Financial Aid & Scholarships

Since 1982, the College of ACES has supported the ACES Undergraduate Research Scholarship Program to provide research opportunities for qualified students who demonstrate superior academic ability and a strong interest in research.

Eligibility

Students are eligible for the ACES Undergraduate Research Scholarship Program if they meet the following general requirements:

• Have sophomore, junior, or senior standing by the time that the project will be conducted.
• Official enrollment with a declared academic major in the College of ACES.
• Grade point average (GPA) of 3.00 or higher for their two most recent semesters.

Approved projects are funded up to $1,500 based on a project budget sheet submitted with the application. Students whose projects are approved are also awarded a $500 merit scholarship for the academic term during which the research project is conducted.

Application

Project proposals are accepted and reviewed on a semesterly basis. The application deadline for fall semester projects is May 1, and the application deadline for spring semester projects is November 1. However, submitting project proposals a few months before starting the research project is strongly encouraged. The Faculty Research Mentor for the proposed project needs to have a current faculty and/or research appointment within the College of ACES.

Applicants are strongly urged to identify and define an appropriate research project well in advance of their application date. Application forms and additional program information are available from the Honors Desk in the ACES Academic Programs Office.

Preparing a Research Proposal

Project proposals should follow the format shown on the application form and are limited to two pages, a budget sheet, and a title page. The project budget should itemize all funds necessary to support the proposed research. Allowable expenses include laboratory supplies (e.g., chemicals, glassware, biological materials, etc.), other disposable supplies, and off-campus travel necessary to collect data. Funds will not be provided for wages or major equipment purchases. Any budget items that are not self-explanatory should be justified in footnotes.

Presentation of Research Findings

A project report (two or three pages) summarizing research findings should be submitted by email to aces-jshp@illinois.edu after the project. Students are also expected to display their findings at the ACES Undergraduate Research Day in mid-April; in a poster session at the Campus Undergraduate Research Symposium in late April; at an approved departmental meeting/seminar; at a professional/scientific conference; or at another scholastic event or professional meeting approved in advance by the Honors Director.

An undergraduate researcher whose paper or poster has been accepted and who plans to present research results at a professional meeting may apply for up to $800 to help with travel expenses.

Projects that lead to the publication of full-length papers in peer-reviewed journals may qualify for up to $500 toward publication expenses. To qualify, the published paper needs to list the undergraduate researcher as an author and acknowledge the support of the ACES Undergraduate Research Scholarship Program.

Requests for supplemental funding (application forms downloadable below) should be directed to aces-jshp@illinois.edu and need to provide evidence that an appropriate research paper or poster has been scheduled for presentation and/or accepted for publication. Requests for travel funds should be submitted to the Honors Director at least 30 days before professional meetings.

Academic Credit

Undergraduate researchers may receive academic credit (typically up to three hours) by registering for an independent study course (usually a 200-level course [for non-James Scholars] or a 300-level course [for James Scholars or Chancellor's Scholars]). Standard registration procedures should be observed, with the final grade to be assigned by the Faculty Research Mentor after all project requirements have been met.

Information & Application:

• ACES Undergraduate Research Scholarship Program: Overview Brochure — Undergraduate Research opportunities are available for qualified ACES students in the sophomore, junior, and senior classes.
• ACES Undergraduate Research Scholarship Program: Application Form — Here's how to apply for funding to support your ACES Undergraduate Research Project. Please download the Undergraduate Research Grant Application Budget Template below before beginning this application.
• Document

  Undergraduate Research Grant Application Budget Template.docx
• Travel Award and Publication Support Funding Request Form — 1) To apply for travel funding to attend a professional conference and present your research as a poster or talk, and 2) To apply for financial support for an article in a peer-reviewed journal that is based on an ACES Undergraduate Research project. Please download the Travel Award & Publication Support Funding Request Budget Template below before beginning this application.
• Document

  Travel Award & Publication Support Funding Request Budget Template.docx

The Campbell Scholars Program

The Campbell Scholars Program provides undergraduate research funding to students enrolled in the College of ACES who are Jonathan Baldwin Turner (JBT) scholarship recipients. Similar to the ACES Undergraduate Scholarship funding, this award provides money for research to be completed. Up to $2,500 per project is possible. Please follow the links below to access more information about this program and download the application form. Applications are due by May 1 of each calendar year.

• The Campbell Scholars Program: Application Form and Proposal Outline

ACES Study Abroad Scholarship

College of ACES students participating in any University of Illinois-sponsored study abroad program are eligible for the ACES Study Abroad Scholarship.

The following factors are considered when making scholarship decisions and allocating awards:

• Cost and duration of the program 
• Financial need eligibility as documented through the University of Illinois’ Office of Student Financial Aid
• Students that are historically and currently underrepresented in study abroad. For data on representation in study abroad see: https://opendoorsdata.org/data/us-study-abroad 

Some funding is guaranteed to all ACES students who apply for it. Here are example award amount guidelines. Final award amounts depend on the number of applicants as well as the factors listed above. 

• $750 for a faculty-led program
• $1,000 for a summer program or internship (four weeks or longer)
• $1,500 for a semester abroad
• $2,000 for an academic year abroad

SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION DEADLINES

• Full Summer, Academic Year, and Fall Semester Programs: February 15
• Spring Semester Programs: June 15 (early action); September 15 (Final)
• Winter Break: The scholarship applications are due at the same time as the program applications. Deadlines vary by program. Email aces-studyabroad@illinois.edu if you are unsure. 

