay or forfeit the funding, and may constitute misconduct under Colby’s student and academic misconduct procedures.

7) Donor Questionnaire:
An acknowledgement that you are aware that Donor Relations will reach out to you immediately following your experience with a questionnaire to be completed. Your answers will be shared with donors. This is a requirement for those who received funding for their experiences.

Non-compliance could compromise future funding.

The online application accessed from this page allows students to apply for funding opportunities from DavisConnects as well as other academic departments and programs across campus. The opportunities below are available during one or more of the four funding cycles per year. Click on “Application Process” above to see what funding opportunities are available in the current cycle.

Center for the Arts and Humanities Paid Summer Internships
Center for the Arts and Humanities Research Grants
Colby Economics Department Opportunities
Colby French Studies Department Scholarships and The Shareen Abbasy Fund for French and Francophone Studies
Colby Government Department Fellowships
DavisConnects Opportunities
Oak Human Rights Internships
Presidential Scholars Opportunity Grant
Public Policy Lab
Ralph J. Bunche Scholars Opportunity Grants
Sandy Maisel Student Internship Grant
Sandy Maisel Student Research Grant
The Jon Barry Grant for Library Research Outside of Colby for English Majors
The Linde Packman Lab for Biosciences Innovation
The O’Hanian-Szostak Fellows for Civic Leadership
The Sarah Janney Internship Grant
The Sarah Janney Research Grant

The following funding opportunities are not hosted on this online application. Please visit the links below for information on how to apply:

Buck Lab for Climate and Environment
Colby Environmental Studies Department
Walker Grants for Latin American Studies
Colby Geology Department
Provost Office $500 Special Projects Fund
Halloran Lab for Entrepreneurship
Lyons Arts Lab