Winter Term

Funding, Housing, and Meals

a student starts the day at a local coffee shop with coffee and croissants.
Dance major Kora Sikorski ’17 starts the day with a morning shift at a local coffee shop before turning attentions to her Winter Term project.
Photo credit: Dale Preston ’83

Funding

Applications for two different forms of need-based project funding are available to students with demonstrated, high financial need. A competitive award is offered for students proposing individual projects and a non-competitive award is offered for group project participants. 

 

1. WT Individual Project Awards

Each year, the Office of Winter Term awards funding to students with high financial need who propose exceptionally well-designed individual projects. Students whose individual project proposals are approved may complete the funding request form for this competitive award, which is included in the individual project application. 

  • ten $500 prizes will be awarded for individual on-campus projects
  • three $1,000 prizes will be awarded for individual U.S. domestic projects
  • three $1,000 prizes will be awarded for individual international projects

 

2. Group Project Funding

Limited, need-based funding is available for students with high financial need who are participating in faculty/staff-led group projects that have a student fee. Students can be awarded an amount that is up to the cost of the student fee for on-campus projects or up to $1,000 for international projects. Please note that this funding is not guaranteed. The request form for this need-based award is included in the group project application.

 

Housing and Dining

On-Campus Group and Individual Projects

For students who live in on-campus housing and are enrolled in a Campus Dining Services meal plan during the fall and/or spring semester, there are no additional fees for on campus housing and dining during Winter Term.

All students who wish to remain on campus during Winter Term must complete the Res Life housing form by Friday, December 6. 

Oberlin Conservatory manages three awards for students' Winter Term projects:

FIGs Grants - The Flint Initiative Grants (FIGs) provide innovative, motivated, and prepared conservatory, Musical Studies, and double-degree students at Oberlin the opportunity to develop imaginative, artistic projects to be implemented during the winter term. Individual can be awarded grants up to $4,000.

XARTS Fund - The XARTS Fund supports the development and execution of collaborative, multi-disciplinary, artistic projects to be implemented during winter term and summer by students in both the College of Arts & Sciences and the Conservatory of Music. Individual projects that demonstrate creative and focused cross-disciplinary endeavors can be awarded grants of up to $4,000.

Grindlay Fund - The Graham Grindlay '00 Endowed Memorial Music & Computer Science Innovation Fund supports the development and execution of projects that bring together music and sound with computer science or technological innovation to be implemented during winter term or summer. The fund is open to students in both the College of Arts and Sciences and the Conservatory of Music. Individual or group projects that demonstrate creativity and innovative approaches to their field will be awarded grants of up to $2,000.

Oberlin Shansi manages one awards for students' Winter Term projects:

Shansi In-Asia Grant - Shansi awards up to $1500 to support projects in East Asia, Southeast Asia, or South Asia.

Bonner Center Mini-Grants - The Bonner Center for Community-Engaged Learning, Teaching, and Research offers mini-grants of up to $200 to support projects with a community service focus.

Some academic departments have funding available to support student projects during winter term.  Below is a non-exhaustive list of these opportunities.  Contact the department for more information.

Environmental Studies

Gender, Sexuality, and Feminist Studies

Sociology