Congratulations on your arrival to your senior year!
Scholarship opportunities open to you at this stage shift fairly dramatically to those forward-looking options that emphasize career paths: graduate study funding, so-called “gap year” experiences that actually lay the foundations for your longer-term goals, and work placements that offer networking and career-shaping possibilities.
Study and Other Placements Abroad
American India Foundation Banyan Impact Fellowship
Those interested in participating in a ten-month service project in India should consider the American India Foundation Banyan Impact Fellowship.
• September to July placement with development organizations across India
• Covers round-trip flight, insurance, and a monthly living stipend
• Mastery of an Indian language is not required but is advantageous
• Seeks individuals from any discipline with a commitment to social and economic development and strong interpersonal skills
• Must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident or an Indian citizen
Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange for Young Professionals (CBYX)
The Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange for Young Professionals (CBYX) is a year-long program in Germany providing two months of intensive German study, a semester of academic study, and a three-month internship placement.
• Must be between 18 and 24 years of age, be a U.S. citizen, hold a high school diploma, and possess a genuine interest in Germany
• German language mastery is not a requirement, but some facility in the language is advantageous
• Should possess clear career goals and relevant experience in that field
Critical Language Scholarship
Interested in a less commonly taught language? You should look into the Critical Language Scholarship.
• Summer immersive language-study program in a country that is home to that language
• Yields the equivalent of one full year of language study
• Offers programs in fifteen different languages, nine of which have no requirement of previous study in that language
German Academic Exchange Service/DAAD Study Scholarship
Students who are interested in pursuing a master’s degree in Germany should consider the German Academic Exchange Service/DAAD Study Scholarship.
• U.S. and Canadian citizens and foreign nationals studying in the United States are eligible
• Provides a monthly stipend, payments towards health, accident, and personal liability insurance, a travel subsidy, unless these expenses are covered by another source of funding and a study allowance
• Covers expenses for German language study preparatory to the scholarship recipient’s studies in-country
• Funds master’s degree programs ranging between 10 and 24 months
Fulbright U.S. Student Program
Those who would like to spend nine months to a year in another country, either studying, pursuing a specific research project, or teaching English might be a good fit with the Fulbright U.S. Student Program.
• Open to graduating seniors and graduates from undergraduate programs who have not completed the doctorate or advanced significantly in a career path
• Any country not currently under a U.S. Department of State travel advisory is likely included in potential Fulbright destinations
• Language mastery requirements vary by country and with the level of complexity of the applicant’s proposed project
• Emphasizes the applicant’s ability to act as a worthy representative of the United States and commitment to binational, bicultural exchange
Gates Cambridge Scholarship
High-achieving students with an interest in graduate study at the University of Cambridge should have a look at the Gates Cambridge Scholarship.
• Offers approximately 80 full-cost graduate-study scholarships each year in any discipline: about 25 of these to U.S. citizens and 55 to citizens of other non-UK countries
• Seeks high academic achievement, exceptional leadership qualities, and commitment to improving the lives of others
• Emphasis on building a University community of future leaders across all fields
Global Korea Scholarship
The Global Korea Scholarship provides full funding for graduate study in South Korea at either the master's or doctoral level.
• Provides full funding for preparatory Korean language study, travel expenses, tuition, living allowance, and medical insurance
• Those with previous undergraduate or graduate study in Korea are not eligible
• Applications are submitted through the Korean Embassy in the United States
• Approximately 1,080 international students participate in the graduate scholarship program
Humanity in Action Fellowship
For those who wish to pursue questions related to equity and underrepresented/underserved populations, the Humanity in Action Fellowship may well be a good fit.
• Incorporates a summer month of intensive study in one of the HiA host cities (currently including Amsterdam, Berlin, Sarajevo, or Warsaw), focusing on social justice challenges and opportunities
• Open to both US and international students
• Includes a subsequent hands-on outreach initiative, an Action Project, in their own communities
Marshall Scholarship
Seniors interested in pursuing graduate studies in any of the United Kingdom’s top universities should review the opportunities presented by the Marshall Scholarship.
• Seeks candidates demonstrating academic merit, leadership potential, and ambassadorial potential
• Provides full funding for two (possibly three) years of graduate study at one of the many exceptional universities across Great Britain and Northern Ireland
• Allows grantees to split studies between two universities and graduate study programs
• Emphasizes candidates potential to contribute to the resilience and fruitfulness of the longstanding U.S.-U.K “special relationship”
Mitchell Scholarship
The Mitchell Scholarship provides full tuition, travel, accommodations, and living expenses for twelve scholarship recipients to pursue a year of advanced studies in Ireland.
