Education

Scholarships to Transform Science Through Collaboration

Usona Institute is committed to advancing knowledge and understanding within the field of psychedelic sciences through our scholarship program.

We support

  • Practitioners seeking training or certification in psychedelic-assisted therapy to further the diversity, readiness, and availability of highly-trained, skilled, and licensed practitioners who assist with the delivery of care once these therapies are approved by the FDA.

  • Emerging scholars engaged in post-graduate degree programs that focus on the scientific, medical, or social scientific aspects of consciousness-expanding medicines and practices, ensuring generative inquiry to further strengthen the theory and praxis within the field.

Program Goals

Consistent with Usona’s mission to further the understanding of the therapeutic effects of psilocybin and other consciousness-expanding medicines, the goals of the Scholarship Program are:

  1. To advance knowledge within the field of psychedelic sciences, and
  2. To promote the accessibility of consciousness-expanding therapies and practices.


Equity Statement

Recognizing Usona’s position within a diverse system of individuals, communities, spiritual practitioners, researchers, clinicians, and institutions, and the associated history and innovation surrounding consciousness-expanding medicines, we acknowledge and honor the fundamental value and dignity of all individuals and pledge ourselves to support and uplift the diverse traditions, heritages, experiences, and perspectives within our field.

The Usona Scholarship Program is open to all people regardless of their race, ethnicity, color, national origin, sex, age, religion, geographic location, socioeconomic status, disability, sexual orientation, or gender identity. We encourage individuals from traditionally underrepresented groups, including individuals who are Black, Brown, Indigenous, People of Color, LGBTQAI+, and those with disabilities, to apply for funding through this program.

Scholarship applications are evaluated via a process that is fair, equitable, objective, and free of bias and discrimination.

The fall 2022 scholarship application is now closed.

We are pleased to announce that we are awarding $205,332 in scholarship funds for the 2023 academic year.

Additional Scholarship Information

Award Information

There are no restrictions on the total dollar amount an individual can request through the Usona Scholarship Program, but initial applicants are encouraged to apply for funding in the range of $5,000 to $7,500 per academic year depending on program expenses.

Scholarship awards are restricted to the following expenses: tuition, books and materials, conference fees, study-related travel, and living expenses. There are no geographic restrictions, and post-graduate students or practitioners outside of the United States are eligible to apply for funds.

Eligibility Criteria

Applicants must meet the following criteria to be eligible for a scholarship:

  1. Be enrolled in post-graduate program within the field of psychedelic sciences at an accredited university, -OR-
  2. Be enrolled in a psychedelic-assisted therapy training or certification program, -AND-
  3. Not have overlapping scholarship funding.
Application Submission Schedule

Applications will be accepted beginning October 1, 2022, and will close on October 31, 2022. Applications received after October 31, 2022, will not be considered for this cycle of funding.

Grant awards will be announced December 2, 2022 with funds distributed by December 15, 2022.

Application Materials

Beginning October 1, 2022, applications and materials may be submitted to our scholarships team

  • Usona Institute Scholarship Application
  • Usona Institute Scholarship Questionnaire
  • Proof of enrollment and/or acceptance* to the institution or certification/training program
  • Undergraduate transcript(s) and graduate transcript(s), if applicable. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable.
  • Two letters of recommendation from faculty advisors, research mentors, or others with knowledge of the applicant’s contributions or intended contributions to the field of psychedelic sciences.
  • Current CV/Resume, including research, publications, community engagement, or volunteer experiences, if any, within the field of psychedelic sciences.

*Applicants who submit a letter of acceptance with their application will need to provide proof of enrollment prior to the disbursement of scholarship funds.

Fund Disbursements

Usona Institute will disburse all scholarship awards directly to the scholarship recipient’s institution or training program. For students attending post-graduate, certificate, or training programs outside of North America, additional information will be solicited from the award recipient prior to the disbursement of funds to ensure the appropriate method of transfer. Students outside of North America may apply for funding using either local currency or US dollars.

Additional Questions

If you have questions about Usona’s scholarship program or wish to provide financial support to this or other areas of Usona’s education programs, including research grants or facilitator training programs, please contact us by following the button below.

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