Undergraduate Carlson Global Institute Scholarship & Fellowship
To support the International Experience for Carlson undergraduate students, the Carlson Global Institute offers scholarships and fellowships. To prepare for your International Experience, we encourage you to plan ahead, apply for scholarships well in advance, and complete your financial aid paperwork on time.
We are currently operating on two different application systems. Please carefully review the term information below to ensure you are submitting your application to the correct system.
Scholarship and Fellowship Eligibility
Carlson Undergraduate Students participating in Carlson Global Institute (CGI) or the Learning Abroad Center (LAC) are eligible for need-based study abroad scholarships.
The selected education abroad program must:
- Be affiliated with the University of Minnesota
- Travel Abroad
- Carry academic credit
Students may only receive one need-based scholarship during their academic career to fulfill the International Experience.
It is possible to receive both a need-based scholarship and CGI Fellowship. Also, to receive both CGI and LAC scholarships for the same program.
Scholarships cannot be applied to virtual learning abroad programs at this time.
Need-Based Study Abroad Scholarship Application Instructions
Students who started at the Carlson School in Fall 2020 and after (Including Transfer Students):
Students ( and transfer students) admitted to the Carlson School in Fall 2020 or after are automatically considered for the need-based study abroad scholarship upon admission to the Carlson School based on FAFSA information.
If your financial situation has changed since your admission, you need to email CGI directly at cgischolarships@umn.edu to be considered for a Need-Based scholarship.
Students who started at the Carlson School in Summer 2020 or before:
Students who were admitted to the Carlson School in Summer 2020 or before need to apply for a need-based scholarship using our google form application linked here. Please note that this is also the Fellowship application form, and you should review the Fellowship Application Instructions before completing.
Study Abroad Fellowship Application Instructions
To be considered for the CGI Undergraduate Fellowship (essay-based scholarship), you must upload your essay to this linked google form.
Students should only submit one essay per review cycle. We recommend that you base your essay answers off your top-ranked, first- choice program. Your GPA and Essay will be reviewed by our Fellowship Awards Committee.
- We will not review any applications received after their respective cycle deadlines, please review the Cycle Deadline table and email cgischolarships@umn.edu if you have questions or requests
- Please do not apply for a Fellowship until you have started your chosen program application
- If you apply to both a Learning Abroad Center Program and a CGI Program, we recommend that you submit an essay for both applications, given there are multiple deadline cycles where the respective submissions are reviewed
Fellowship Essay Requirements
Prepare and Upload an essay of no more than 500 words to the google form application that answers two of the following three prompts:
- Identify a social/political/business current event in the country of your program choice. Why is this current event compelling to you? How may this impact your time abroad?
- Think of a time in your life when you needed to be flexible and adapt; what was the situation and how did you overcome and learn from it?
- Identify someone who could be considered a leader from the country of your program choice; which of their leadership qualities do you find most important and/or do you identify with?
We encourage you to utilize your resources at University of Minnesota Center for Writing.
*Quotes or sections from your application materials may be featured on CGI's website and/or publications. Do not submit any information or personal details that you would prefer to keep private.
Fellow Awardee Deliverables
For awardees of the CGI Fellowships, they will be in communication with a CGI team member to complete their deliverables.
Awardees will choose three prompts from a provided list to respond to while abroad or post return. Response submissions can take the form of a written blurb, photo series, and/or short video. Further instructions for these submissions will be provided to awardees, but below are a few examples of possible prompts:
- What is a day in the life of your program?
- How do you see your identity influencing your experience abroad?
- Tell a story about your single best day on the program.
- Introduce us to someone in your host community who is doing business as a force for good.
- What is your most interesting or impactful cultural takeaway?
These submissions will be featured on CGI's website and may be featured in publications. Do not submit any information or personal details that you would prefer to keep private.
Scholarship and Fellowship Eligibility
Carlson Undergraduate Students participating in Carlson Global Institute (CGI) or the Learning Abroad Center (LAC) are eligible for need-based study abroad scholarships.
The selected education abroad program must:
- Be affiliated with the University of Minnesota
- Travel Abroad
- Carry academic credit
Students may only receive one need-based scholarship during their academic career to fulfill the International Experience.
