West Virginia University students interested in pursuing study abroad or research and training experiences abroad have until Feb. 27 to submit an application to the Office of International Programs for the Global Educational Opportunities (GEO) Grants Program.

The competition is open to full- and part-time WVU undergraduate and graduate students currently enrolled for the Spring 2004 semester. Grant recipients will be announced in April.

Last year, WVU -OIP awarded grants to 16 WVU students from among 68 applications. Those students studied in 12 countries, including Australia, England, France, Germany, Guatemala, Italy, Mexico, Peoples Republic of China, Scotland, Spain, Trinidad Tobago and Wales.

The GEO Grants Programs consists of two competition categories: international research and training and study abroad travel grants for long term and semester programs. Grantsup to $1,000are most often applied to help students defray the costs of international round trip airfare.

The GEO grant application can be printed from the OIP webpage (http://www.wvu.edu/~intlprog/sfgeo.html) using Adobe Acrobat Reader or Microsoft Word.

A completed GEO Grant application includes a course transcript, a 1500 word essay or project description, personal references and a budget. Students may obtain an application at the OIPoffice, located at 139 Stansbury Hall, on the Downtown Campus.

Requests for information may be directed to Patricia Patteson, administrative assistant, Patricia.Patteson@mail.wvu.edu or by calling 304-293-6955.

The program is supported by the Nelson International Study Travel Endowment, the W. Gerald and Carolyn E. Blaney Endowment and WVU ’s Office of International Programs.