Rising seniors, juniors, and sophomores are eligible to apply for Academic Division funding. Priority is given to rising seniors. Please note, graduating seniors are not eligible.

For Summer 2025, applications will open on January 21st. You will need to sign into the portal using your Swarthmore single sign on, and the application link will be on the main Academic Division Opportunities page.

For Summer 2025, applications are due on February 11 at 3:59:59 pm.

Yes, you can submit an application to work on a faculty member's research project. Be sure to discuss your plan with your faculty recommender/mentor well ahead of the application deadline to ensure they are taking summer students. If you are working directly with a faculty member, your proposal title should reflect their existing project, your narrative should include a description of that project, and they should serve as your recommender.

Your faculty recommender will be the person who will complete a form that will be viewed along with your application by the committee(s) determining funding. They should have working knowledge of your project topic if you are doing something independent; OR they should be the faculty member you will work directly with on their research. In addition, your recommender will serve as the reviewer for your final report should your application be funded.

Your narrative is reviewed by a faculty committee to determine whether or not to fund your application. It should include a description of the opportunity you're pursuing (what you're doing, how you will do it, who you are working with, and where you will be located), and how it relates to your academic program/goals. For more guidance, view our Program Guidebook's "Preparing your Written Proposal" section.

All applications will need a narrative proposal, a Swarthmore faculty or staff member recommendation, and a PDF copy of your transcript. Instructions on how to request a copy of your transcript from the Registrar's Office can be found here. Request your transcript at least 2 days before the application deadline to ensure you have it for submission time.

An independent project primarily benefits you, the student, and not Swarthmore  College or an individual faculty member. Independent projects should be student-led and created, but may be done in consultation with a faculty mentor for guidance.

Undocumented students can participate in non-employment based opportunities (NEBOs) during the summer. Visit the Sanctuary Committee's College-Funded Summer Opportunities  website for applicable types of projects. Generally speaking, any independent project that primarily benefits you, the student could be considered an eligible NEBO project.

Yes, there is a word limit for every proposal. NSE with Swarthmore faculty applications have a max of 250 words, all other divisions have a max of 800 words.

No, external acceptances are not required at the time of application if you are applying in the Arts & Humanities or Social Sciences division. If you do have an acceptance before Swarthmore’s application deadline you are able to include that in the "additional materials" section of your application. If you are awarded funding, you will be asked to provide an acceptance letter for your opportunity during the acceptance stage.

Yes, you must provide a letter of acceptance from your off-campus mentor. This letter must include: 

• A description of the research project you will work on and a detailed description of what you will be doing
• An explanation of who will directly supervise and mentor you and what that mentorship will consist of
• A clear statement that the faculty member does not have their own funding to support you

In your Risk & Compliance form there is a section to input multiple locations depending on the programs you are applying. Please note that if you are awarded funding, you must confirm one accepted program and all locations associated with it.

No, you can save your progress in the portal and make edits until you submit your application. You cannot edit your application once you’ve submitted before the deadline. Any applications with missing information by the deadline close will not be considered for funding and will be deleted.

No, all required application materials must be completed by the deadline. No exceptions will be made for late applications.

All applications are considered pending until applicants are notified of funding decisions in mid-March. You can view your application anytime in the portal, but you are not able to make changes past the deadline.

Decision notifications are sent to your Swarthmore email by mid-March. That email will indicate whether you are funded, placed on a waiting list, or will not receive funding.

Yes, there is a waitlist in the event funding becomes available. A student’s position on the waitlist will NOT be shared.

All applicants need a Swarthmore faculty or staff recommendation. Your recommender should be familiar with your proposal, so you should meet with them to discuss your summer plans and application well before the application deadline. Faculty or staff members will receive an email with instructions on how to submit their recommendation ahead of the February 13th recommendation deadline. This recommendation will not be in the form of a letter, faculty members will receive an emailed link to complete a form asking them specific questions like:

• In what capacity do you know the applicant?
• What contribution will the proposed project make to the student's Swarthmore education or to the faculty's own research?
• How coherent (well-planned) is the project?

Yes, students who have received a summer opportunity from the College receive priority status for summer housing reservations so long as all steps in the process are completed in a timely fashion. Failure to apply for housing in a timely manner may result in lack of summer housing availability or may result in you being placed on a housing waitlist. Visit the Summer Housing Website for more information.

All required award materials will be submitted through the same application portal. Students will be notified via email of any deadlines for requirements and are expected to complete all items before receiving stipend payments.

Yes, and all applicable contingencies must be met before payment can be made.

The following items are required for ALL awardees:

• Award Acceptance Form
• Budget Submission Form
• Report at the end of the summer describing your opportunity

NOTE: Your summer funding will have come from one of a number of sources, possibly from outside donors who have contributed to the program. Before sharing with donors your report will be reviewed by your faculty recommender. We report to these donors annually and may share your report with them. Reports are due the first Friday of the Fall Semester.

Additional Requirements/Contingencies (if applicable):

• Travel Registry - if any part of your project involves international travel, you must complete the travel registry through the Global Engagement Office and any additional requirements for their office before you can travel.
• External Acceptance Recommendation or Document - for any summer project that is not on Swarthmore’s campus (with the exception of Swarthmore faculty-led summer projects that take place off campus). External Acceptances must include the following: your name as the person being accepted, date of acceptance, dates/duration of experience, contact name for the individual (first and last name) with the program, program name (if applicable), and an email address for the individual should someone need to be contacted.
• Minor Clearances - for any project working minors (anyone under the age of 18) on a regular basis must complete PA Act 153 clearances, which include a PA Criminal Background Check, Child Abuse Clearance, and Fingerprinting. For additional guidance on obtaining clearances, email volunteer-clearances@swarthmore.edu.
• Research Compliance/Committee Approvals: Institutional Review Board (IRB/Departmental Review) for research involving human subjects, Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) for research involving vertebrates, Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC) for research involving biohazards.

Payments will be sent to you mid-May at the earliest, once all requirements are met. Direct deposit is the fastest way to receive payment. The College will withhold a portion of your stipend until you have completed your final report at the beginning of the fall semester and it has been reviewed by your faculty recommender.