ACES Study Abroad Scholarship application 

SCHOLARSHIP REQUIREMENTS

In return for receiving the ACES Study Abroad Scholarship, recipients must complete the following:

1. Write a one-and-a-half to two-page reflection and evaluation of your study abroad experience, which will be posted on the Voices of ACES and the Study Abroad Student Stories blog. In the reflection, you can answer questions including (but not limited to):
   • What did you learn through this program?
   • Which events were most meaningful to you and why?
   • What does the experience mean to your academic/career plans?
   • How did the experience affect you as a person?
   • Which individuals you encountered or which events contributed to those feelings, thoughts, and plans?
   • Save as LastName_Country_Year (eg. Johnson_France_2021)
      
2. Volunteer at one study abroad event as an ambassador of your program. This could include the study abroad fair, a program info session, a classroom visit, an RSO presentation, a pre-departure orientation, etc. ACES Study Abroad will send you a list of potential activities and instructions via email.
    
3. Submit a photo gallery by using the following link. Email 10-15 of the top appropriate* photos you took while abroad.
   • Please save your photos in JPEG format as: LastName_Country_Year (eg. Johnson_France_2021)
   • Program-related pictures that feature the host university, classrooms/labs, living quarters, host family (if applicable), field experience, etc.
   • No more than five photos from extended travel
     
     *Appropriate photos mean no alcohol, illegal substances, or weapons, photos of others who have not agreed to have their picture taken (especially children), and no photos that represent your trip in a negative light. Be selective about the content you share. Ask yourself: Would this be something I would want my family to see? Would I want it on the front page of the newspaper? How I am representing the University of Illinois?

Scholarship requirements can be submitted directly in My Study Abroad. Please login and then click on the ACES Study Abroad Scholarship application. Once there, you should see places to upload your essays and photos. ACES Study Abroad will mark off the volunteer requirement on the back end after you have attended an eligible event. 

SCHOLARSHIP REQUIREMENT SUBMISSION DEADLINES

• Spring/Academic Year/Summer - September 15 
• Fall/Winter Break - February 15
• Spring Break - April 1
• Dates falling on Saturday or Sunday are due in the College of ACES Study Abroad office the following Monday.

Scholarship requirements not fulfilled

Students who do not complete scholarship reporting requirements by the deadline will be required to pay the scholarship back and will not be eligible for future study abroad scholarships.

Notify aces-studyabroad@illinois.edu if you have any problems with submissions.

Campus Scholarships

You can apply for campus-level study abroad scholarships. Be sure to check with your academic advisor to see if you qualify for any department scholarships.

Additional Scholarships

You also can explore outside scholarships, which are not limited to:

1. The federally funded Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship is open to U.S. citizen undergraduate students who are receiving Federal Pell Grant funding.
2. The Fred S. Bailey International Service Travel Scholarship through the University YMCA.
3. You also can find independent study abroad scholarships through private donors and organizations.

The Jonathan Baldwin Turner (JBT) scholarship program is a renewable, merit-based scholarship supporting College of ACES students who demonstrate leadership, community service, and a commitment to an ACES field of study, as well as the land-grant mission.

Selected students can join and participate in a long legacy of JBT scholarship earners to help create a stronger connection to the major, college, and alumni. Recipients receive $2,500 in years one and two and $3,000 in year three, with a sustained GPA of 3.4 or higher and involvement in JBT professional development activities. More information about the JBT Scholarship program, including application timeline and requirements for students selected can be found on the JBT Scholars website. 

College of ACES Scholarships

Who is eligible?
Any undergraduate student pursuing a major in the College of ACES during the award year is eligible. This includes current ACES students and on- or off-campus transfer students who plan to major in ACES. Eligible students must submit the online general College of ACES scholarship application.
Incoming first-year students do not need to submit this application; their admission application also serves as the scholarship application.

When does the application open?
The application opens December 22, with a priority deadline of March 1 for continuing ACES students. Invitations are sent to students’ Illinois email accounts. Some departments use this application for awarding department-level scholarships. Submitting by the priority deadline ensures the application will be considered for department-level awards.

Students who transfer into ACES will be invited to apply prior to the March 1 priority deadline. Fall on-campus and off-campus transfers who accept their admission to Illinois by June 1 will be invited to apply for the continuing scholarship application.

*Students who accept or transfer after June 1 will not be invited to apply for scholarships.

When are scholarship decisions made?
Students are notified of their scholarship status in early August via a notification from the scholarship system.

How are recipients selected?
Scholarships are awarded based on academic merit and specific donor criteria, which may include factors such as county of residence, class year, or career interests. Most recipients have a GPA of 3.25 or higher and must be in good academic standing.

Do students need to apply every year?
Yes. Students must submit the general College of ACES scholarship application each year they wish to be considered (upcoming sophomore, junior, and senior years).

Can students receive the same scholarship more than once?
Scholarships are not automatically renewable, but students may be eligible to receive the same scholarship in multiple years if they continue to meet the criteria and submit the annual application.

Is the FAFSA required?
The FAFSA is only required for scholarships that consider financial need. Completing the FAFSA is also required to be considered for federal financial aid. Additional information is available through the Office of Student Financial Aid.
Is there a list of available ACES scholarships?

Below you will find a listing of scholarships available to students with brief information about the scholarship qualifications.

Senior Awards
If you are a senior and eligible for the Senior Awards, you do not have to complete a General Application. Instead, first log out and then click on this link to see the available Senior Awards:
https://aces.academicworks.com/users/flexible/sign_in
Please read the different award criteria prior to applying to ensure you are eligible. 

Is there a current list of ACES scholarships that ACES students are considered for with the continuing student scholarship application?
Yes, the Office of Student Financial Aid provides a listing of these ACES scholarships that are used in the award process.