Who is Eligible?
- First-year, sophomore, or junior enrolled in Yale College.
- First-time recipient of the SEA (formerly known as the DSA). Students that have previously used their DSA are not eligible.
- Secured an eligible summer opportunity.
- Recipient of Yale financial aid that includes Yale aid for the spring term leading up to the SEA summer.
Students on a semester Leave of Absence are eligible as long as they have one remaining full term at Yale and are able to show proof of their eligibility for financial aid. Students on a year-long Leave of Absence are eligible provided: 1) they meet all other SEA eligibility requirements, 2) were eligible for a summer 2020 SEA (formerly the DSA), and 3) will return to campus for Fall 2021.
Yale ROTC students may be eligible and should email sea@yale.edu to inquire.
International students interested in using the SEA for a US-based opportunity must contact the Office of International Students & Scholars to discuss any needed work authorization.
Which Opportunities are Eligible?
An eligible opportunity:
- Must be unpaid or underfunded ($1500 USD or less for the entire opportunity)
- Must be at least 30 hours/week, for at least 8 weeks over the summer months. 8-weeks doesn’t have to be continuous if the supervisor/mentor agrees. There is no additional funding through the SEA for more than 8 weeks.
- Must have a supervisor who will provide regular supervision and mentorship throughout the summer. The supervisor must have a permanent connection to the organization, and it cannot be another student.
OCS has sample correspondence students can use when reaching out to organizations about opportunities.
The SEA Application
The SEA is not competitive. Applicants who are SEA-eligible and have secured a SEA-eligible opportunity will receive $4,000 for a U.S.-based opportunity or $6,000 for an international opportunity.
Application Deadline: May 1, 2021
Locate the application: Log into Yale Career Link, and select “Professional Experiences” located on the left-hand side of the screen. Each SEA application requires a Host Verification Form (located within the application) that is completed, and signed by, the supervisor/mentor.
Advice from OCS: Apply for Yale Fellowships simultaneously, as the SEA can be combined with other funds if the student’s budget warrants the need.
Opportunity Details
An eligible opportunity must be in one of the following categories:
- Certified 501(c)(3) Nonprofit, including a non-profit University or NGO. Confirmation of eligibility is required through Guidestar.
- Local, state, federal, or tribal government, including public Universities. Note that political campaigns are not eligible for the SEA award.
- Arts Apprenticeship, an established, formal mentoring relationship with an artist/creator within an artistic field: visual arts, theater and performance arts, creative writing, architecture and design, music, film making and media arts.
- Science, Laboratory, or Other Research, an established, formal mentoring relationship with a faculty member or research staff member at a public or non-profit University, including Yale University, or other non-profit or public entities.
- For-profit opportunities: Due to the U.S. Fair Labor Standards Act restrictions, only for-profit opportunities outside the U.S. are eligible for the SEA and must be unpaid or underfunded (less than $1500 USD).
Application Review Process
Once received, SEA applications take up to 20 business days for review. Students will be contacted if additional time is needed, or if there is a question about their application.
- If approved, applicants will receive an email from OCS with details on how SEA funds will be distributed.
- If not approved, an email will be sent explaining the reason. Eligible students can submit an alternative SEA application before the deadline.
Questions?
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 CIPE cannot offer tax advice, the IRS Tax Office on Court Street does offer free tax advice to students.
Find tips on budgeting, taxes, and other financial considerations: Financial Literacy: Managing Your Money at Yale.
