SIPA: School of International and Public Affairs at Columbia University

Travel Grant Program

SIPA provides internship grants to qualifying students to help defray the costs of unpaid or low paid internships overseas. The application deadline for is Friday, April 25, 2008.

Student Eligibility

1. Student must be matriculated at SIPA or in a dual degree program with SIPA;
2. Student must be in good academic standing;
3. Student must be returning to SIPA or the dual degree university in the fall semester; and
4. Student must never have received an OCS travel grant.

Internship Eligibility

1. The internship must be relevant to ongoing coursework and provides professional work experience.
2. "Independent study" internships or academic courses abroad are not eligible.
3. Total compensation for the internship from the internship organization or other funding sources (e.g., Columbia University Institutes, Foundations, FLAS Fellowships) is less than US $3,000 .
4. Domestic internships are not eligible, even if they have an international component.
5. Only summer internship positions are eligible.
6. Positions must be a minimum of six weeks in duration.
7. Internships in student's family-owned organizations are not eligible.

Application Requirements:

1. Complete the online OCS Travel Grant Application.
2. Submit a letter from the internship organization on its letterhead.
   
   This letter must (i) confirm the internship; (ii) specify the duties to be undertaken by the intern (internship duties may be listed in a separate document); (iii) specify the duration of the internship and hours per week; (iv) specify whether internship will be paid or unpaid; and (v) if paid, specify salary or stipend.
3. Download and submit a signed copy of the Travel Grant Eligibility Agreement
4. Download and submit a signed copy of the Travel Grant School Disclaimer Agreement
5. Read the Travel Safety Information, Current Travel Warnings and Health and Insurance Information (you will be required to confirm that you have reviewed these sites on the online travel application).
6. All international students must download, complete and submit a copy of the Attestation Form for Receiving Grants and Stipends

Disbursement Information

Direct Deposit to Bank Accounts and Paper Checks

Once you are awarded a grant, you will see it in your Columbia account through Student Services Online (SSOL). If you have set up direct deposit with Columbia University, you can request a refund through SSOL and the funds will be deposited into your personal account.  Please note that if you have any outstanding balance with Columbia University, the travel grant will be applied to your balance.

If you have direct deposit already set up and want a paper check, you must go to Student Financial Services to cancel your direct deposit and request a refund.  Please note that this will cancel the process for all Columbia payments to your account. You will have to complete another direct deposit form to reactivate the process for the fall semester. Checks will not be available for pick up. They will be mailed from the Payroll office to your home (the address Columbia has as your residence).  Please note that this may pose a problem if you are not at that residence for the summer so this method is not recommended.

Dual Degree Students

If you are a dual degree student not currently registered at SIPA, the funds will be dispersed to your dual degree university and it must post the funds to your Columbia account.