Eligible Opportunities
Unpaid or underfunded ($1500 USD or less for the entire opportunity) with one of the following:
- Certified 501(c)(3) Nonprofit, including a non-profit University or NGO that can be confirmed on Guidestar.
- Local, state, federal, or tribal government, including public Universities. Note: political campaigns are not eligible.
- Arts Apprenticeship, a mentoring relationship with an artist/creator in visual arts, theater and performance arts, creative writing, architecture and design, music, film making, or media arts.
- Science, Laboratory, or Other Research, a mentoring relationship with a faculty member or research staff at a public or non-profit University, including Yale, or other non-profit or public entity.
- For-profit opportunities: Due to the U.S. Fair Labor Standards Act, only for-profit opportunities outside the U.S. are eligible and must be unpaid/underfunded (less than $1500 USD).
Additional Requirements:
- Must be at least 30 hours/week, for at least 8 summer weeks, which do not have to be continuous if employer agrees. No additional funding through the SEA for more than 8 weeks.
- Must have an assigned supervisor for regular mentorship that has a permanent connection to the organization, and cannot be another student.
SEA Application Details
Application Deadline: May 1, 2022
The SEA is not competitive. Eligible students who have secured an eligible opportunity will receive $4,000 for a U.S. opportunity or $6,000 for an international experience.
- Apply for Yale Fellowships simultaneously, as funding can be combined if needed.
- Locate the application in Yale Career Link, under “Professional Experiences.” Supervisors/Mentors must complete and sign the Host Verification Form.
- Applications will be reviewed within 20 business days and students will be contacted if needed. If approved, applicants will receive an email from OCS with details on how funds are distributed. If not approved, an email will be sent with the reason. Eligible students can submit an alternative application before the deadline.
Tax Information
Under federal tax law, a scholarship or fellowship provided to a student in a degree granting program is generally taxable. If you are a candidate for a degree, however, you can exclude from taxable income that part of the award used to pay the costs of tuition, required fees, books, equipment and supplies (required fees, books, equipment and supplies are limited to those specifically required of all students in a course). You cannot exclude from taxable income any part of the grant used for other purposes, such as room and board. Please refer to IRS Publication 970, Tax Benefits for Higher Education, Section 1, Scholarship, Fellowships, Grants and Tuition Reductions and the IRS tax guide for students, Taxable Income for Students.
While OCS cannot offer tax advice, the IRS Tax Office on Court Street does offer free tax advice to students.