• Emphasizes academic excellence, leadership, and a sustained commitment to public service
• Potential graduate study destinations include seven universities in the Republic of Ireland, two universities in Dublin, and two universities in Northern Ireland
• Focus on applicant rationales for graduate study in Ireland and long-term aspirations
National Institutes of Health Oxford-Cambridge Scholars Program
Seniors interested in high-level research in the biomedical sciences and who would be attracted to advanced study at either the University of Cambridge or the University of Oxford should look into the National Institutes of Health Oxford-Cambridge Scholars Program.
• Awardees tend to have already developed a passion for science through engagement in summer, job-related, or undergraduate research programs
• Offers access to mentors and resources from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the University of Oxford, and the University of Cambridge
• Supports a 4-year graduate training program split between the NIH and the University of Cambridge or the University of Oxford
• Presents options to pursue either the PhD or MD/PhD
Rhodes Scholarship
Arguably, one of the most prestigious scholarship opportunities open to college seniors, the Rhodes Scholarship funds graduate study at the University of Oxford in nearly every discipline.
• Emphasizes scholarly achievements, character, commitment to others and to the common good, and potential for leadership in whatever career domain that the applicant prioritizes
• Covers all University and College fees, the University application fee, a living stipend, one economy class airfare to Oxford at the start of the scholarship, and one economy flight back to the student's home country at the conclusion of the scholarship
• Applications are accepted from nationals of Australia, Bermuda, Canada, China, East Africa, Germany, Hong Kong SAR, India, Israel, Jamaica and the Commonwealth Caribbean, Kenya, Malaysia, New Zealand, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Southern Africa, Syria/Jordan/Lebanon/Palestine, United Arab Emirates, United States, West Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe PLUS there are two “Global Scholarships” open to nationals of other countries
Schwarzman Scholars Program
Offering a fully-funded one-year Master’s Degree at Tsinghua University in Beijing, the Schwarzman Scholars Program aims to build a global community of future leaders who will serve to deepen understanding between China and the rest of the world.
• Emphasizes leadership, character and integrity, intellectual achievement and aptitude, empathy and intercultural competency, open-mindedness, and entrepreneurial spirit
• Focuses the one-year master’s degree on a rigorous study of global affairs and hands-on exploration of Chinese culture and commerce
• Covers tuition and fees, room and board, in-country study tour, travel to and from Beijing, books and supplies, health insurance, and stipend for personal expenses
• Accepts applications from individuals of all nationalities between 18 and 29 years of age
Yenching Academy Scholars Program
The Yenching Academy Scholars Program of Peking University offers a highly customizable Master's program in China studies for English speakers with varying levels of Chinese language competency.
• Seeks applicants with a minimum of a bachelor’s degree in any field by the program start, an outstanding academic record, strong interest in the interdisciplinary study of China, a record of extracurricular achievement, community engagement, social responsibility, and leadership potential, and English proficiency
• Accepts applicants of all nationalities
• Offers flexibility in master’s program design, with the intention of pushing the study of China beyond the boundaries of traditionally defined humanities and social science disciplines, and incorporating the experiences and intellectual training of its diverse student body
Specific Student Populations
First Generation Civil Rights Fellowship Program (FirstGEN)
The First Generation Civil Rights Fellowship Program (FirstGEN) is a paid summer internship program for undergraduates who are the first in their family to attend college.
• Secures placement with civil rights-focused organizations, where students receive advocacy and professional development training
• Participating organizations include the national Lawyers’ Committee and its partners at Asian Americans Advancing Justice (AAJC), Catholic Legal Immigration Network, Inc. (CLINIC), and the National Immigration Law Center (NILC)
Hispanic Scholarship Fund (HSF) Scholar Program
For students of Hispanic backgrounds, consider the Hispanic Scholarship Fund (HSF) Scholar Program.
• Offers potential awards of between $500 and $5,000
• Provides access to the HSF network and “Scholar Support Services”
• U.S. citizens, permanent legal residents, and DACA students are all eligible to apply
Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute Internship Program
For those of Hispanic backgrounds with an interest in service with the U.S. Congress, the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute Internship Program offers summer and academic semester placement opportunities, serving in a congressional office in Washington, DC.
• Living stipend, transportation, and housing are covered
• Open to U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents, asylees, or individuals who are lawfully authorized to work full-time without restriction for any U.S. employer
• Seeks evidence of leadership and commitment to public service
Service/Work Opportunities
American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Mass Media Science & Engineering Fellowship
The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Mass Media Science & Engineering Fellowship is a 10-week summer program that places science, engineering, and mathematics students at media organizations nationwide, using their academic training as they research, write, and report today’s headlines, sharpening their abilities to communicate complex scientific issues to the public.
