Global Engagement Travel Awards
Travel awards are intended to support student travel (international or domestic) for immersive activities that expand the student’s technical and cultural competencies and help prepare them for exciting and fulfilling careers in veterinary medicine. The number of travel scholarships and their amount varies depending on the applicant pool and funding available for that particular year.
Global Engagement Program Section Links
Travel Award Information
The global engagement travel funds are awarded twice annually (autumn and spring semesters). Students can apply for trips for research, clinical training (externships), study abroad, or service learning. The travel must have both a veterinary and cultural component. This program is not meant to support conference travel. Longer periods of travel that allow for more immersion in a culture/ community are preferred as are projects that include research. Students should demonstrate that they have sought funding from other sources and have planned their opportunity and on-site mentors well. If you need help in planning an experience, please look at our list of previously funded trips and current opportunities or contact Dr. Rebecca Garabed (garabed.1@osu.edu) to set up a meeting.
Applicants are required to be in good academic standing and must be full-time DVM, MS, or PhD students in the College of Veterinary Medicine or MPH-VPH students. Graduate students based in other colleges with mentors in the College of Veterinary Medicine, interns, and residents will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Travel must be for a minimum of one week and should not conflict with regular academic courses (special cases with instructor approval may be considered).
Successful completion of VET PREV 7760 (Opportunities in Global Veterinary Medicine and Public Health) or a waiver based on successful completion of a similar course is a pre-requisite for receiving the award. Students taking formal global education courses that are already subsidized by the Global Engagement Program are not eligible for additional travel awards for the same trip. If you are not sure if your trip is already subsidized, please reach out to us at cvm-globalengagement@osu.edu. Trips to locations with current US State Department Travel Advisory Level 3 and above are unlikely to be funded and require additional justification.
Awards cover the entire remaining cost of travel once other funding sources have been exhausted. As such, the amount of individual awards will vary but are expected to range from $500 to $5000. Students must show some level of personal financial contribution to make sure they are completely dedicated to and understand the value of the learning experience for their education and career. The College of Veterinary Medicine has different available mechanisms to deliver the award from directly purchasing flights and insurance to awarding the money as a scholarship to the student’s bursar account. Proposed budgets will be evaluated based on cost-effectiveness and thoroughness. International trips must include budget for supplemental travel insurance from OIA. To find the expected costs for lodging and food in different locations please check the US government sites (domestic) (international) as well as local contacts/ hosts. Budgets can include transportation, food, lodging, and travel-related vaccine and medication costs not covered by insurance. They should not include gifts for hosts, course fees, research or clinical materials, or clothing/ equipment used for travel.
Once the application is selected for funding by the committee, the student must sign a letter of award including the following certifications:
- Agreement to use the scholarship for the proposed travel within one year
- Successful completion of the pre-requisite course
- Health insurance for the trip has been obtained
- Relevant ethical compliance has been completed (e.g., IACUC, IRB review), if the trip includes research with animals or human subjects
- Agreement to comply with all relevant University policies during the experience
- Agreement to present details of the experience upon return including an approximately 200-word summary of the experience, at least 2 high-quality photos and a digital video or in-person presentation at a global engagement event on campus.
- Agreement to engage with and provide stewardship to donors, either in person or via videoconference (with the dean and/or advancement team), who provide funding for this program.
- Agreement to acknowledge the program’s support in any presentations or publications based on the experience
Please be aware that this scholarship will be included as part of your total financial aid for the semester and year, which may impact the level of financial aid for which you are eligible.
Global and Domestic Travel Awards
Applications have three parts, please remember to fill them all out:
- Summary information (13 or 15 questions)
- Narratives (Five short answer questions)
- Budget (Six or seven blanks to input amounts you are asking for)
Domestic Awards:
- Deadline: submit 4 months before trip
International Awards:
Deadlines:
- Autumn 2025, 5 p.m. EST – September 26, 2025
- Spring 2025, 5 p.m. EST – March 6, 2026
Please direct any questions to CVM-GlobalEngagement@osu.edu.
Funded Experiences
Each year, the Global Engagement Program is able to fund several travel scholarships. These unique opportunities provide learning experiences for College of Veterinary Medicine Students based on their individual interests.
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Megan Andries
Master of Public Health
DVM Class of 2027Sydney, AustraliaMy rotation took place at the Taronga Zoo and Wildlife Hospital - one of the largest and most state-of-the-art wildlife hospitals in the world. I will be able to sharpen my skills in all things wildlife medicine ranging from case diagnosis to surgery under the supervision of renowned wildlife veterinarians. This will be an invaluable experience for me as I intend to dedicate my veterinary and public health career to wildlife medicine and conservation as well as research geared towards finding solutions to global issues such as human-wildlife conflict and livestock-wildlife disease transmission. Having grown up in South Africa, my current wildlife experience stems from working remotely in the bush and with limited resources. This experience will provide me with the opposite end of the spectrum where wildlife can receive gold-standard care, filling in gaps in my current knowledge. I am grateful for the experience and remain ever-appreciative of the support.
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Alycia Kent
DVM Class of 2026Glennallen, AlaskaThe Copper Basin 300 is a winter dogsled race held each January, beginning in Glennallen, Alaska. The race takes place across what is known to be the toughest 300 miles in Alaska. The veterinary team is essential in clearing dogs for the race as well as ensuring their health and safety along the course. This year, there were 35 teams, each consisting of 12 dogs and a musher. Our vet team performed pre-race checks on each dog as well as care at each check point where mushers stopped throughout the day and night. I was incredibly excited to experience my first sled dog race and immerse myself in this unique culture. The athleticism of the dogs and mushers is remarkable, and I was thrilled to be part of a team that ensures the safety of each animal. And thankfully I didn’t freeze in the January Alaskan tundra!
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Sahana Prabhu
DVM Class of 2026Gurugram and Tiruchirappalli, IndiaI was grateful to receive this award which allowed me to experience veterinary medicine in India during my clinical year. As an Indian American, my passion for veterinary medicine is rooted in cultural values that emphasize the importance of animal welfare. My ultimate goal is to contribute to veterinary medicine as an ophthalmologist. In January, I spent two weeks at The Eye Vet, a specialty ophthalmology clinic in Gurugram, India, where I built professional connections and gained insight into how research and clinical advancements differ internationally. I also spent one week at Rathna’s Pet Clinic, a small animal general practice in my parents’ hometown of Tiruchirappalli, India. I used my Tamil language proficiency and gained cultural insight by connecting with the local community. This priceless experience provided the opportunity to become a more culturally competent veterinarian, advocate for varying perspectives, and gain exposure to research conducted outside the U.S.
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Sophia Schwartz-Cutler
DVM Class of 2026Portland, Eugene and Roseburg, Oregon
In spring 2026, I will travel to the Pacific Northwest to expand my large-animal veterinary education through rural community practice, with a concentration in production medicine. I grew up with extensive horse experience and completed a BS in Animal Science at the University of Vermont before pursuing graduate studies at Ohio State. My professional interests lie primarily in livestock and farm-animal medicine, with a particular focus on rural practice and ruminant health. This travel opportunity will allow me to immerse myself in rural ambulatory practice, develop a deeper understanding of the region’s specific care needs, and begin building trust and rapport with local industry stakeholders.