Wesleyan Summer Grants

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

• Actively enrolled undergraduate student
• Current First Year, Sophomore, Junior, or Senior (December graduates only)
• An approved resume on Handshake – View Wesleyan Resume Guide & Resources
  • Please note that when you upload your first resume to Handshake it will be reviewed, not necessarily approved, within 48 hours or 2 business days. Plan accordingly and expect that your resume may not be approved. 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.proved resume by the Gordon Career Center uploaded on Handshake

Students Not Eligible

• Seniors graduating in May
• BA/MA students
• Previous recipients of any grant through the Wesleyan Summer Grant program
• Students participating in the following Wesleyan sponsored programs: Shapiro Center Fellowships & Internships; Daniel-Clee Scholarship

Experience Eligibility & Requirements
To apply for funding, students must have one confirmed summer experience. Only one experience may be submitted for funding. The following types of experiences are eligible for grant funding:

• Internship
• Volunteer Position
• Research Opportunity (with institution/employer)

Students with unpaid positions or an income of less than $5,000 (pre-tax) will be prioritized.
Students with an income of $10,000 (pre-tax) or more are not eligible for funding.

There is limited funding available for the following experiences:

• Entrepreneurial Venture (visit the Patricelli Center for Social Entrepreneurship for additional funding opportunities)
• Academic Summer Program (Individual courses will not be considered. Grants cannot be used to pay Wesleyan tuition.)
• Independent Project or Research
• Thesis Research – Juniors only
• Fee-Based Internship Programs – Students considering fee-based internship programs are strongly encouraged to meet with an advisor to review the program’s legitimacy, educational value, and overall merit. Programs that do not meet Wesleyan’s standards for quality or merit are not eligible for funding.

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 2026 (May-August)
• Must be in-person or hybrid – Remote experiences are not eligible for funding.

*Students who intend to travel to countries with a level 3 or 4 travel advisory will be reviewed and if the University deems the risks too high, the student will not qualify for funding.

Internship, Volunteer Position, 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.

Academic Summer Program
Applicants will need to include their offer letter in the application. If there is no application process to participate in the program and requires a payment to enroll, you will indicate this on your 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. Each student that would like to be considered for funding must complete a separate application.

The Wesleyan Summer Grants program is divided into the following three applications:

Wesleyan Summer Grants Main Application
Students who apply to the main application will be considered for all available funding EXCEPT for the following two grants: The Wesleyan Black Alumni Council Memorial Fund and The Wesleyan Israel and Jewish Student Life Endowed Program Fund. Students who qualify must apply separately to these funds.

The Wesleyan Israel and Jewish Student Life Endowed Program Fund Application
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.
Additional 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)

The Wesleyan Black Alumni Council Memorial Fund Application
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.
Additional Essay: Please share how your proposal aligns with this intention. (750 words maximum)

Schedule a Wesleyan Summer Grant appointment if you have questions about the program, application process, or would like assistance putting together your application.

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)

Applicants will remain anonymous to the review committee. We ask that you not disclose your name in your essays.

View Rubric – Used by committee to review and score essays.

Additional Essays
The following grants require an additional essay and qualified applicants will apply to these separately. These grants are part of the Wesleyan Summer Grants Program and are NOT additional funds.

Wesleyan Black Alumni Council Memorial Prize Summer Stipend
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.
Essay: 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)

2026 budget sheet and information will be released in January 2026

Resources
Please visit our Internship Prep Guide which includes information on how to search for housing, transportation, attire, etc.

Taxes
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 Citizens: If selected for funding, the award amount for non-US residents working in the United States will automatically be taxed at 14%.

Application Review & Selection
Applications are evaluated based on the following criteria:

1. Essays: The Wesleyan Summer Grants Committee, made up of staff outside the Gordon Career Center, reviews and scores all essays using the rubric.
2. Budget: Overall feasibility and appropriateness of proposed expenses and funding request.
3. Application Quality & Preparedness: Review of all submitted materials and the student’s readiness for the proposed experience.

Students are selected for funding based on their overall score, with priority given to:

1. Students receiving need-based financial aid
2. Current sophomores and juniors
3. Unpaid or low-paid experiences (less than $5,000)
4. Students who have not received other Wesleyan funding for the experience

Timeline
1st Application Window
Application Open: TBA
Award Notifications: TBA
Accept or Decline Award: TBA
Students not selected for funding in this window will be considered in the second window. You cannot reapply.

2nd Application Window
Application Open: TBA
Award Notifications: TBA
Accept or Decline Award: TBA

If selected to receive a summer grant, you will be required to complete a post-acceptance form. Once you submit this form, it can take 3-4 weeks for your award to be deposited.

We must set you up as a supplier in the University’s Workday system to disperse funds. Your default payment method will be “Digital Payment.” This means the University won’t store your banking information — instead, you will enter it when you accept your payment.

Once your grant award is processed, you will receive an email for payment from donotreply@jpmorgan.com. Follow the instructions to enter your banking information to accept payment. If payment isn’t accepted within 14 days of the email notification, a paper check will be mailed to your WesBox (during the academic year) or your home address. Mailed checks can take up to 3 weeks to arrive!

If you prefer a different payment method, please use this link to complete the Supplier Self-Registration process.

1. Can I receive a Wesleyan Summer Grant more than once?
   • 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?
   • 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%-45% of total applicants were selected for funding.
3. How does the grant affect my taxes?
   • 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 Citizens: If selected for funding, the award amount for non-US residents working in the United States will automatically be taxed at 14%.
4. What if my summer experience is going to take place outside the United States? 
   • 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. Students who intend to travel to countries with a level 3 or 4 travel advisory will be reviewed and if the University deems the risks too high, the student will not qualify for funding.
5. What if I need help completing my application?
   • 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.