• Seeks US citizens or those holding visas that allow them to receive payment for work during the summer
• Provides a stipend of $7000 for the summer as well as travel expenses to and from AAAS and their sites, but does not provide health care, employee benefits, housing, or additional funds for housing
• Places Fellows as journalists at media organizations such as National Public Radio, Los Angeles Times, WIRED, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, and NOVA
City Year
City Year Americorps members spend an academic year working in high-need schools in cities across the country, serving as “student success coaches” and receiving essential training for the classroom.
• Offers placements in 29 cities across 21 states
• Involves eleven months of service with a biweekly stipend, pre-planned time off, an education award, health insurance, and localized benefits at the specific site
• Includes also a $500 (pre-tax) one-time relocation payment for those who have relocated at least 50 miles to start service and have been accepted, confirmed, and already started service
Coro Fellowship Program
Through a rotation of placements, participants in the Coro Fellowship Program work with multiple sectors, from governments to nonprofits to businesses, fostering participants’ ability to think holistically and build connections among and across different communities.
• Offers possible placements in Los Angeles, New York, Pittsburgh, San Francisco, and St. Louis
• Entails nine months of service, during which time, each Fellow participates in a series of full-time projects across a variety of sectors in public affairs, including a final independent project of the Fellow’s choosing
• Provides qualifying Fellows who request financial support with a monthly stipend to defray living expenses during their nine months in the program
• Welcomes applications from all individuals applying to the Coro Fellowship in Public Affairs, regardless of immigration status
Bill Emerson National Hunger Fellowship
The Bill Emerson National Hunger Fellowship trains and inspires new leaders in the movement to end hunger and poverty in the United States through first-hand experience in placements with community-based organizations across the country as well as policy-focused organizations in Washington, D.C, supporting partner organizations with program development, research, evaluation, outreach, organizing, and advocacy projects.
• Provides over the 11-month fellowship: training, a mid-year retreat and two different placements: five months in a community-based organization and the other in Washington, DC
• Includes a financial package specific to field placement, covering living expenses and offsetting costs of housing and relocation
• Partners with specific public policy graduate programs offering significant tuition discounts to Fellows
The Breakthrough Institute Generation Fellowship
A ten-week summer program in California’s Bay Area, The Breakthrough Institute Generation Fellowship aims to foster the development of a new generation of thinkers and writers capable of finding pragmatic new solutions to today’s greatest challenges in the areas of energy, economy, and environment.
• Offers a small number of paid ($600 per week), highly competitive, ten-week fellowships to recent college graduates and postgraduates from around the world, and additional travel and housing assistance stipends are available upon acceptance based on an as-needed basis
• Divides Fellows into small teams working on three different program areas: Energy, Cities, or Food & Farming
Echoing Green Fellowship
Individuals with aspirations to effect positive change in society through an idea and an organization of their own creation might find a good fit with the Echoing Green Fellowship.
• Provides a stipend over 18 months of $80,000 (funding offered to for-profit organizations is in the form of recoverable grants), leadership development programming, and a network of community support
• Seeks in applicants qualities of leadership, a deep conviction and passion for the issue being addressed, and a sophisticated understanding of root causes and the applicant’s relationship with the community affected by the issue
• Emphasizes enterprises committed to working in the areas of climate change, education, health, human rights, poverty, and racial justice
Knowles Teaching Fellowship
Students who intend to take up a career in secondary science education may find a highly fitting opportunity in the Knowles Teaching Fellowship.
• Five-year program provides financial support, mentoring, and access to a network of more than 400 teaching professionals
• Integrates both field and educational career training
• Individuals who are not citizens or who hold degrees from outside the United States are eligible, but must be committed to teaching science or mathematics in U.S. high schools and possess a valid state teaching credential/certificate/license that enables them to teach grades 9–12 in the United States
Urban Fellows Program
The Urban Fellows Program is designed to introduce a diverse group of America's finest college students and graduates to local government and public service, with program participants coming from all over the country to work in New York City.
• Provides placement at an array of agencies across the city, allowing learning about public policy through a hands-on approach, working with current decision-makers, and assisting in the implementation of public policy
• Candidates must be able to demonstrate their eligibility to work in the United States after graduation and for the entire fellowship period
• Provides a taxable stipend of $31,563 for the nine-month fellowship; health insurance (not including vision or dental) is also provided by the City
Venture for America
Venture for America is a two-year fellowship program for recent college grads who want to work at a startup and create jobs in American cities, learning important hard and soft skills at a month-long Training Camp, applying for jobs within the VFA company network, and working as full-time, salaried employees in one of 13 cities.
