This list is comprised of sample opportunities for which you either apply directly (however, we will provide you with feedback and assistance), as well as those that require application submission through the College.
PDF of First Year Opportunities
Those that require Lafayette endorsement or nomination, are designated by an *.
| Program | Information | Application Deadline * indicates campus
deadline |
| US-UK Summer
Institutes |
US citizenship required. The Fulbright Commission offers different summer institutes for first years and sophomores to spend a couple weeks in the UK. | *Campus application deadline TBD. Contact Dean Smith for updates. |
| Critical Language
Scholarship Program |
Open to US citizens. Summer intensive language study (typically in host country, living with a host family): Languages: Arabic, Azerbaijani, Bangla, Chinese, Hindi, Indonesian, Japanese, Korean, Persian, Portuguese Punjabi, Russian, Swahili, Turkish and Urdu. Some languages require previous language study/knowledge which may be obtained by self-directed study by uptake of award. | Early-Mid November |
| Critical Language
Scholarship SPARK Program |
US citizenship required. Opportunity to study Russian, Chinese or Arabic throughout the academic year through online classes and activities. May complement language classes at Lafayette or can be studied independently of Lafayette offerings. | Early-Mid November |
| DAAD | Variety of programs from 3-week summer courses to internships/research. Most are open to all citizens. | See website |
| Boren Scholarship | US citizenship required. Study abroad in a non Western country. Study abroad must include language intensive instruction. STEM students may opt to study abroad for the summer only. Otherwise, programs should be a semester or longer in duration. | *Mid December |
| Gilman International
Scholarship |
US citizens who are Pell Grant recipients may apply to spend a summer, interim, semester or year of at least 3 weeks duration abroad. | *Campus deadlines & application instructions available through Study Abroad Office |
2024 Sample List of Opportunities
| Rangel International Affairs Summer
Enrichment Program |
US citizenship required. This 6 week summer program provides students with a deeper appreciation of current issues and trends in international affairs and a greater understanding of career opportunities in international affairs. US citizenship required. This 6 week summer program provides students with a deeper appreciation of current issues and trends in international affairs and a greater understanding of career opportunities in international affairs. | Early February |
| Humanity in Action | No citizenship requirements. Fellows spend a month (June or July) in Bosnia & Herzegovina, Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, Poland or the US (Atlanta) working as a team alongside civic leaders addressing humanitarian issues relevant to a particular locale. Programs include seminars, workshops and project based work. | Early January |
| Freeman Asia Program | US citizens/permanent residents with financial need. Spend a summer, semester or year studying in Asia (Cambodia, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Laos, Macao, Malaysia, Mongolia, Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand and/or Vietnam. | *Campus deadlines & application instructions available through Study Abroad Office |
| SMART Scholarship | Citizens of US, Australia, Canada, NZ, or the UK. Open to STEM majors. | December |
| National Science
Foundation-Research Experience for Undergrads (NSF-REU) |
Like doing summer EXCEL research in STEM and Social Sciences but at other institutions in the US. Must be a US citizen or permanent resident of the US. REU research could take place in the US or abroad. Students must contact the individual REU PI/Site for application materials and dates. | Spring (dates varies) |