David Barlow established the Barlow Endowment for Study Abroad to enhance study abroad for Bates students and faculty.  Mr. Barlow '79 studied in the United Kingdom and found his year abroad to be a powerful learning experience, both inside and outside the classroom.  This generous gift to the college provides opportunities for Bates students to enrich their study abroad programs, to link them more closely with their academic program at Bates, and to share their experiences with the rest of the campus and community. 

The endowment has four grant programs for students. Students can apply for these grants using the Sample Application Form or, if abroad, by sending an email with the same information along with their proposal. Students studying in countries for which the U. S. Department of State has issued a Travel Warning may use Barlow funds only for "during the semester activities."

1. Barlow Fellowships  Up to 10 students are selected among sophomores who plan to study abroad during their junior year.  To apply, students work with their faculty advisors to develop an overall plan for study abroad, including preparatory classes taken on campus, a program of study abroad, and additional activities to be undertaken while abroad if selected, either during or at the conclusion of their studies.  Where appropriate, applicants are also encouraged to identify potential thesis topics linked to their study abroad experience.  Successful applicants are "Barlow Fellows" and receive grants of $2,000 for use during the junior year and following summer. Grants of up to $500 are available to offset travel or other advising expenses incurred by the faculty advisor of each Barlow Fellow. 

An example of a Barlow Fellow might be a student who studies in Spain on the JYA program.  Working with a faculty advisor, this student would take Spanish and other appropriate courses at Bates, select specific courses to take in Spain, plan activities in Spain during the year or for a month after the program concludes in June, and suggest potential thesis topics related to Spain.

The deadline for sophomores for Fellowships is the first Monday in March. Students receiving Fellowships may apply for the additional funds allocated for thesis research or a campus/community activity after their program or during their senior year. These grants are discussed below..

2. Enrichment Grants These grants are designed to enhance the experience of students on semester or year-long study abroad programs.  “During the Program” Enrichment Grants can be used for extra travel while abroad or for enriching activities at the study abroad site.  While most of these grants fund extra travel, grants have also been used, for example, to purchase a trumpet to allow participation in an orchestra in Russia and supplies for a student to use for her volunteer work in an orphanage in Ecuador.  Up to $590 is available for these “during the program” enrichment activities.  “Post-program” Enrichment Grants support travel or other activities within the country of the program such as an internship, volunteer work, additional study, or employment.  The goal of post-program grants is to allow additional time at your program site or region, to extend and enrich your experience there.  Grants have helped fund extra language study in Paris at the conclusion of a program in France, volunteer work in New Zealand after study there, trips to the Galapagos after a semester of study in Quito, and a trip to Sicily after a semester in Rome.  Occasionally, students propose travel projects that blend these two grant opportunities with their extra travel at the end of the semester, outside their country of study, but within the same culture region.  If approved, the $590 maximum for “during the program grants” is applied.

            Students apply for enrichment grants after they have begun studying abroad when the scope of opportunities and costs of carrying them out are better known.  Students who study abroad in the fall may apply for "post-program" funds while abroad or upon their return to campus for use later in the year.  In all cases, the application must be submitted prior to incurring the expenses.  The grant application needs to describe the proposed activity, including the time period, location, and how it will enrich the study abroad experience.  The proposal needs to provide realistic cost estimates.  Allowable expenses include food, low-cost lodging, travel, entry fees, conference expenses, and up to $100 for academic supplies or equipment, such as books or a tape recorder.  Funds may not be used to pay salaries, purchase gifts, or pay the regular costs of study abroad.   A maximum of five enrichment grants are awarded per country per semester with only one grant per student. 

Grant applications are generally submitted as emails to Dean Sawyer (ssawyer@bates.edu) or faxed: 207-753-6971. Applications are reviewed by the Off-Campus Study Committee approximately once a month when the college is in session as long as funds remain. The Committee may alter these procedures and deadlines if necessary in specific cases. All Committee decisions are final.

3. Thesis Research Grants  Grants of up to $1,400 are available to support research on theses directly related to the Bates study abroad experience.  Grants are available for research junior year during the study abroad period or at its conclusion, or for research during the senior year. Most thesis grants support research in the student's study abroad country; however, the funds may be used for other expenses, such as travel to the University of Massachusetts-Amherst for use of a specialized library related to the study abroad-based thesis, or the purchase of documents needed for the thesis. 

For junior year thesis grants, students apply after they have begun studying abroad and know the scope of opportunities and costs of carrying them out. Students who study abroad in the fall may apply for junior year research funds upon their return to campus for use later in the year. Applications for thesis grants require consultation with, and the support of, the thesis advisor, documented in a letter from the faculty member. This consultation ensures that the thesis topic and methodology are approved by the faculty advisor, that the proposed research will be productive, and that the research is essential to the thesis. Applications must be submitted prior to undertaking the research.

Thesis grant applications need to describe the proposed research, including the time period, location, and how it relates to the Bates study abroad experience. Allowable expenses include food, low-cost lodging, travel, entry fees, conference expenses, and up to $100 for academic supplies or equipment, such as books or a tape recorder. Funds may not be used to pay salaries, purchase gifts, or pay the regular costs of study abroad. Applications are submitted to the Off-Campus Study Office in Lane Hall for review by the Off-Campus Study Committee. Applications may be submitted using the Sample Application Form or via email to Dean Sawyer. Grant applications are reviewed approximately once a month when college is in session as long as funds remain. October 1 is the initial deadline for thesis grants for the senior year, but later applications are welcome. The Committee may alter these procedures and deadlines if necessary. All Committee decisions are final.

4. Campus and Community Activity Grants   Upon return to campus, students may request up to $1,000 to support an activity, either on-campus or in the Lewiston-Auburn community, that is directly related to their study abroad program. The goal is to share the abroad experience with our community. Examples include a student who studied batik cloth design in Ghana sponsoring a batik exhibit on campus, or a student who studied in Argentina sponsoring an Argentine film night. Group projects are also supported. An example includes support for students who participated on the Short Term in Vietnam who want to exhibit their photographs on campus. Typically, these activities are co-sponsored with other student organizations and/or academic departments. Applications are submitted to the Off-Campus Study Office in Lane Hall for review by the Off-Campus Study Committee. Applications may be submitted using the Sample Application Form or via email to Dean Sawyer. Grant applications are reviewed approximately once a month when college is in session as long as funds remain.

The Grant Award and Completion Report

Grant awards are distributed within the United States either directly to the student or, if the student is abroad, to the student's family. According to IRS regulations, enrichment grants of over $600 are considered "other income" and are subject to Federal income tax; thesis grants support an activity for academic credit and are therefore tax exempt. Barlow Fellowships are also tax exempt. In each case above, Non-resident Aliens are required by the U.S. Internal Revenue Service to report grant income and to pay taxes on that income. Grant recipients must write a one page "Completion Report" on the use of the funds. For Barlow Fellowships and Enrichment grants, this should be done by the end of their first semester back on campus. For thesis grants, this should be done by the end of the second semester of senior year. The grant amount is charged to the student's bill if the report is not received by the appropriate date. Students are expected to return unused funds to Bates for use by future students.

Students are encouraged to apply for these grants. If you have any questions, please contact Mr. Das or Dean Sawyer.

Want to apply?  Barlow Study Abroad Sample Application Form