Summer Experience Funding

Funding is available to students based on the following eligibility requirements:

• Students not eligible for Internship+ funding.
• Are in good academic standing.
• Are enrolled on campus or on an approved academic leave of absence to study away in the spring prior to the summer experience and the fall after the summer experience.
• Secured (accepted) an eligible unpaid summer experience.
  • Paid experiences will not be eligible to apply for funding.

Experience Requirements:

• Internships and Undergraduate Research Experiences must be 6-12 weeks with a minimum of 240 hours total.
• Academic Immersion Programs only Oberlin June Block Intensive Courses & Language Immersion programs are acceptable
• Arts Experiences must be at least four weeks in length with a minimum of at least 120 total hours and include public performances, exhibitions, master classes, workshops with significant mentorship, personalized projects, screenings, professional development opportunities, and/or other meaningful arts-related activities. Eligible arts fields include theater, acting, improv, creative writing, cinema/media, visual arts, music, dance, design, and other relevant arts-based disciplines.

Eligible Music-Based Experiences:

Funding is available to support music festivals and other music-based educational experiences that provide significant artistic growth, professional development, and mentorship opportunities.

Eligible experiences include, but are not limited to:

• Music festivals, summer institutes, academies, artist residencies, or other music-based educational experiences that provide sustained, intensive study with professional musicians, faculty, or industry leaders. Eligible experiences must total a minimum of four weeks, which may be fulfilled through multiple non-concurrent programs.
• Programs offering significant mentorship opportunities, including master classes, ensemble rehearsals, seminars, networking opportunities, and other structured educational activities designed to foster artistic and professional development.
• Music competitions that require substantial preparation and participation and include meaningful educational components beyond the competition itself, such as master classes, professional development workshops, lectures, career seminars, or other organized learning experiences.

The following are not eligible for funding:

• Independent or self-directed projects, including self-organized concert tours, self-produced recordings, independently arranged performances, private lessons or other activities that do not provide a structured educational component. 

Funding is need-based, limited, and competitive. Eligibility is determined by the Office of Financial Aid at the time you submit your application. Please note that submitting an application does not guarantee funding will be awarded. 

To apply, you must submit a budget worksheet and an offer letter confirming that the experience is unpaid. Awards are based on need and expenses, up to $4,000.

• Paid experiences are not eligible for funding.

Funding Decisions

Meeting the eligibility requirements does not guarantee funding of all requested or eligible expenses. The review committee evaluates each application holistically and determines award amounts based on the strength of the proposal, alignment with program objectives, available funding, and the number of qualified applicants. As a result, applicants may receive partial funding, even when all requested expenses are considered eligible.

Summer Experience+ funding is designed to help cover expenses directly related to your summer experience and is not intended to serve as compensation. Eligible expenses include:

• Travel and Local Transportation/Commuting: Costs associated with airfare, train, bus, etc. Any daily commuting expenses, such as public transit or fuel.
• Housing/Rent: Accommodation costs for the duration of your experience. Use reliable sources for estimates.
• Food Expenses: Ranging from $120/week in lower-cost areas to $150/week in higher-cost areas.
• Program Fee(s): Include any fees directly related to your program or experience such as music festival application and/or registration fees, music festival tuition, fee-based programs, and research opportunities. 

Housing is often one of the highest expenses during the summer. To help reduce this cost, visit the Career Exploration and Development's website for tips on finding low-cost or even free housing options. Starting your search early can substantially lower your housing expenses.
Tips For Housing

Review summaries from previous summer funding recipients to gather ideas and inspiration for your own summer opportunities. These insights can help you identify potential experiences and better understand how to make the most of your internship or professional development experience.

Previous Recipients:

• 2025 Summer Recipients
• 2024 Summer Recipients
• 2023 Summer Recipients
• 2022 Summer Recipients
• 2021 Summer Recipients