Carleton-funded Fellowships: Frequently Asked Questions

Research is undertaken to answer a specific question using a specific method, with the goal of making new knowledge in most fields; creative or artistic projects can have the same role as research in such fields as Studio Art, CAMS, or music.

While research and creative or artistic projects can also be experiential learning, we describe fellowships projects as ‘experiential learning’ when learning directly from the experience itself – rather than answering a research question or following a specific research method – is the main goal of the project.

Before senior year, you may apply at any deadline to pursue work on Comps during summer or Winter Break. Once you are a senior, you may only apply for the Senior Year Comps Fellowship to be used during the Winter Break of your senior year.

You may apply for a fellowship to support research or creative/artistic projects that do not relate at the Winter Term deadline (if you are a first-year, sophomore, or junior) to pursue projects over summer or Winter Break. If you apply for a fellowship to support research or creative/artistic projects at the Spring Term deadline, that project must be scheduled for Winter Break (not the coming summer). The only summer funding available at the Spring Term deadline is for Comps projects.

You may apply for a fellowship to engage in experiential learning at the Winter Term deadline (if you are a first-year, sophomore, or junior) to pursue projects over summer or Winter Break. If you apply for a fellowship to support experiential learning at the Spring Term deadline, that project must be scheduled for Winter Break (not the coming summer). The only summer funding available at the Spring Term deadline is for Comps projects.

Only one fellowship – The David C. Donelson ’77 Fund – permits joint proposals. You may apply for other experiential learning fellowships with another student but you must submit individual proposals; you can describe the same project but you should be clear about your role in it and your personal statement, budget, and recommendations must be specific to your individual application.

Because fellowship funding is limited and we want to support as many students as possible, we examine proposed travel expenses closely. We hope to continue covering the full cost of airfare, but we may be forced to limit the per-fellowship amount we can pay for your transportation home.

Carleton provides CISI insurance to all fellowship recipients traveling internationally (including those traveling to their home countries, or who have insurance that also covers them on international travel). Learn more about what CISI covers. 

Carleton-funded fellowships may not be used to travel to locations with State Department Travel Advisories at Level 3 or 4, or other restrictions on full diplomatic and other relationships (such as Treasury Embargoes).

Carleton-funded fellowships may not be used for costs related to participation in OCS programs.

Some Carleton fellowships may be used to support your participation in an internship, which is by definition a form of experiential learning. The Chang-Lan Fellowship (for use in China), the Professor Roy F. Grow Fellowship (for use in Central, East, South, and Southeast Asia) and the Larson International Fellowship (for use outside of North America; restricted to US and Canadian citizens/permanent residents) have been used to support internship experiences. But it is important to remember that the Career Center is the first place you should look for support to fund an internship experience.

Generally, supplies are expected to be “used up” during the fellowship project and equipment outlasts it (for example, a notebook would be a type of supply and a computer would be equipment). If you have questions about a specific item, feel free to ask the Director of Student Fellowships.

Generally speaking, STEM research cannot be independent (because access to infrastructure controlled by a faculty member or institution is required for it). There are exceptions such as geology field research that have been funded using a Carleton-funded fellowship from the Office of Student Fellowships, but STEM research by students is funded in other ways.

Carleton-funded fellowship from the Office of Student Fellowships may not be used to do research with a Carleton faculty member. Only in vary rare circumstances may they be used to support research with a faculty member at another institution.

In some cases, yes. For example, the Nancy Wilkie Fellowship for Archaeological Field Experience was established specifically to support participation in a field school. Field research sites or structured programs may be covered under the exception described above in answer to the question, “Can I use a Carleton-funded fellowship to pay for STEM research?”

Select Carleton fellowships may be used to support your participation in a volunteer activity, if that activity is a component of a proposal to engage in experiential learning. The Chang-Lan Fellowship (for use in China), the Professor Roy F. Grow Fellowship (for use in Central, East, South, and Southeast Asia) and the Larson International Fellowship (for use outside of North America; restricted to US and Canadian citizens/permanent residents) have been used to support volunteer experiences.

