Application and Financial Support

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Intercultural Learning Trip Application

Applicants will be placed based on their stated preferences, the number of available spaces, and gender and racial/ethnic balance. Priority is given to applicants for whom the trip is required for graduation and for those participating in their first PTS trip. Your application is complete when you submit these three things:

  1. Completed online application in the MyPTS portal. Students should log-in to apply. Non-students may also apply. 
  2. Completed health and signature form submitted to the WMI Office.
  3. Non-refundable $200 deposit, which is applied to your trip cost. You can pay by check or cash in the WMI Office, or use the secure online payment form. Your deposit serves as your commitment to participate in the trip. If you decide not to participate in the trip after paying your deposit, you are financially responsible for ALL costs incurred toward your participation in the trip up to that point (including but not limited to airfare). 

Intercultural Learning Trip Financial Assistance

All trip participants are asked to raise and/or contribute the funds to cover their trip.

We encourage you to seek prayer and financial support for the intercultural trips from home churches, family, friends, and denominational sources. WMI and the Seminary’s Advancement Office will support students in their efforts to raise support.

You may download a sample support letter.

No student will be refused participation in an intercultural trip due to lack of funds.

CHURCH SUPPORT

For members of the Presbyterian Church, some Synods and Presbyteries may offer grants for short-term mission travel. For example, the PC (USA) Synod of the Trinity offers a Mission Travel Grant and for short-term mission travelers. Check with your local synod or presbytery for other grants that may be available! If you are not a member of a Presbyterian Church, check with your denomination or local leadership—many churches and church governmental bodies provide financial support for mission travel.

SEMINARY SUPPORT

There are three avenues of financial assistance available for PTS students for all WMI trips.

1. Grants

WMI will provide up to $1,500 for student travel. This scholarship money is provided thanks to the generous donations WMI receives from churches and individuals.

2. Shortridge Scholarship

Thanks to the generosity and vision of John and Margaret Shortridge, individual scholarship grants are available for students to participate in intercultural mission experiences through the World Mission Initiative. The amount of the grant ($200-1,500) is primarily based on financial need.

3. Crowdfunding

In addition to these funding options, we encourage trip participants to use the Seminary's crowdfunding site, Called. Called allows WMI supporters to share their favorite projects across the globe through social media and e-mail so that others have the opportunity to help fund worthwhile projects.

Called is different from other crowdfunding sites because each project keeps all the money raised, even if the fund-raising goal isn’t met. Since gifts given through Called are processed by Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, you can be assured that 100 percent of your gift will go directly to the project of your choice. And unlike some other crowdfunding sites, Pittsburgh Theological Seminary is a registered non-profit, so your Called gift is tax-deductible as allowed by law.

Contact Dom Oliver at  for more information about mission trip funding.