Financing & Scholarships

The purpose of the SAIC Travel Scholarships is to advance undergraduate and graduate student opportunities to participate in SAIC's international faculty-led study trip courses. These scholarship opportunities are offered through generous gifts from donors, amounts vary. A single online application will allow students to be considered for all of the available scholarships. After the review process, selected students will be awarded one of the scholarships listed below. 

The SAIC Travel Scholarship Fund scholarships are offered through generous gifts from the following donors:

• Edward R. Ryerson Fellowship
• Anna Louise Raymond Fellowship
• John Quincy Adams Fellowship
• Fred J. Forster
• William Merchant R. French
   

The purpose of the scholarships is to advance undergraduate student opportunities to participate in our international faculty-led study trip courses.

Awards: $4,000 competitive scholarships for up to 10 students each academic year to assist with tuition and travel expenses for approved SAIC international study trips.

These travel scholarships are offered through generous gifts from donors Jan Michael Field and the Robert W. Field Family of Owensboro, Kentucky, Samuel and Blanche Koffler, and Arnold and Diane Von Eitzen Arnam. The purpose of the scholarships is to advance student opportunities to participate in our international faculty-led study trip courses.

Awards: $4,000 competitive scholarships to assist with tuition and travel expenses for approved SAIC international study trips.

The Jedd T. Foulke Young Artist Globalization Endowment Fund was created in 2017 through a generous grant from the Benjamin J. Rosenthal Foundation. The fund’s purpose is to offer young artists and designers who care about the world, opportunities to learn about and appreciate cultural perspectives beyond the U.S. Travel scholarships are awarded annually to students who participate in SAIC’s faculty-led study trips outside of the United States. When possible, preference shall be given to students who are first-time overseas travelers.

About Jedd T. Foulke
Jedd lived most of his life in Laramie, Wyoming. Art and music were Jedd’s passions. In 2014, he received a BFA in illustration from Northern Michigan University. Jedd was living in Laramie when a tragic accident took his life. Jedd never had much chance to travel, although he aspired to. Even though Jedd’s artistic leanings were modernist, he wanted to go to Italy to see Renaissance paintings and frescos. He especially admired the innovative techniques of lighting and composition used by Caravaggio.

Jedd was unpretentious with his work.  He was concerned about the planet and humanity, but he made art mostly for enjoyment…art for art’s sake. Art spoke to him. Color spoke to him, particularly through paintings and drawings. In his words, “[I] enjoy working with tangible media because I find greater respect for an artist who must work with the permanence of each mark, and must utilize the innate characteristics of the medium, independent of the artist. I particularly like the fluid nature of watercolor.”

Jedd’s father, Tom, and his sister, Montana, have told us they feel fortunate to be able to celebrate Jedd’s life through this fund at SAIC that enables other young artists to broaden their worldviews and pursue their passions. As descendants of Chicago philanthropist Benjamin J. Rosenthal, the Foulke family is proud to share this lasting legacy with SAIC in Jedd’s memory.

Award: A yearly $1,000 travel scholarship to assist a student with travel expenses for an approved SAIC international study trip.

The Kikeri-Sinha Travel Fellowship is a need-based travel award established in 2016 at SAIC through a generous gift from Anita Kikeri Sinha and Prabha Kant Sinha. The purpose of the fellowship is to enhance the educational opportunities for SAIC students by enabling them to participate in faculty-led study trips to India and beyond.

Awards: $4000–$6000 need-based fellowships to assist with tuition and travel expenses for approved SAIC international study trips.

About the Award Recipients
Each recipient of the Kikeri-Sinha Fellowship will be designated as a Kikeri-Sinha Fellow. Upon completion of the study trip, each recipient will be invited to attend a meeting with the Sinha family to share his or her experience abroad. Recipients should expect to report on their experiences both in-person and in writing.

About Anita and Prabha Sinha
Anita Kikeri Sinha is a member of the School of the Art Institute of Chicago’s Board of Governors. She also serves on the board of the Chicago Humanities Festival. She holds a Ph.D. in sociology from the University of Massachusetts, and in the past has served on other not-for-profit boards including the Chicago Foundation for Women.

Since 1998 Marion Parry, a friend of SAIC, has generously provided the means for students to travel to destinations around the globe. Travel can change your perspective, fuel your imagination, allow you to test new waters, and to find inspiration. For more than 20 years, Parry's grants have facilitated students' travel around the United States and the world.

Award: $1,500 to 25 degree-seeking students for the sole purpose of education through personal travel, which must be used for travel before the end of December of this year.

China Scholarship Council Exchange Scholarship

An agreement between SAIC and the China Scholarship Council of the Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China provides SAIC undergraduate and graduate students with the opportunity to study or conduct research in China for one academic year. One full scholarship (including tuition, campus housing, health insurance, and a stipend) is offered for study or research at selected Chinese universities authorized to admit foreign scholarship students. 

Admission to the selected university for scholarship winners is arranged by the China Scholarship Council (CSC) and recipients also receive a visa application which is pre-approved by the Chinese Ministry of Education. Applicants (per CSC guidelines) must be US citizens and in good health.

Skowhegan Matching Fellowships

The Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture is an intensive nine-week summer residency for upper level visual artists. It is set on 300 acres in the lake district of Central Maine.

