Glacier Bay Semester

Admissions

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For July 2026 Admission

Application Deadline: We review applications on a rolling basis every 4-6 weeks. We will begin reviewing our next batch of applications after November 23rd.
Program Dates: July 1 to November 9, 2026

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Eligibility

While the majority of our students are in their second or third year of college, the program is open to young people ages 18 to 23, including students who have recently graduated from either high school or college. We accept U.S. citizens, DACA recipients, undocumented students, and international students residing legally in the United States. Depending on visa type, international students may or may not be able to receive college credit. Unfortunately, Tidelines cannot currently sponsor student visas. All students must meet our essential eligibility criteria.

Tidelines Institute does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, national and/or ethnic origin, marital status, sexual orientation, or gender identity/expression in the administration of any of its educational programs, admissions policies, financial aid, and other related policies and programs, as well as volunteer and employment-related policies and activities.

Application Process

The first thing to know is that the application process differs depening on whether you’d be attending the Glacier Bay Semester as a semester away (part of your college career) or as a gap year. Know which one you are? Skip down to the relevant section below.

Applying for a semester away

If you plan to attend as part of your college career (often but not always during your junior year), your first stop should be your school’s study abroad office. Each school has its own internal processes and deadlines, so it’s important to know what to expect at yours. A study abroad officer should be able to help you out. Please note that if we are not on your school’s list of approved programs, you may be able to petition to attend.

Once you know your school’s process, you can then fill out our online application. We review applications in batches every 4-6 weeks beginning in November. A few weeks after we receive your application, we may contact you for an interview and a letter of recommendation. We aim to give you an admissions decision within 6 weeks.

Applying as part of a gap year

Once you know you want to apply, begin by filling out our online application. We review applications in batches every 4-6 weeks beginning in November. A few weeks after we receive your application, we may contact you for an interview and a letter of recommendation. We aim to give you an admissions decision within 6 weeks.

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Fees & Financial Aid

Expenses

The all-inclusive cost of the 2025 Glacier Bay Semester is $28,100. This includes all tuition, room, board, excursions & activities, and up to a semester’s worth of college credit.

Costs that are not covered include health insurance (required for all participants), travel to and from Alaska, books and other course materials, and suggested spending money.

Financial Aid

Tidelines Institute remains committed to ensuring that our cohorts represent students from all walks of life. For students requiring financial aid, we strongly encourage you to attend the Glacier Bay Semester as a “study away” semester taken as part of your college experience. With approval from your home university, you likely will be able to apply all or part of your current financial aid package to your experience at Tidelines. If the Glacier Bay Semester is not currently approved by your institution, please speak with your study abroad office to see if your school offers a petition process for other programs to become approved on a one-off basis.

Some financial aid may be available through Tidelines Institute. If you are unable to secure financial aid through your home university, please contact Co-Executive Director Laura Marcus (laura [at] tidelinesinstitute.org) for further information.

Attend a Virtual Info Session

During the fall and winter, our Applications Committee hosts a virtual info session roughly once a month. Register for our next one with the form below!