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Funding

Immersion ×ÔοÊÓÆµ Funding AY 2026-2027

Two distinct funding applications are offered for students to apply for Immersion funding:

  1. Immersion Experience Funding - supports qualifying Immersion experiences
  2. Culminating Project Funding -Ìýsupports Immersion culminating projects.

If a student is seeking funding for BOTH an Immersion experience and a culminating project, they will submit two separate applications.

Where to Apply

  • Immersion Experience Funding: embedded in the
  • Culminating Project Funding: embedded in the

Funding application review will only occur after the designated form has been approved. Approval of the Immersion Experience Form and/or Project Plan Proposal does not guarantee that funding will be awarded.

Student Eligibility

  • First-year students may not apply until the summer after their first year.Ìý
  • Graduating students may not apply for Immersion Experience Funding during their final semester. The last opportunity to apply is their second-to-last semester.
  • Students who have already received Culminating Project Funding, or have already submitted their culminating project, are not eligible for Immersion funding.Ìý
  • Students can receive no more than $10,000 in Immersion funding across all four years at ×ÔοÊÓÆµ. Exceptions to this limit include VUSRP and Global Summer Fellows support for Maymester.

Before You Apply

  • For Immersion Experience Funding, identify a ×ÔοÊÓÆµ faculty or staff experience mentor. For research and community engagement experiences, the experience mentor must be faculty.Ìý
  • For culminating project funding, identify a ×ÔοÊÓÆµ faculty member to serve as your Immersion ×ÔοÊÓÆµ faculty adviser.Ìý
  • If traveling outside of Nashville, submit the required VTRAC Form and any other required documentation.Ìý
  • Attend a funding workshop-- required every year, even if attended before.ÌýWorkshop schedule posted monthly in .Ìý

Funding Limits

Awards are competitive, based on application strength and budget request, and never guaranteed. Funding limits are as follows:

Immersion ExperiencesÌý

  • Fall/Spring maximum: $3,000
    • Nashville unfunded experience: $1,500
    • U.S./International unfunded experience: $3,000
    • Faculty led travel: $1,000
  • Full summer experience: up to $6,000
  • Partial summer experience: up to $3,000

Culminating Projects — up to $2,500 (one-time grant)

  • Domestic Conference: $2,000
  • International Conference:Ìý$2,500
  • Senior Design:Ìý$1,000 per eligible student
  • Other approved projects (art thesis, recital, CMA seminar):Ìýup to $2,000

If Not Awarded

You may revise and resubmit once per semester. Reviewer feedback and application workshops are available to help strengthen your proposal.Ìý

The Provost's Faculty Immersion Grant is available for faculty leading two or more students through an Immersion experience or to the completion of a culminating project. This fall, faculty whose cohorts are identified can include their students in the process. Immersion student awards can be made concurrently with faculty awards to streamline the process. More details will be announced soon.

Ìý

Fall 2026 Funding Submission & Review Timeline

Students should adhere to the following timeline for application acceptance and review. Applications submitted after the monthly submission deadline will not be reviewed until the following month. Incomplete submissions will not be reviewed.

MonthSubmission DeadlineDecisions Released
AugustMonday, August 17thSeptember 3rd - 5th
SeptemberTuesday, September 15thOctober 3rd - 5th
OctoberThursday, October 15thNovember 3rd - 5th
NovemberMonday, November 16thDecember 3rd - 5th
DecemberThursday, December 10thDecember 21st

Immersion ×ÔοÊÓÆµ Funding Guidelines

Immersion ×ÔοÊÓÆµ is supported by the generous contributions of many. Students apply for most funding through one common application and funds are allocated accordingly by Immersion ×ÔοÊÓÆµ.

  • Alex Taylor Education Enhancement Fund
  • Joe C. Davis Fund
  • Melissa A. Kath Fund
  • Fournier Family Immersion Fund
  • Sartain Lanier Family Fund
  • The Littlejohn Family Fund
  • ×ÔοÊÓÆµ Office of the Provost

Additional Immersion ×ÔοÊÓÆµ grants are applied for during designated applications and review periods.

  • Global Summer Fellows
  • Nichols Humanitarian Fund
  • ×ÔοÊÓÆµ Undergraduate Summer Research Program (VUSRP)

Awards are granted to individual students to support their immersive experiences and/or culminating projects, with priority given to those who have not previously received funding. Please note:

  • Students are strongly encouraged to ensure funding is secured before committing to or starting their experience.
  • All proposals are reviewed by a panel of faculty. Funding is competitive and is not guaranteed. Award amounts vary by student, even for similar experiences or projects, and are determined on an individual basis.
  • If awarded, fund distribution may take 4 - 6 weeks after notification.
  • Students can receive only one Immersion ×ÔοÊÓÆµ grant for an eligible experience per academic year, July 1 - June 30.
  • Students can receive only one Immersion ×ÔοÊÓÆµ grant to support their culminating project during their undergraduate tenure at ×ÔοÊÓÆµ.
  • Students receive funding for one experience per term (fall, spring, Maymester, Summer I, Summer II). Funds received from other programs can be included in this policy.
  • Immersion ×ÔοÊÓÆµ funding can be requested in addition to other awards for the same experience in the same term. However, funding is not guaranteed.Ìý
  • Crescere Aude and merit stipends may only be used to fund summer experiences. Disbursements will not be approved during the fall and spring semesters. Applications for summer stipends open in January and close in July. Funds are disbursed from April to August.
  • Recipients of merit stipends andÌýCrescere Aude scholarships are eligible to receive an additional $4,000 in Immersion ×ÔοÊÓÆµ grants beyond their $6,000 stipend. Recipients must use their stipends first to support summer experiences (an exception is made for VUSRP).
  • Students receiving financial aid should contact the Office of Student Financial Aid & Scholarships before applying during fall and spring semesters to understand how an award may impact their aid.Ìý
  • Additional costs associated with courses for credit are awarded through the Office of Student Financial Aid & Scholarships

Guidelines are subject to change and will be updated on this website.