Some volunteer work or experiential learning might involve what could be identified as formal political activity; any proposal that seems to include this kind of activity will be evaluated carefully by the Student Fellowships Committee because the financial support of a Carleton-funded fellowship can never be seen as financial support for any formal or partisan political position.

Per award limits are listed on each fellowship’s individual page. The Class of 1963 Fellowship, David C. Donelson ’77 Fund, Independent Research Fellowship, Kelley International Fellowship, Larson International Fellowship, Allen and Irene or Richard Salisbury Fellowships have $5000 per fellowship limits for summer projects and transportation + $2000 limits for Winter Break Projects. Senior Year Comps Fellowships have a $2000 per fellowship limit. The Chang-Lan and Professor Roy F. Grow Fellowships do not have a per fellowship limit, regardless of when the project will take place.  The Nancy Wilkie Fellowship for Archaeological Field Experience covers the listed costs of a structured field school/experience and any other costs required for participation (such as travel).

See Creating a Budget for Carleton-funded fellowships.

If your Financial Award requires a family contribution to Carleton’s cost of attendance and your fellowship activities limit your availability for full-time employment during the period of your fellowship, you can include up to $1000 (within the overall per award limit) toward a ‘summer savings goal’ in your budget. As fellowship activities rarely involve an entire summer of full-time work, you are encouraged to be flexible in accommodating paid employment during your break.

The application requires you to share your Financial Aid Offer with us, so that we may verify that a family contribution is required (and, if necessary, to verify financial need for award of the Kelley International Fellowship). The Student Financial Aid office provides a step-by-step guide to finding and printing your Financial Aid Offer; please print to PDF and attach the PDF to the application as instructed.

You may accept other Carleton funding to support your project (for example, from the Career Center; the Center for Global and Regional Studies; the Jonathan Paradise Israel Experience Fund; Kolenkow-Reitz Fellowship Program; or an individual discipline or program) only up to the full amount of your proposed budget.

If you are an international student from a country that does not have a tax treaty with the USA, your fellowship award will be increased (as required by Carleton policy) to cover the cost of taxes. If you are an international student from a country that has a tax treaty with the USA or you are a US Citizen or permanent resident of the US, your fellowship may be considered taxable income (although you will not receive a 1099 or other form) and you can consult IRS Publication 970 to learn about your tax liability.

Only seniors may apply at the Fall Term deadline, for the Senior Year Comps Fellowship to be used over Winter Break.

The Winter Term deadline is the main fellowships deadline of the academic year. First-year, Sophomore, and Junior students may apply for any fellowships with Winter Term deadlines for projects taking place over summer or Winter Break. Seniors are not eligible to apply at the Winter Term deadline.

The Spring Term deadline is primarily for juniors seeking funding for summer or Winter Break projects related to Comps. Non-Comps proposals for summer fellowships will not be considered. First-year, Sophomore, and Junior students may submit only non-Comps proposals for Winter Break at the Spring Term deadline.

Only the Class of 1963 Fellowship may be used during term, with very specific restrictions including the submission of an Independent Study form. All other fellowships may be used only during summer or over Winter Break.

The following information applies to all fellowships other than the Senior Year Comps Fellowship. Recommendations are required for all Carleton-funded fellowships (most fellowships require two; select fellowships require only one). You will list the names of the Carleton faculty or staff (or non-Carleton recommender(s)) in the application you submit. Following the deadline, your entire proposal will be shared with the recommenders, who will be asked to complete a recommendation form. The recommendation deadline is typically about one week after the application deadline. For guidance on choosing recommenders, see Choosing Recommenders for Carleton-funded Fellowships in our Tips for Applying section.

Your recommenders will want to know about your project and why you are asking them for a recommendation. They may ask to see and provide feedback on your drafted application materials. Be prepared to share what they request in a timely fashion so that you can be sure you have their permission to list them as recommenders.

