The Cognitive Science Program’s mission is to prepare students to tackle global and multicultural challenges. Experiences abroad are vital to this preparation. Yet students majoring in Cognitive Science and related-STEM fields are generally less likely to participate in study abroad programs than other students.
With this in mind, the Cognitive Science Program is excited to continue the Cognitive Science Travel Award Program. We are excited to expand this program to support students traveling domestically or internationally to conferences, workshops, and meetings. Students planning to travel internationally will be eligible to apply for up to $2,000 and $1,000 for domestic travel. Any travel costs in excess of the allotment would be responsibility of the recipient.
These awards are available to UConn undergraduate students majoring or minoring in Cognitive Science or, students strongly considering the major/minor in the future. Please note that you may apply before being accepted into a study abroad program, but the award will be contingent on notifying us of your official acceptance. Priority will be given to students attending the Interdisciplinary Ethnography Field Summer School in Mauritius, the Neuroscience Study Abroad Summer Program in Salamanca, Spain, and UConn Brain & Behavior in Tel Aviv, Israel. All program details can be found on the Experiential Global Learning webpage. Courses taken through these summer programs can be counted as elective credits towards the Cognitive Science degree. The Cognitive Science Program is willing to review other international and domestic travel scenarios on a case-by-case basis.
This award program operates with a rolling deadline. Once funds are exhausted, the application will close.
Deadline: Students may apply for the COGS travel award at any time. However, study abroad travel awards will be contingent on (a) applying and being accepted into a study abroad program and (b) sharing an official acceptance notification with us.
Priority consideration will be given to students who (1) are members of a group that is underrepresented at the University of Connecticut; or (2) have overcome obstacles such as socioeconomic, educational, or other societal disadvantages (arising, for example, through prejudice and/or discrimination); or (3) have worked with such groups to help overcome these or other obstacles.
Questions regarding the Cognitive Science Travel Award Program may be sent to cogsci@uconn.edu.
Eligibility requirements:
- The applicant must be a current UConn undergraduate student, majoring or minoring in Cognitive Science or, students strongly considering the major/minor in the future.
- To apply for the Travel Award to use towards a study abroad program, the applicant must plan on or have already submitted an application to a study abroad program.
- The applicant is not eligible to receive a second award within the same academic year.
- The funds must be used for travel.
To apply: You will need to provide the following information to apply for the Travel Award.
- Your name and email
- Department and major/minor
- The name of the study abroad program you have applied to, and the date of application.
- Estimated travel dates and airfare costs
- A 500-word essay describing how the study broad experience is expected to broaden your study of Cognitive Science.
- (optional) A 500-word essay describing why you are eligible for priority consideration
Award notification and administration:
- Recipients of a Cognitive Science Travel Award will be sent an award letter via email.
- The award will become active only after the recipient provides written confirmation of acceptance into a study abroad program from the UConn Experiential Global Learning office.
- For awardees, airfare will be booked directly by the Cognitive Science program; funds will not be directly dispersed to the student.
- Any travel costs in excess of the $2000 award are the responsibility of the recipient. If travels costs are below $2000, the awardee will not receive the remainder.
- A photo and shot bio of the award recipients will be featured on the Cognitive Science Program webpage.
- One month after returning from their study abroad program, recipients must submit a 500-word essay on how the study abroad experience broadened their study of Cognitive Science. The essay along with any submitted travel photos will be featured on the program’s website.
- Recipients of the Travel Award will be asked to speak about their study abroad experience in COGS 2201 in Spring 2026 (as either a live presentation or short prepared video).
- Questions regarding the Cognitive Science Study Abroad Travel Award Program may be sent to the Cognitive Science Director, erika.skoe@uconn.edu.
Travel Restrictions
Recipients should be aware of UConn’s travel restrictions. Recipients are responsible for knowing any and all travel advisories and restrictions and should plan accordingly. Recipients should familiarize themselves with alerts and warnings issued by the U.S. Department of State at: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel.html
Cancellation
If the study abroad program is cancelled or in the event that travel policies or restrictions suddenly prevent the recipient from traveling, this award will be voided. It is the responsibility of the recipient to contact the director if either of the above occurs.