Some fellowships offer a set stipend to each recipient, others require you to submit a budget based on your expected costs.
Note: If applying for multiple fellowships in the Student Grants Database, make sure to submit the same budget for all applications - even if some have a cap on funding - otherwise you may appear to be over/under funded.
Preparing an appropriate and effective budget is a skill that you will be able to carry forward to other aspects of your life, at Yale and beyond.
Creating a budget can help you to:
Link: Websites, internet forums, and travel guides offer helpful information. Here are a couple of good places to start:
Typical budget items:
- Airfare [indicate departure and arrival airports]
- Local travel (bus, train, car, etc.)
- Visa fees
- Health Insurance
- Housing (including utilities)
- Food (including bottled water, if necessary)
- University tuition or other fees [please describe]
Tip: Air Travel
- Search the Web for airfares and strike a likely average.
- Take into account factors that might impact ticket prices, such as seasonal or holiday rates.
- Include costs for travel to and from airports.
Tip: Housing
- Google "Cost of living in....." and see what comes up! Really!
- Ask other Yale students who have been to your proposed location.
- Ask your contacts in your proposed location (e.g., your contact at the NGO which you will affiliate, your internship coordinator) for their insight.
- Use the resources on the OCS website.
- Get in touch with alumni groups in the area.
Tip: Local Transport
- Google "local transport in....." and see what public transport is available.
- Ask other Yale students and contacts who have been to your proposed location.
- Investigate frequent travel cards/student or commuter discounts - it's often cheaper to buy a monthly plan than pay for each trip
Tip: Food
- Take a realistic measure of the amount of food (including snacks and beverages) you consume on a weekly basis.
- Use internet resources (see below) to estimate how much that would cost if purchased in your proposed location.
- Base your estimate on using local stores and markets for most of your meals.
- As above, seek out others who have been to your proposed destination to give you an idea about basic costs.
Tip: Health
- Plan ahead for immunizations and call early to schedule an appointment.
- For country immunization requirements consult the ISOS Member Center
- Visit the Travel Clinic website at Yale Health
Point: Fellowship funding may support low/unpaid internships; however, to be eligible for Yale funding, your total compensation amount cannot exceed $250 per week (USD).