The following information applies to all fellowships other than the Senior Year Comps Fellowship. Recommenders are asked to evaluate the project itself (is it clearly described, well-designed and feasible?) and your ability to undertake it (based on their familiarity with your coursework and other experiences, is this project appropriate for you?), as well as whether you will represent Carleton well as a fellowship recipient.

We encourage you to calculate your costs carefully and make travel and other plans as soon as possible after you are awarded a fellowship/receive funds for your fellowship, to minimize the chances of surprise increases in your costs. You are allowed (for any reason) to move funds around between categories of your budget, or to shorten your project in order to remain within the budget you submitted. You are also free to request assistance from the Office of Student Fellowships but funds are limited and it is very rare for us to grant additional funding beyond the per award limit for any fellowship (see the detailed answer to What are the budget limits for fellowships? above, as well as the webpages for individual fellowships).

As long as you remain eligible for fellowship funding (you remain a student in good standing and you are not graduating before you would complete your fellowship activities), you may shift the dates of your fellowship within the summer or Winter Break for which it is already scheduled or to the next break period.

A strong application is well-written (it has a concise but clear description of what you plan to do; how you plan to do it; and the timetable for doing it); provides evidence that you have thought through what is required to make the project successful (have you made the necessary connections, plans, etc., to carry it out? do you have the required knowledge and skills?); includes an appropriate and well-documented budget; and takes risk and safety into consideration. It is supported by a resume/CV and transcript that provide evidence of what you describe as your preparation and favorable recommendations from faculty, staff, or other non-peers who are well-suited to answering the recommendation questions.

You are encouraged to share your drafted materials with your advisors, mentors, and/or recommenders, and to take advantage of the Writing Center.

We have posted sample successful proposals of each type, along with a cover page that describes why they were selected for funding.

Your award letter will include links and requests for additional information, which you must respond to in a timely manner in order to receive your award funds. If you are traveling internationally, you will also be required to complete a health and safety quiz if you have not done so within the current academic year and provide detailed travel plan information to Carleton’s risk management specialist in order to ensure that your insurance is registered before you depart. Additional conditions may apply to individual fellowships or recipients.

All fellowship recipients pursuing Summer Break projects are expected to spend at least 20 hours per week on fellowship activities during the proposed fellowship period. All fellowship recipients pursuing Winter Break projects are expected to spend 30-40 hours per week on fellowship activities during the proposed fellowship period.

We ask that you take some photos (please avoid including other humans who have not consented to posting on Carleton’s webpages) and reflections (based on questions we will provide) during your fellowship to share (upon your return) as part of our social media outreach.

The Office of Student Fellowships will request your photos and reflections in order to prepare social media content based on them. Recipients of some fellowships will also be asked to prepare thank-you cards (which will be supplied to you) for the donors whose generosity made their experience possible.

As part of the application process, you are invited to develop an appropriate ‘bring-back’ idea to share your experience with the community and stimulate excitement about fellowships among other Carleton students. ‘Bring-back’ activities vary widely; examples are posted for your review

When deciding among equally strong proposals for the same category/categories or fellowship funds, juniors/rising seniors (especially those proposing Comps work) are prioritized for fellowship funding; followed by sophomores/rising juniors; and the lowest priority group for funding will be first-year students/rising sophomores. Rising seniors receive the lowest priority for non-Comps project funding for Winter Break; rising juniors, followed by rising sophomores, are the priority groups for that (very limited) funding.

With the exception of support for Comps work, applications from students who have not already received fellowship funding will have priority over applications from students who have received such funding.

Members of the Student Fellowships Committee, who are Carleton faculty and staff, review applications for Carleton-funded fellowships.

We do our best to announce decisions three weeks after the recommendation deadline for all fellowships other than the Senior Year Comps Fellowship (which always has a posted notification date).