Award: SAIC matches funds with Skowhegan to provide two SAIC graduate or advanced senior students full scholarships each summer, covering tuition, room, and board.

Questions of funding can often be integral to the decision and planning processes for study away.

Careful and advanced planning will help you find the right study opportunity and the necessary financial support. We suggest allowing anywhere from six to 18 months to research funding options, file applications, and organize paperwork. It’s also important to include the right people in your financing conversations. Study Abroad can guide you through certain costs associated with your chosen programs while Student Financial Services is available to show you how your financial aid may be applied toward those costs.

• 2023-24 SFS FAQs for Study Trips - Summer 2023

• NAFSA: common myths and realities regarding financing study abroad

• Outside Scholarship and Financial Aid Links

SAIC Fees and Billing
Certain costs for your study away experience will be billed via your student account. These costs include tuition, study trip program fees, SAIC health insurance and the SAIC technology fee.

Tuition
For SAIC-sponsored study away programs (faculty-led study trips, international exchange, mobility, and tuition transfer), tuition is charged per-credit and at the regular undergraduate and graduate rates. Tuition fees are posted to your student account and due by the program start date.

Program Fees
Faculty-led study trips carry a program fee in addition to tuition fees. Program fees are charged via your student account and typically cover costs such as accommodation, admissions, ground transport, and some group meals. Program fees do not cover transportation to and from your study trip location.

Health Insurance
Students participating in a SAIC-sponsored study away program are required to carry adequate health insurance coverage. In addition, some programs may require you to purchase additional coverage. Students enrolled for SAIC credit during a semester or yearlong study away program are automatically enrolled in and charged for SAIC’s Health Insurance Plan. If you hold a private insurance policy of equal or better coverage, you may waive SAIC's plan and associated fees. Read more about how to qualify for a health insurance waiver. Please note that waivers must be submitted by the posted deadlines.

SAIC Technology Fee
Students on SAIC-sponsored semester or yearlong study away programs continue to have access to the SAIC key server and CRIT support even while living away from Chicago. As such, study away students are still responsible for paying the SAIC Technology Fee.

Additional Costs and Budgeting
There are additional costs associated with study away programs outside of those charged through SAIC. When building a budget, it's important to anticipate and plan for as many of these additional costs as possible. Here are typical costs that you may want to consider:

• Airfare and on-ground transportation costs—How much does it cost to get you from your home to your study away location via plane, train, car, etc.? If you are on a semester or yearlong program, how much will it cost for you to get around day-to-day? 
• Passport—Students participating in an international study away program are required to have a valid passport. Passport application and renewal fees can be significant, especially if you need rush service.
• Visa—Some study away programs may require you to apply for a visa to enter the host country. Check with the host country’s embassy or consulate for visa requirements and fees.
• Housing—Housing costs for semester and yearlong programs can vary dramatically depending on the host location. Research typical housing costs for your host location and multiply that for the duration of your program.
• Books/supplies—Consider which books and supplies you will be able to take with you and which supplies you may need to purchase in your host location. Costs for your usual art supplies may be different than what you are used to in Chicago.
• Travel insurance—You may want to purchase additional travel insurance to protect your trip and any equipment you bring with you. 
• Tuition Transfer Programs—Students participating in a study away program through an affiliate school may incur additional tuition costs payable directly to the affiliate school and not SAIC. Costs can vary widely for different programs. Contact the Study Abroad Office if you are considering an affiliate school.

Creating a Study Away Budget
When choosing a program, you should compare the cost of living and attending classes on-campus with the cost of your prospective study away program. As discussed above, costs to consider in both locations include tuition, rent, food, supplies, transportation, health insurance, etc. These calculations will help guide your strategy for funding your time away. Note that working while on study away is typically not allowed.

SAIC Faculty-led Study Trips

• Additional institutional funds may be available to eligible students and can be applied towards tuition fees. Even if you have never done so before, we encourage U.S. citizens and permanent residents to complete the FAFSA and then in Step 1: Pre-registration for Study Trips, fill out the Financial Services section. This section acts as your application for institutional aid and Student Financial Services will contact you with an estimated award package. Please note that institutional aid applies to tuition only and cannot be used to pay study trip deposits, program fees or airfare.
• Odyssey Travel Grants may be used for study trip costs.

Semester Away

• Additional loan funding may be available while pursuing a semester away. Make an appointment with your Student Financial Services Advisor to discuss your options if you are working with the Study Abroad office on your exchange. You should consider the following:

Work-Study amendments

Cost of living, and how that may affect your funding

Paying for your tuition while away

Extra expenses including airfares, relocation expenses, and visa fees

• Odyssey Travel Grants may be used for study trip costs
• Gilman Scholarship Pell Grant-eligible undergraduate students who wish to study abroad may apply for the Gilman International Scholarship to subsidize the cost of their programs.
• Merit Scholarships are awarded to students upon admission to SAIC. Merit scholarship funds are applied to SAIC tuition on a prorated basis for both faculty-led study trips and semester and yearlong study away programs.
• Loans are often used to meet funding requirements for both study trip and semester and yearlong study away programs. Students should discuss loan eligibility with their Student Financial Services Advisor.