Winter Study

Financial aid students are eligible to receive Winter Study grant aid for their primary Winter Study course.

This grant will cover between 50 – 100% of your primary course costs. The percentage is based on your financial need for the academic year and the type of course you choose. The winter study grant is expected to help cover course costs such as books, materials, and course charges. Students are responsible for paying any difference between your winter study grant and any winter study course charges that are applied to your student account. 

Please read the section below that pertains to the type of course you’re most considering for winter study so you understand whether or not you have to apply, and whether or not there is a maximum limit to the aid you can receive. 

  • Financial Aid students receive a winter study grant of either 50%, 80% or 100 % of the total cost for official 2020 travel courses.

    You don't need to apply for this aid, and the only limit is the total course cost. Course instructors determine project costs and report them to the Winter Study Coordinator, who then calculates a grant for each eligible student.  Charges and grants are posted to student accounts in early December.  Students are responsible to pay the difference between the two.

  • You will receive 100% of the total approved cost up to the $1,000 maximum winter study grant limit for 99 Projects and Thesis Projects. Your project costs must be approved through the application process.

    You must complete the Registrar Office’s Winter Study Financial Aid Form so the Winter Study Committee can determine approved project costs.

    You will receive your winter study grant by check or direct deposit before you leave campus in December if you submit your cost evaluation form by November 15th. If you submit after November 15th, your reimbursement will arrive as soon as we can process it, up until the final deadline of February 17th.

    If your Winter Study 99 is a research project that relates directly to the focus of your academic interests/goals, you can apply for a Collin and Lili Roche 1993 Student Research Fellowship. You are encouraged to read the guidelines before applying. If you apply, since there is no guarantee you will receive one of these fellowships, you must have a back-up plan to fund your proposal. Besides the Roche Fellowships, there are no college funds to support 99 projects other than those provided to financial aid students. Students who solicit departments for excess funding are at risk of losing eligibility to pursue a 99.

    If you receive a winter study grant for a 99 project but then change your primary winter study course, you must repay the winter study grant.

  • The full cost of a regular on-campus course will be covered. The charge and grant will be posted directly to your student account in January. There should be no out-of-pocket cost as all book, material and field trip expenses will go through your student account. All books must be purchased at The Williams Bookstore with your swipecard; the book grant will then be applied. You do not need to apply for this aid, with the exception of courses where the cost is determined individually by the student (see next paragraph):

    Regular projects that do not have a standard cost (most often internships or fieldwork)

    These courses include ECON 23, PSCI 21, PSYC 21, SPEC 19, SPEC 21, SPEC 24 and SPEC 28. You will receive 100% of the total approved cost up to the $1,000 maximum winter study grant limit for 99 Projects and Thesis Projects. Your project costs must be approved through the application process. You must complete the Registrar Office’s Winter Study Financial Aid Form so we can determine approved course costs. You will receive your winter study grant by check or direct deposit before you leave campus in December if you submit the form by November 15th. If you submit after November 15th, your grant will arrive as soon as we can process it, up until the final deadline of February 17th.

    If you receive a winter study grant for one of these courses, but then change your primary winter study course, you must repay the winter study grant.

  • The Gaudino Fellowship is a unique opportunity that students must apply for separately. There is additional financial aid funding for students approved for Gaudino Projects. For more information, please contact the winter study coordinator directly.

Dining Hall Board Rebate

Students who will be off-campus for winter study for at least 10 consecutive calendar days may be entitled to a partial refund of their meal plan; visit Williams Dining for information or contact them with questions ([email protected] 413-597-2121).