No. Currently this fellowship is only for Scholars in their first, sophomore, and junior summers.
FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions
CUSP Summer Enhancement Fellowships
Scholars without secured internships can still apply for the internship fellowship, and should list in the application all of the internships they have applied for. Scholars are required to inform the CUSP office by May 30th to provide an update on what internship was finally secured for the summer. Please speak with a CUSP Advisor if this applies to you.
Columbia College and Columbia Engineering do not provide credit for internships.
No, the funding is intended to fund one experience at a time.
Yes. This fellowship can be applied anywhere in the world.
CUSP Advisors cannot complete the Recommendation Form for the CUSP Summer Enhancement Fellowship. However, if you have a good relationship with our Graduate Student Mentors (GSMs), then they can complete the Recommendation Form at your request.
Your main sponsor must be a permanent Columbia University faculty member, but you are encouraged to have additional sponsors and are certainly welcome to have a secondary sponsor from another university. If you have a research advisor who is not a professor at an accredited institution, please see a CUSP Advisor before submitting your application.
If you wish to take an unrelated summer class at the same time as your summer project, be mindful that the pace of summer classes is accelerated, and you should beware of the potential of overcommitment, as well as check with your internship supervisor or PI whether additional commitments are permitted. If you wish to take a summer class in connection to your project, be advised SEF funds cannot be applied toward tuition or school supplies; some summer programs may be considered for SEF funding if they contain a strong research, fieldwork, or experiential education component, but you should see a CUSP Advisor prior to submitting your application if your project falls in this category.
Upon completing your online application, you will receive a confirmation email verifying your application submission. Within the email, there will be an electronic link that you will send to your Recommender or your Faculty Sponsor so that they can submit a recommendation form on your behalf. Please make note of the deadline for the Recommender and Facutly Support forms and let your contacts know as well.
Yes, both low-paying and unpaid opportunities are eligible for the supplemental funding to help offset the related expenses.
No. Scholars can apply annually for this fellowship until their year of graduation.
All grants are based on availability of funds. Please note that CUSP cannot guarantee that you will receive the full amount that you requested.
Yes, funding has been applied to group projects in the past, but each member will need to submit their own separate application. Make sure you discuss this with your GSM to verify each member has an equitable role and deliverable.
The CUSP Fellows Selection Committee selects the SEF awardees.
Students should not expect SEF funds to cover all expenses of their summer opportunity. This is a partial fellowship, and funding is dependent on the SEF budget, the number of applicants, and the individual needs of each applicant. Thus we cannot guarantee up front that we will be able to approve all fellows for their full requested amount. If you need to commit to an opportunity prior to a funding determination, you may wish to verify that you are still able to achieve your aims for that opportunity, even if full funding is not approved.
Interviews will no longer be conducted.
Attending mandatory events and maintaining good standing does not guarantee you funding. We review each application for several factors including preparation, feasibility, and safety, but we endeavor to accept and fund all projects as best we can since these experiential opportunities are an exciting way to enhance your academic program.
Exercise caution, as using Columbia funding for a business venture can cause that venture to fall under Columbia ownership. Check with your GSM and your Advisor.
Yes, though there may be a tax associated with your opportunity, depending on the country. This is actually a great way to receive funding whether or not you are using your CPT.
Yes, your creativity is welcomed and encouraged, whether your ideas are artistic or scientific.
Yes, rent can be presented as an expenditure eligible for SEF funding.
Yes, you need at least one sponsor, but you are not limited to only one. You may mention in your application that you intend to have a second faculty sponsor. The main faculty sponsor must be a permanent Columbia University faculty member.
Yes! If you are traveling abroad you will be required to follow University policies and procedures whether or not you are traveling to your home country.
No, the funding is not meant to be used for tuition expenses. When in doubt, please discuss with your GSM or your Advisor.
The funding is meant to cover supplies, housing, food, and travel, so your budget should be as concise as possible to help the CUSP Fellows Selection Committee anticipate and endeavor to meet your needs.
No! You are certainly welcome to dig into an aspect of your current field of study, but you should also feel free to use this time to pursue opportunities in other fields; some of our greatest success stories have been from students who tried something different!
Yes, you are expected to work on the logistics of the proposal with your GSM and then reach out to a faculty sponsor who will be able to support your project, either by expertise or by networking. Their role is to make sure your project is feasible and deliverable within the time you have allotted. The faculty sponsor will be asked to complete a form where they will share their insights on the project.
No, this is not wage or a salary; it is a stipend for expenses necessary to carry out your project, such as supplies, housing, food, and travel.
No, these are all the student’s responsibilities.
See our website, as well as the websites for the Office of Undergraduate Research and the Center for Career Education for some ideas to get you started. Discuss options as well with your GSM and your Advisor.
Our office is required to maintain documentation that the funds we distribute are being used for expenses that are appropriate to each summer fellowship opportunity. This is consistent with federal grants for scientific and non-profit research.
Columbia Undergraduate Scholars Program
403 Alfred Lerner Hall
2920 Broadway
New York, NY 10027
Call: (212) 854-6378
Fax: (212) 854-2562
Office Hours
Monday–Friday
9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.