The Contextual Education Office at STH prepares students for practical leadership through internship placements that not only benefit our community and congregational partners, but also satisfy requirements for degree programs and/or denominational ordination. If you have any questions, please email us at sthope@bu.edu.

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STH offers several travel seminars each year, mostly during January, spring break, or early summer. Eligible students receive up to $1,000 in funding to help defray the travel costs once during their studies at STH. These seminars have different emphases and learning outcomes depending on the course design, location, and theme of the travel seminar. This academic year’s travel seminars will be announced soon.

The Office of Students and Community Life (OSCL) offers limited funding to support STH students attending academic conferences that will enhance the students’ professional development. Travel and conference funding for STH PhD students is administered separately through the Association for PhD students. Your leadership representatives will be in contact with you about those funding possibilities, but you may also contact Dean Bryan Stone if you have further questions.

Students must complete the online Student Travel Funds Application to request funding prior to the trip; this application includes proof of registration or travel arrangements. Students presenting papers at professional conferences outside of the Boston metropolitan area may be eligible to receive additional funding if available. Students must demonstrate acceptance of a paper to a conference to be eligible for this funding. Depending on the conference location, conference presenters may be reimbursed up to $500 for their travel expenses. Conference attendees may be reimbursed up to $200 for their travel expenses. Your request for funding related to conferences is subject to approval by the Associate Dean for Students and Community Life, as long as funding remains available. Students receiving funding are required to prepare a one-page reflection on their conference experience within two weeks of the attended conference. Reflection papers can be emailed to Dean Cristian De La Rosa. Funds may not be used to further subsidize travel seminars.

Boston University School of Theology seeks to support STH students with education and enrichment experiences that they may not have otherwise been able to conceive and realize. A small pool of “Springboard” Funding for the current Academic Year will be awarded to full-time students in good academic standing who wish to engage themselves in special internships and projects. This is a competitive awards program based on the availability of funds and the merit of the applications as judged by the faculty. Students may receive Springboard funding for only one approved individual project during their course of study at STH.

How to Apply for Springboard Funding if you are a Master’s-level student

• Complete the online Springboard Application.
• Questions about springboard funding or the springboard application process may be directed to the Contextual Education Office.

How to Apply for Springboard Funding if you are an STM or PhD student:

• PhD students and STM students should apply for Springboard Funding through the Advanced Studies Committee, using the Springboard Application.
• When received, this form is re-routed through the Academic Dean’s Office to the Advanced Studies Committee.
• Questions about Springboard funding for STM or PhD students may be directed to the Advanced Studies Committee (ascsth@bu.edu).

How to Apply for Springboard Funding if you are a DMin student:

• DMin students should apply for Springboard Funding through the Office of Hybrid Programs, using the Springboard Application.
• When received, this form is re-routed through the Academic Dean’s Office to the Office of Online and Hybrid Programs.
• Questions about Springboard Funding for DMin students may be directed to the Office of Online and Hybrid Programs (sthohp@bu.edu).

Boston University has several graduate level Study Abroad programs, some of which may count toward STH degree programs. Emily Kleidon (MTS ’17) recently participated in the study abroad program, and she answers questions about the experience in this video:

With the help of the Office of Contextual Education and the Academic Dean’s office, some advanced students may be able to customize a study abroad semester with partnering higher education institutions. STH students have customized programs of study in Cuba, Mexico, and Puerto Rico, but other sites might also be possible.