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Experiential Learning Funds

What is Experiential Learning?

Check out this video for an introduction to Experiential Learning Funds!

What Are Experiential Learning Funds ELF

How to apply for Experiential Learning Funds (ELF):

BYU has provided funding for students to help them achieve their academic and career goals involving mentored learning (i.e. being paid as a research assistant on any faculty project), internships*, academic conference travel*, relevant-to-psychology workshops, and study abroad. These funds are for psychology majors who would not otherwise be able to have these academic experiences without financial support.

***IMPORTANT NOTE: If you want to apply for experiential learning for either an internship experience for school credit or for academic conference travel there is other funding available to you outside of experiential learning. Experiential learning will be used to supplement whatever additional funding you may need AFTER you have already applied for an internship grant or academic conference travel grant.

What Criteria Should Students Be Aware of Before Applying for Experiential Learning?

Eligibility criteria to apply for psychology department experiential learning funding include:

1. Current psychology major

2. Plans to pursue a career in psychology or related field

3. Currently in good academic standing

4. The proposed experience will take place within the semester

How do you Apply for Experiential Learning?

In order to apply, you must contact a psychology department faculty member and discuss your experience plan with them before submitting your application. The faculty member will be required to endorse your application and detail how you will be mentored during your experience in order for your application to be reviewed.

Applications will be reviewed using the following criteria, please explicitly address each criterion in your application:

1. Demonstrated need

2. Relevance of the experience to your professional goals

3. Mentoring environment

4. Quality of mentoring and feasibility of success

5. Qualifications of applicant

Link to Experiential Learning Grant Application for Students:

https://forms.gle/KrjrqgV19rJUPMa39

Come to the Psychology Department front desk if you have any questions, or email us at psychology@byu.edu. After you have applied for Experiential Learning your faculty member will be sent information about how to endorse this experience and your mentorship.

What is the Current Deadline for Applying for Experiential Learning?

If you are hoping to receive experiential learning funds for Winter 2024 (experiences to be completed before April 19, 2024) applications will be due before November 10 at midnight.

How Much Can I Receive in Experiential Learning Funds?

Applications for experiential learning funding are competitive and funds are limited. Therefore, you need to make a strong case for financial need, the importance of the experience for your professional development, and the quality of the proposed experience. Applicants who can demonstrate clear outcomes that will result from their experience are more likely to be successful. Furthermore, because mentored research experiences are often most central to pursuing careers in psychology, applications detailing specific research outcomes anticipated as a result of the research experience (e.g., a conference presentation, or development of a specific research skill) will receive priority. The average amount each applicant received during the last round of funding was $1425. Students who received more than this amount were the exception

To propose an internship for course credit: http://fssinternships.byu.edu/

To apply for internship grant money: http://fhssinternshipgrants.byu.edu/

To apply for an Academic Conference Travel Grant (Please have the faculty member who has authorized your travel fill out this form): https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeWq7w4bdC62EnWJudJPs8URiy0VBUb-o7RMeTgfwMUJJhHWw/viewform

Have Other Questions?

If you have any questions regarding the application process please email psychfunding@byu.edu
Other questions about experiential learning please visit http://exl.byu.edu/
For questions about internships and internship grants visit:https://psychology.byu.edu/Pages/internships