• Names over 200 Fellows each year
• Expenses for training camp covered; subsequent job placements are fully salaried; subsequent opportunities for guidance, support, seed money to start a company
• Must be a US Citizen, Permanent Resident, DACA Recipient, or hold other work authorization, hold the bachelor’s degree by the start of training camp, have a GPA indicative of high achievement
Scholarships/Fellowships Supporting Graduate Study in the U.S.
American Association of University Women (AAUW) International Fellowships
Citizens of countries other than the United States who identify as female are eligible to apply for the American Association of University Women (AAUW) International Fellowships, funding full-time study or research in the United States.
• Provides between $18,000 and $30,000 in scholarship funding, depending on advanced degree level
• Applicants must have earned the equivalent of a U.S. bachelor’s degree by the application deadline and must have applied to their proposed institutions of study by the time of the application
• Prioritizes academic achievement and demonstrated commitment to women and girls
• Carries the expectation that recipients return to their home countries to become leaders in business, government, academia, community activism, the arts, or scientific fields
Department of Energy Computational Science Graduate Fellowship
Students who wish to pursue a doctorate in fields that use high-performance computing to solve complex science and engineering problems – including engineering and the physical, computer, mathematical, or life sciences – should look into the Department of Energy Computational Science Graduate Fellowship.
• Allows students to focus on academics and research without excessive teaching or other departmental support activities
• Requires Fellows to be enrolled as full-time graduate students at an accredited U.S. college or university and conduct research in areas of interest to the DOE, and the summer should be spent conducting full-time research related to the completion of one's degree program, enrolled in classes or on a practicum assignment
• Includes a yearly stipend of $38,000, payment of full tuition and required fees during the appointment period (at any accredited U.S. university), an annual $1,000 professional development allowance, up to four years of total support, depending on renewal, and a twelve-week practicum experience at one of 21 DOE national laboratories or sites, including access to DOE supercomputers
• Open to U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents who plan full-time, uninterrupted study toward a PhD at an accredited U.S. university
Donald M. Payne International Development Graduate Fellowship Program
The Donald M. Payne International Development Graduate Fellowship Program seeks to attract outstanding individuals who are interested in pursuing careers in the Foreign Service of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), funding advanced studies in fields related to international development.
• Seeks graduating seniors or college graduates with strong academic records and a desire to promote positive change in the world
• Awards up to fifteen fellowships valued at up to $48,000 annually for a two-year program, including up to $22,000 per year toward tuition and mandatory fees for completion of a two-year master’s degree at a U.S. institution; a $16,000 stipend for each academic year for room, board, books, and other education-related expenses; and up to $10,000 per year in stipend, housing, transportation, and related expenses for the program’s summer internships
• Fellows who successfully complete the Payne Program and USAID Foreign Service entry requirements will receive appointments as USAID Foreign Service Officers, an award obligation of a minimum of five years of service in this position
Foreign Affairs Information Technology Fellowship
Those seeking admission to an IT-related master’s degree program, at a U.S.-based accredited institution, should look into the Foreign Affairs Information Technology Fellowship.
• Provides up to $37,500 annually for tuition, room and board, books, mandatory fees, and some travel expenses for a two-year master’s degree in an IT-related field, along with stipends, housing, and travel allowances for the two internship experiences
• Includes two summer internships with the State Department: a domestic internship in Washington, D.C. at the U.S. Department of State, and an international internship at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate abroad
• After successfully completing the program and meeting all the requirements of the State Department, Fellows commission into the Foreign Service and serve as an Information Management Specialist for at least five years
Hertz Fellowship
The Hertz Fellowship provides funding for five years of doctoral study for those in the applied physical and biological sciences, mathematics, or engineering fields, focused on seeking solutions to real-world problems.
• Provides five years of funding, valued at up to $250,000
• Must be a citizen or legal resident of the U.S. planning doctoral study OR the pursuit of the MD/PhD
• Partners with 40 top research universities as fellowship destinations
Institute for Citizens and Scholars Teaching Fellowship
The Institute for Citizens and Scholars Teaching Fellowship seeks to attract talented, committed individuals with backgrounds in the STEM fields—science, technology, engineering, and mathematics—to teaching in high-need secondary schools in Pennsylvania.
• Partners with Duquesne University, the University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education, and West Chester University to provide master’s-level training to obtain certification in mathematics or science education, and includes a $32,000 stipend to offset tuition and living expenses; partner universities also extend discounted tuition to Fellows
• Entails three-year salaried teaching commitment in a high-need Pennsylvania secondary school
• Requires 30 or more college-level credits in a STEM field (science, technology, engineering, or math); must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident
Knight Hennessy Scholars Program
Those interested in advanced study at Stanford University and committed to leading meaningful change in the careers should consider the Knight Hennessy Scholars Program.
