SDF Denmark-Wisconsin Sustainability Fellowship Semester/Year

Pending annual review, this fellowship is designed to deepen students’ understanding of sustainability problems and solutions from different perspectives and foster Danish-American relations by providing generous financial support to degree-seeking UW-Madison undergraduate and graduate students who are committed to the environment and sustainability for study in Denmark. Applicants must be U.S. citizens who are participating on any approved UW Study Abroad or credit-bearing internship program in Denmark for Fall 2025 or Academic year 2025-26. Upon return to Madison, students named as SDF Sustainability Fellows and who receive scholarships to study, intern or do research in Denmark are expected to participate in a one-week sustainability-focused bus tour of Wisconsin alongside Danish students newly arrived to study at UW-Madison (January 2026 for Fall-only students, August 2026 for AY students).


Eligibility Criteria
Applicants must be degree-seeking UW-Madison undergraduate and graduate students who
• Will return to campus for at least one semester following their program in Denmark;
• Agree to participate in a one-week, pre-semester sustainability-focused bus trip around Wisconsin the term following their term(s) in Denmark;
• Are U.S. citizens who are participating on an approved UW Study Abroad or credit-bearing internship or research program to Denmark for Fall 2025 or AY 2025-26;
• Are in the process of applying, or have already applied, to a program for the specified semester(s). (Graduate students doing research in Denmark are eligible by enrolling in IAP’s UW Graduate Research Program or UW Worldwide Graduate Fellowships Research Program);
• Are majoring in a sustainability-related field in any UW-Madison school or college and/or have declared either the Environmental Studies Certificate or the Sustainability Certificate. Additionally, highly qualified students should be able to demonstrate a commitment to sustainability through their work or volunteer experiences.
• Agree to complete at least one course that examines environmental issues in Denmark or the Nordic region while studying in Denmark. (If an intern, the focus of the internship should include environmental sustainability and if doing research, the topic must focus on solutions to environmental challenges).

How to Apply
Application is open. The deadline is February 24, 2025. If your study abroad program application isn’t required to be complete until after this date, you must still submit your scholarship application by this date to be considered. However, you must already be in the process of applying to your program by February 24, 2025 in order to be eligible for this scholarship. Incomplete scholarship applications or applications submitted to the office will not be considered. To apply, please log into Wisconsin Scholarship Hub (WiSH) through your student center or by logging in directly using the ‘My Applications’ button at the top of this page..


Selection Criteria
A Transcript (UW Student Record), information on the program the student is attending in Denmark, and a Résumé are required in addition to responses to the application questions.* Preference is given to students who also include a written Letter of Recommendation highlighting their qualifications* and demonstrated commitment to sustainability. The written Letter of Recommendation (from a faculty member, instructor, advisor, volunteer coordinator or work supervisor) must be received by the application closing date of February 24, 2025 to be considered, and should focus on the student’s interest in / commitment to the environment. No exceptions to this Letter of Recommendation deadline will be made. Please plan accordingly. UW-Madison Study Abroad takes into consideration other awards a student may have been offered.


Donor Information
The SDF Denmark-Wisconsin Sustainability Fellowship is made possible through the generous donation of the Scan Design Foundation. The Foundation was founded by Inger and Jens Bruun to support Danish American relations. During their lifetime, Inger & Jens sponsored over 150 Danish interns and welcomed them into their home during their stay in America. Supporting environmental causes and student study in Denmark are a key program focus for the foundation. Students are strongly encouraged to experience Danish culture, make friends, and explore the country while studying in Denmark and keep environmental sustainability central to their experience.


Award Information
The standard award is $6,000 a semester and $10,000 for an academic year. Students may be awarded for one exchange experience only. The awards are distributed to students in two parts: at the start of the semester and again mid-semester after fellows’ mid-semester letters/reports are received (see below)


Conditions of Award
Completion of the study abroad program is a requirement of the scholarship. In addition, recipients are required to submit a thank-you letter for the donor, a one paragraph biography and digital photo to be posted on the UW’s website and/or shared with the donors upon acceptance. Additionally, recipients must a) send a mid-program update and b) complete a written evaluation of their experience no later than one month after the end of your program. Finally, and most importantly, recipients must participate in the pre-semester Sustainability bus tour the semester they return to Madison, as a way to learn about sustainability efforts in Wisconsin with Danes, address the environmental challenges from diverse perspectives and build community for the Danish students on exchange in Madison.

Award
$6,000-$10,000
Organizations
International Academic Programs (IAP)
Deadline
02/24/2025
Supplemental Questions
  1. Select your IAP study abroad program duration
  2. What country are you planning to study abroad in?
  3. Which Study Abroad Program are you planning to participate in?
  4. Will you be back on the UW Madison campus for at least one semester following the conclusion of your study abroad program and do you agree to participate in one-week, pre-semester bus tour upon your return?
  5. How is sustainability incorporated into your general academic goals at UW, and how will your intended study abroad program help you meet those goals?
  6. Outline at least one non-academic SMART Goal you have for your time abroad
  7. The goals of the Scan|Design Foundation (the funder of this scholarship) focus on fostering Danish-American Relations. How have you demonstrated the ability to build community, especially with people who are from a different background than you are, and how do you plan to do so in Denmark?
  8. How have you demonstrated a commitment to sustainability through your course of study, work or volunteering?
  9. Please upload your UW Student Record (which is your unoffical transcript). You can get this required document by going to your Student Center, My Academics, Request Student Record. The Student record will then be emailed to you and you can save and upload to your application.
  10. Please upload your resume which should include your work experiences, volunteer activities and campus involvements.
  11. Preference will be extended to students who submit a letter of recommendation supporting their application and outlining their commitment to environmental sustainability. Please provide the name and email address of a reference for a Letter of Recommendation. Your Letter of Recommendation must be from a University faculty/staff member OR a work/volunteer supervisor who can speak about your commitment to the environment and sustainability. The written Letter of Recommendation is due no later than the scholarship application deadline, February 24, 2025. Please provide your recommender adequate time to submit their Letter of Recommendation by the deadline date. No exceptions will be made to this deadline.
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