Student Scholarships
Are you a University of Montana student planning on participating in a low-paid or unpaid internship or have a research project or study abroad trip planned? Perhaps you have an interest in attending a professional conference or have an idea for a social entrepreneurship project? If so, the Experiential Learning Scholarship Fund may help you with the funds necessary to participate.
Students seeking support to pursue these types of experiential learning activities should apply. Students may apply for up to $2,000.
Experiences:
- Internships (low-paid* or unpaid)
- Research Projects
- Creative Works (performance/production)
- Travel (study abroad, National Student Exchange, field study programs, presentations and conferences, professional development)
- Service (projects related to serving your community)
*A low-paid internship is defined as receiving less than minimum wage ($10.55/hour)
Please see the Experiential Learning Scholarship Fund website for details related to application timelines, processes, and frequently asked questions.
Faculty/Staff Grants
The Experiential Learning Faculty Support Fund invites applications from faculty and staff to incorporate experiential learning into their classes and programs. Experiential learning is an important component of a student’s education at UM, and a high-impact practice that supports student success and career readiness. These experiences includes internships, service learning, research, field experience, clinicals/practicum, project-based learning, and community engagement.
Please see the Experiential Learning Faculty Support Fund website for details related to project goals, application timelines and processes, and eligible costs.
UM Experiential Learning Faculty Support Funds Spring 2026 Request for Proposals
Spring 2026 Proposal Submission Deadline: February 9, 2026.
Applicants will receive notice of approval/rejection no later than February 18, 2026.
Overview Experiential Learning and Career Success (ELCS) at the University of Montana invites faculty and staff to submit proposals for funding to support experiential learning initiatives.
Experiential learning is a high-impact practice that enhances student learning, supports career readiness, and connects academic knowledge with real-world applications. Experiential learning includes capstone, clinicals/practicums, internships, faculty-led international study, field experience, research, and service-learning.
Program Goals This funding opportunity aims to:
- Support faculty and staff to engage students in high-impact experiential learning opportunities that strengthen connections between academic coursework and applied settings.
- Foster strong, reciprocal partnerships with external organizations that enhance student learning.
- Promote students’ career readiness by providing students with hands-on experiences aligned with their academic pursuits and career aspirations.
- Address the needs of citizens in Montana and beyond through experiential learning experiences that benefit the broader community or public good.
Proposal Guidelines Strong proposals will:
- Describe student learning objective(s) tied to the experiential learning activity.
- Identify the external partnership(s) and describe the reciprocal nature of the relationship. Letters of support from program/project partners are strongly encouraged.
- Demonstrate how the experience will support students’ career readiness and develop career skills.
- Explain how the experiential learning activity benefits the broader community or public good.
- Seek to align with best practices for experiential learning and high-impact practices.
Award Information
- Applicants may request up to $1,500
- Awards are given one-time only and should not be considered ongoing funding. Preference is given to new applicants and new projects. Awardees are encouraged to use support funds to leverage additional funding.
- Proposals that engage multiple students will be prioritized. Individual students seeking financial support for internships, research projects, and other experiential learning activities should apply for the Student Experiential Learning Scholarship.
Who Can Apply All UM faculty and staff involved in facilitating student experiential learning activities may apply.
Eligible Expenses Funds may be used to cover costs directly related to student experiential learning activities, including:
- Materials and supplies
- Communication and technology
- Travel, event, or facility rental costs
- Faculty or staff stipends
Application Materials
- Project proposal
- Budget form
- Letter of Support (strongly encouraged)