Professional Experience Grants Eligibility, Application & Deadlines
Ready to apply for a Professional Experience Grant? Review the eligibility requirements, application materials, funding levels, and deadlines below. Carefully reading these guidelines before submitting your application will help ensure your proposal is complete and meets all grant requirements.
Ready to apply?
Make sure you meet the eligibility requirements and have your application materials ready.
Eligibility Requirements
Students who entered the Honors College as first-time, full-time, on campus students beginning Fall 2026 may apply for a Professional Experience Grant beginning in their second year at MSUM.
- Students must remain in good academic and conduct standing throughout the application and grant period.
- Grants, whether for individual or group experiences, are one time awards and are available beginning in Honors College students’ second year at MSUM.
- Students must maintain full-time enrollment up to the semester of the grant award (fall and spring terms).
- Grant awards must be used within 8 semesters from the date a student enters the Honors College.
- Receipt of the grant is contingent upon the applicant’s ability to enroll in the semester for which the grant is intended. Students with registration holds of any type cannot receive a grant.
- Online only students are not eligible for the Honors College Professional Experience Grant.
At the Honors College, we’re all about helping you achieve your goals. We want to help you pursue your goals, but not every experience is eligible for grant funding. The following activities and expenses are not covered:
- Regular student employment
- Tuition and fees associated with enrollment in a course that includes a service learning or lab component
- Volunteer and service activities outside an internship or approved opportunities
- Support to fund pre-existing student-run or private enterprises
- Involvement in student clubs and organizations
- Mission trips
- Study abroad experiences not approved by the MSUM Study Abroad office
- Expenses related to conference attendance (but you can use grants to present at an approved conference!)
How to Apply
To apply, submit the following three items:
1. Project Description Statement
300-600 words
Describe your proposed experience or project, why it matters, and how you plan to complete it.
2. Budget
Budget form required
Submit a proposed budget outlining the expenses associated with your project.
3. Statement of Support
Submitted directly by your mentor
Your mentor confirms the feasibility of your project and explains how they will support your work.
Your project description statement should give a clear sense of the type of experience or work you have in mind. The Honors College is an interdisciplinary program, so our committee will draw from faculty across campus and you might not have an audience familiar with your discipline. You’ll want to explain your idea in clear, accessible terms to best showcase its significance. Other key elements you should include in your statement are:
- The issue, topic, or question you’ll address or the medium you’ll work in
- A short discussion of the context or background related to your project
- A description of how you will carry out your work (methods, locations for study abroad, necessary materials, etc.)
- A rough timeline for implementation
- A clear indication of the faculty member or community partner who will mentor your work
Ready to apply? Start the Professional Experience Grant Application →
Submit a proposed budget outlining the expenses associated with your project.
Include:
- Travel costs (if applicable)
- Materials and supplies
- Equipment, software, or training costs
- Other eligible expenses
Ready to submit your budget? Complete the budget form →
Your statement of support must come from either an MSUM faculty mentor (for research projects, creative work, or study abroad) or a community partner (for internships or community-based projects) depending on your experience.
The statement of support should describe the feasibility of your proposal and show how they will support you in the process. Your mentor will submit this statement on your behalf.
Group Grant Applications
Sometimes the best work happens when we work together and some ideas are bigger than you can tackle on your own. If you have an idea for a project or activity that involves fellow Honors students, you can team up and apply for a group Professional Experience Grant. Group Professional Experience Projects might encompass a larger-scale lab research study, a multi-partner entrepreneurial proposal, a team-based community project, or that film passion project you’ve always wanted to make.
To propose a group award, students will need to select a team project lead who will submit a single, comprehensive project description that includes the names and ID numbers of all team members. In addition, the group proposal should provide clear terms for how each member will contribute on an individual level and a single project budget with the total amount your group needs. All group members must meet the Honors Professional Experience Grant eligibility requirements.
Application Deadlines
The Professional Experience Grant application form is available year-round. Apply during the term before your planned experience, according to the deadlines below.
| Experience Type | Fall | Spring | Summer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Faculty-Led Study Abroad | February 15 | September 15 | — |
| Research & Creative Activity | April 1 | November 1 | — |
| Semester Study Abroad | May 1 | December 1 | — |
| Internship | August 15 | December 10 | April 15 |
Amounts Awarded
Professional Experience Grants are one time awards ranging from $1,000 to $3,000. Award amounts depend on the type and scope of the approved experience. Please refer to the table below for more information.
| Experience Category | Duration | Award Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Internships, work-based experiences, student teaching, nursing and social work clinicals. | 90 – 199 hours | $1,000 |
| Internships, work-based experiences, student teaching, nursing and social work clinicals | 200 – 449 hours | $1,500 |
| Internships and work-based experiences | 450+ hours, full-term/full-time | $2,000 |
| Domestic service-learning trip | Cost of experience up to $2,000 | |
| International service-learning trip | Cost of experience up to $2,000 | |
| Faculty-led study abroad | Cost of experience up to $2,000 | |
| Semester-long (traditional) study abroad | 16 weeks | $3,000 |
| Undergraduate research and creative projects | $1,500 |
Note: Experiences less than 90 hours are not eligible for funding
Grant Dispersal Details
Accordion here
Questions About Applying? We're Here to Help.
Not sure if you're eligible, what to include in your application, or whether your project qualifies? The Honors College can help.