Admissions

SEA awards over $1 million per year in need-based aid and scholarships.

Sea Education Association (SEA) understands that cost is a concern when considering study abroad. Therefore, we are committed to making SEA Semester programs affordable for all qualified and motivated students.

SEA awards approximately $1,000,000 per year in both need-based and merit scholarships to students participating in SEA Semester. Over 50% of our students receive some sort of financial assistance; out of those, 95% receive aid directly from SEA.

Please submit all applications and supporting documents to the SEA Financial Aid Office.

Merit-Based Scholarships

Presidential Scholarships

SEA offers one $7,500 Presidential Scholarship for each SEA Semester class (excluding SEA Summer Session). This is our most prestigious award. Criteria are: Academic excellence, community service and leadership experience. Apply for this scholarship by submitting a one-page essay describing your qualifications and a nomination form. Applicants for the Presidential Scholarship will be automatically considered for a Dean’s Award.

Support for Presidential Scholarships is provided by named endowed funds.  Some of these scholarship funds consider need.

Cabot Family Endowed Scholarship Fund
Edmund B. Cabot Endowed Scholarship Fund
Fremont A. and Eleanor C. Chandler Endowed Scholarship Fund
Clowes Endowed Scholarship Fund
Melville Ireland Endowed Scholarship Fund
Philip R. Jonsson Endowed Scholarship Fund
John C. Parker Endowed Scholarship Fund
Rafe and Kate Parker Endowed Scholarship Fund

Dean’s Awards

Dean’s Awards up to $5,000 are awarded to every SEA Semester class including SEA Summer Session. This award is based on academic achievement, educational experiences and intellectual curiosity. Apply for this scholarship by submitting a one-page essay describing your background and elaborating on your educational experiences.

Deadlines for Presidential and Dean's Awards:

Fall 2013 Programs: April 20, 2013
Winter and Spring 2014 Programs: November 1, 2013
Summer 2014 Program: February 1, 2014 (Dean's Awards only)

Your application to SEA Semester must be completed by the deadline in order to be considered for the Presidential Scholarship or Dean’s Award.

Additional Merit Awards

Awards ranging from $500-$5,000 will be awarded throughout the year based on a student’s experience or excellence in one of the areas listed below. Funding for these scholarships is provided by named endowed scholarship funds; some also consider need.

Milton N. Allen Endowed Scholarship Fund
Franklin B. and Kevin Sean Armour Memorial Scholarship Fund
Ann W. Brewer Endowed Scholarship Fund
Susan Decker Endowed Scholarship Fund
Hall Family Endowed Scholarship Fund
Rip Hudner Endowed Scholarship Fund
Exy Johnson Endowed Scholarship Fund
Edward S. MacArthur Endowed Scholarship Fund
Jim Millinger Endowed Scholarship Fund
Satterberg Endowed Scholarship Fund
Edward P. Williams Endowed Scholarship Fund

Please write a short (one-page) essay detailing your qualifications for the award. There are no application deadlines for these merit awards:

Excellence in the Humanities Award: For students focusing their undergraduate studies in the humanities and demonstrating a strong academic record.

Excellence in Environmental Studies/Sciences Award: For students focusing in Environmental Studies or Environmental Sciences with a strong academic record in their discipline.

Research Experience Award: For students who have previous research experience in the natural sciences, social sciences or the humanities.

Excellence in Marine Sciences Award: For students with a strong background in marine sciences or oceanography.

Mariner’s Award: For students with a background in nautical science, navigation , sailing or seafaring.

Community Service Award: For students with a record of service to their home or college community.

Leadership Award: For students with a record of leadership in clubs, sports, student government, campus organizations, etc.

Diversification Award: For students whose participation in SEA Semester will add diversity to the SEA Community.

Special Scholarships

Trimester/Quarter Awards

$2,500 scholarships are available to students enrolling in SEA Semester* from colleges operating on a trimester or quarter calendar. There are no deadlines for these scholarships, but students must contact the Financial Aid Office for instructions on how to apply for this award. (*Note: not applicable to SEA Summer Session or SEA Trimester Program due to the already reduced cost of these programs.)

SEA High School Alumni Awards

A student who has participated in one of our high school seminars is eligible for a $2,500 SEA award. Please call the SEA Financial Aid Office.

SEA Alumni Referral Awards

If you learned about SEA Semester from an alumnus or alumna of our program, you may be eligible for an SEA award of up to $2,500. Please call the SEA Financial Aid Office for more information on how to apply.

SEA Legacy Awards

If one of your parents participated in a SEA Semester program, you are eligible to apply for a $2,500 SEA award. Please call the SEA Financial Aid Office for application information.

Five-College Scholarship Award

A $5,000 merit-based scholarship is available for each SEA Semester class for a student from one of the five colleges in the "5-College Consortium" (Smith College, Mt. Holyoke College, Amherst College, University of Massachusetts at Amherst, Hampshire College). Deadlines: April 20th for fall semesters, November 1st for winter and spring semesters. A faculty nomination is required Five-College Faculty Nomination form (pdf).

Killam Canadian National Scholarship

Each year, SEA awards one scholarship of up to $5,000 to a resident of Canada participating in a SEA Semester. Please apply using our regular financial aid application.

Henry L. and Grace Doherty Endowed Journalism Scholarship

This $2,500 scholarship is available once per year to a deserving student majoring in Journalism.  Contact the SEA Admission Office for details.

Charlie McClennen Fellowship for Colgate University Students

This $5,000 scholarship is available once per year to a deserving Colgate University student accepted to a SEA Semester class. Contact the SEA Admission Office for details.

Bermudian National Scholarship

For Bermuda students enrolled in SEA Semester, SEA will match the scholarship value for any student who receives an award from The National Transportation Board or the Bermuda Zoological Association. Please apply using our regular financial aid application and including details of your NTB or BZA scholarship.

W.W. Smith Charitable Trust for Philadelphia Area Natives

The W.W. Smith Charitable Trust offers need-based scholarships for students who are permanent residents of Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery and Philadelphia counties or the City of Camden, New Jersey. Students can be enrolled at any accredited college or university nationwide.  Please apply using our regular financial aid application, citing your Philly area residency and the W.W. Smith Scholarship in your application materials.

Institutional Awards

Students enrolled at Purdue University, Ripon College, Stonehill College, Sweet Briar College, the University of New Hampshire, and the University of Rhode Island should contact the SEA Financial Aid Office to learn about special scholarship opportunities available to them.