Want to travel abroad this summer … for free?

Check out the Vredenburg Travel Fund!

The Vredenburg Travel Fund offers strong Johns Hopkins engineering students the opportunity to apply their engineering, technology, and applied science skills and training in an international setting. The Fund encourages engineering majors of any discipline to broaden their engineering experience by giving them the chance to participate in international experiential activities through collaboration, investigation, and application.

Current engineering sophomores and juniors may apply to for the Vredenburg Travel Fund by proposing an international experience in the form of:

• Research
• Internship (paid or unpaid) OR
• Service Project

(The Vredenburg Travel Fund does not cover traditional “study abroad” experiences.)

Projects can be funded to a maximum of $8,000; the typical range of the Vredenburg Travel Fund is between $5,000 and $7,500, depending on the location of the experience. The Fund covers airfare, housing, food, and other reasonable expenses associated with the international experience. Financial need will not be a factor in selection of the recipients and funding of the proposals. However, students with demonstrated financial need may be eligible for an additional stipend upon return.

Information Session

To learn more about the Vredenburg Travel Fund, please attend the upcoming Study Abroad Fair:

A previous Information Session has been pre-recorded for easier accessibility. You may view the session here. You may also review the presentation slides from the 12/4/23 Information Session here.

How to Apply

Applications for the Vredenburg Travel Fund are available solely online. Please use the link below to submit your application.

APPLICATION: https://cglink.me/2dh/s82175 (jhed authentication required)

*If you are applying to a separate program (e.g. DAAD/RISE, EWH Summer Institute, etc.) that you believe qualifies for the Vredenburg Travel Fund, you must identify an individual from the organization/program who can serve as the “host” and who is willing to complete the Host Commitment Form. On the form, this individual will need to indicate that you have applied to the program and will be notified of your acceptance in the “host” program no later than the third week of March. Likewise, if you are applying to one of the programs/exchange partnerships that the Global Education Office (GEO) supports, a representative from GEO should complete the Host Commitment form.

Timeline

• 4th Friday in February – Applications (all components) are due by 11:59 p.m. NO EXCEPTIONS.
• 3rd Friday in March– All applicants will be notified of results by 5:00 p.m.
• Early April – Budgets are reviewed and finalized.

Applicants are encouraged to make alternate summer plans in the event that they are not awarded support from the Vredenburg Travel Fund.

Undergraduate International Travel Policy:

Johns Hopkins University does not permit undergraduates to travel for university affiliated purposes (e.g. study abroad, research, independent study, internships, field work, etc.) or to use university funding for international travel to “high risk areas” as determined by the Department of State (DOS), the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), University Risk Management, or other university international travel consultants. This includes countries under a Level 3 (reconsider travel) or 4 (do not travel) advisory with the U.S. DOS/CDC. The university will consider petitions for travel to Level 3 destinations on a case-by-case basis, but not for Level 4 destinations. See the JHU Undergraduate International Travel Policy for more information.

We encourage students to select programs available through the Global Education Office’s program database. If you identify an opportunity on your own, it will need to be vetted and approved by the Global Education Office before you can proceed with your Vredenburg application. To schedule an appointment with a Global Education Office advisor, please email [email protected]. The office provides both in-person and virtual advising appointments every weekday. 

Tips

It will be important to see what, if any, type of visa, vaccination proof, and/or other documentation may be needed depending on the proposed project location. It is advised that students begin looking into these things prior to the application deadline as there have been delays in processing.

Additional Questions

If you have additional questions, please email [email protected] to speak with the Vredenburg Travel Fund Coordinator.  Additionally, feel free to contact previous recipients (see below) to learn about their experiences.

Previous Recipients

*JHU suspended all travel for Summer 2020 and Summer 2021 due to the global COVID-19 pandemic.