• There are no restrictions based on age, college or university, field of study, or career aspiration
• U.S. citizens and nationals of other countries are welcome to apply
• Emphasizes creativity, leadership, and commitment to service to others
• Provides for an intentional community of scholars and thinkers
National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate Fellowship Program
The National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate Fellowship Program is designed to encourage baccalaureate recipients to enter graduate school and ultimately gain doctorates in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) fields.
• Supports three years of advanced study with an approximate $30,500-$31,500 stipend for a 12-month tenure plus a cost-of-education allowance (to cover tuition and required fees) per tenure year
• Open only to applicants who are citizens or nationals of the United States
• Supported disciplines include Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering; Biosciences (includes toxicology); Chemical Engineering; Chemistry; Civil Engineering; Cognitive, Neural, and Behavioral Sciences (Note: PsyD programs are not eligible); Computer and Computational Sciences; Electrical Engineering; Geosciences (includes terrain, water, and air); Materials Science and Engineering; Mathematics; Mechanical Engineering; Naval Architecture and Ocean Engineering (includes undersea systems); Oceanography (includes ocean acoustics, remote sensing, and marine meteorology); Physics (including optics)
National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program
Those committed to a career in STEM-based research and to pursuing advanced studies in one of those fields should consider the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program.
• Includes three years of financial support including an annual stipend of $34,000 and a cost of education allowance of $12,000 to the institution
• Graduating seniors may apply twice: once in their senior year and again in their first or second year of graduate studies if they did not advance in their initial application
• Must be a US citizen, US national, or permanent resident, and intend to pursue a research-based Master’s or Ph.D. program in a GRFP-supported field
NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship Program
Student-athletes who excel academically and athletically, are at least in their final year of intercollegiate athletics competition, and are planning to pursue advanced studies might look into the NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship Program.
• Three annual nomination deadlines corresponding with different sports’ seasons
• Award recipients must be accepted into a graduate degree-granting program on a part-time or full-time basis at an accredited graduate or professional school
• Awards 126 postgraduate scholarships annually, with 21 $10,000 scholarships available for men and 21 scholarships available for women in each sport season for use in an accredited graduate program
NYC Teaching Fellows Program
The NYC Teaching Fellows Program begins with a rigorous pre-service training program, followed by teaching full-time in one of New York City’s highest-need neighborhoods while working towards a master’s degree at one of the Program’s partner universities and attending professional development sessions to continue building knowledge and skills.
• Prioritizes specific target teaching fields, which shift slightly every year, reflecting areas of greatest need
• Requires the bachelor's degree by the start of training, minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0, fluency in written and spoken English, authorization to work in the United States, cannot have been certified to teach or completed a program that would lead to certification in the U.S. or Puerto
• Provides a modest stipend during training, and, once hired, a starting annual salary of at least $61,070; NYC Department of Education subsidizes most of the cost of tuition (excluding books and materials) for the master’s degree
Rangel Graduate Fellowship Program
Thomas R. Pickering Foreign Affairs Fellowship Program
Those who aspire to a career with the U.S. Department of State in Foreign Affairs should look into the Rangel Graduate Fellowship Program or the Thomas R. Pickering Foreign Affairs Fellowship Program.
• Seeks candidates who plan to enter graduate school for a two-year program at a U.S. university in an area of relevance to the Foreign Service; have a cumulative grade point average of 3.2 or higher on a 4.0 scale at the time of application; must be a U.S. citizen
• Awards 45 fellowships of up to $42,000 annually for a two-year period for tuition, room, board, books, and mandatory fees for completion of two-year master’s degrees
• Includes one summer domestic internship on Capitol Hill and one summer international internship placement at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate
Paul and Daisy Soros Fellowships for New Americans
For high-achieving and high-aspiring individuals who are U.S. citizens and the children of parents born in another country or are naturalized citizens themselves, the Paul and Daisy Soros Fellowships for New Americans provides funding for up to two years of graduate study.
• Provides $25,000 a year in stipend support (all stipend awards are capped at $50,000 per year), as well as 50 percent of required tuition and fees, up to $20,000 per year, for one to two years
• Emphasizes creativity, originality, initiative, and sustained accomplishment, along with a commitment to the Constitution and the Bill of Rights; no quotas for types of degrees, universities or programs, countries of origin, or gender
• Awards 30 fellowships each year