It is possible to receive both a need-based scholarship and CGI Fellowship. Also, to receive both CGI and LAC scholarships for the same program.
Scholarships cannot be applied to virtual learning abroad programs at this time.
Need-Based Study Abroad Scholarship Application Instructions
Students who started at the Carlson School in Fall 2020 and after (Including Transfer Students):
Students ( and transfer students) admitted to the Carlson School in Fall 2020 or after are automatically considered for the need-based study abroad scholarship upon admission to the Carlson School based on FAFSA information.
If your financial situation has changed since your admission, you need to email CGI directly at cgischolarships@umn.edu to be considered for a Need-Based scholarship.
Students who started at the Carlson School in Summer 2020 or before:
Students who were admitted to the Carlson School in Summer 2020 or before need to apply for a need-based scholarship. Application questions are included in their Program Application checklist.
Study Abroad Fellowship Application Instructions
To be considered for the CGI Undergraduate Fellowship (essay-based scholarship), you must complete the checklist item on your Program Application.
Students should only submit one essay per review cycle. We recommend that you base your essay answers off your top-ranked, first- choice program. Your GPA and Essay will be reviewed by our Fellowship Awards Committee.
- We will not review any applications received after their respective cycle deadlines, please review the Cycle Deadline table and email cgischolarships@umn.edu if you have questions or requests
- If you apply to both a Learning Abroad Center Program and a CGI Program, we recommend that you submit an essay for both applications, given there are multiple deadline cycles where the respective submissions are reviewed
Fellowship Essay Requirements
Prepare an essay of no more than 500 words that answers two of the following three prompts:
- Identify a social/political/business current event in the country of your program choice. Why is this current event compelling to you? How may this impact your time abroad?
- Think of a time in your life when you needed to be flexible and adapt; what was the situation and how did you overcome and learn from it?
- Identify someone who could be considered a leader from the country of your program choice; which of their leadership qualities do you find most important and/or do you identify with?
We encourage you to utilize your resources at University of Minnesota Center for Writing.
*Quotes or sections from your application materials may be featured on CGI's website and/or publications. Do not submit any information or personal details that you would prefer to keep private.
Fellow Awardee Deliverables
For awardees of the CGI Fellowships, they will be in communication with a CGI team member to complete their deliverables.
Awardees will choose three prompts from a provided list to respond to while abroad or post return. Response submissions can take the form of a written blurb, photo series, and/or short video. Further instructions for these submissions will be provided to awardees, but below are a few examples of possible prompts:
- What is a day in the life of your program?
- How do you see your identity influencing your experience abroad?
- Tell a story about your single best day on the program.
- Introduce us to someone in your host community who is doing business as a force for good.
- What is your most interesting or impactful cultural takeaway?
These submissions will be featured on CGI's website and may be featured in publications. Do not submit any information or personal details that you would prefer to keep private.
Scholarship & Fellowship Review Cycles
The Scholarships teams reviews all applications after each "cycle" deadline. Notifications will be sent in 30 days, or the following weekday if that date falls on a weekend or holiday.
Fellowship Review Cycles
Students applying to Business in Barcelona or Business in Dublin Programs: these are jointly ran programs between the Carlson Global Institute (CGI) and the Learning Abroad Center (LAC). Students should follow the LAC deadlines column in the table below. If you are confused as to which deadline to apply for, please reach out to cgischolarships@umn.edu to confirm
| CGI Programs | LAC Programs | Awards Available | |
|---|---|---|---|
| October 17th at 12:00 pm CST | Short-Term Programs: Spring Break and May | Short-Term Winter Break, Spring Semester Programs | 6 awards of $1,000 each |
| February 1st at 12:00 pm CST | Semester & Summer Programs | Spring Break, May Session, & Summer Programs | 8 awards of $1,000 each |
| April 3rd at 12:00 pm CST | Short-Term Programs: January Programs | Fall Semester & Summer Programs | 6 awards of $1,000 each |
Need-Based Scholarship Review Cycles
There is no hard deadline for need-based scholarships, but we will not review until after each "cycle" deadline. If you have missed the deadline, and your program starts before the next deadline, please reach out to cgischolarships@umn.edu to directly request a review.