Graduate Fellowships
Granting Agencies & Available Fellowships
For graduate and research students
American Councils for International Education (ACTR/ACCELS)
Eurasian Regional Language Program (ERLP)
This program provides advanced undergraduates, graduate students, and recent graduates the opportunity to study Eurasian languages in an overseas immersive setting for a semester, a summer, or the full academic year. Academic programs are tailored to participant requests; a typical program devotes 2/3 of the course work to language study and 1/3 to culture, area studies, politics, history, literature, or economics. Graduate scholarships are available to students in the humanities and the social sciences. Merit scholarships are also available.
There are three deadlines a year; Summer (February 15), Fall (March 15), and Spring (October 15).
Boren Awards
Boren Scholarships/Fellowships
Funds undergraduate study or graduate research including intensive language training in countries considered critical to US interests and national security. Most language programs do not require previous study. Good candidates for Boren Awards are interested in enhancing their language skills, immersing themselves in cultures around the world, and committed to public service.
Special Boren Scholarships are available for students in the STEM disciplines; these provide funding for summer study in another country.
Deadline for Boren Scholarships is January 28th; deadline for Boren Fellowships is January 21st.
Center for Plant Conservation
Catherine H. Beattie Fellowship in Conservation Horticulture
This grant enables a graduate student in biology, horticulture, or a related field to conduct research on a rare or endangered U.S. plant. Preference is given to students focusing on the endangered flora of the Carolinas or Southeastern U.S.
Charles B. Rangel International Affairs Program
Rangel Graduate Fellowship Program
This fellowship supports two years of graduate school for students interested in pursuing careers in international relations and/or foreign service to help formulate and implement U.S. foreign policy. Applications from members of minority groups historically underrepresented in the Foreign Service, women, and those with financial need are encouraged to apply. Appropriate fields include public policy, international affairs, public administration, business, economics, political science, sociology, or foreign languages. After completing the master’s degree, candidates are expected to work for a minimum of three years as a foreign service officer.
This program is not currently accepting applications.
Critical Language Scholarship (CLS) Program
The CLS Program offers intensive overseas study in Arabic, Chinese, Hindi, Korean, Japanese, Persian, Portuguese, Russian, and Swahili. It provides fully-funded 7-10 week group-based intensive language instruction and extensive cultural enrichment experiences overseas at the beginning, intermediate, and advanced levels. (Not all levels are offered for all languages.)
Applications typically open in October.
DAAD, German Academic Exchange Service
Undergraduate Scholarships
The DAAD offers a variety of Scholarships for students whose projects are preferably based at or organized by a German university; students should demonstrate an interest in contemporary German and/or European affairs.
- Enroll in organized study abroad program or design own study abroad curriculum
- Senior thesis research
- Internships in Germany
- Between 4-10 months
Multiple opportunities to apply; deadlines vary
German Studies Research Grant
This grant funds short-term research focusing on modern German culture, politics, history, economics, or society.
- Undergraduate (juniors or seniors) and graduate students studying German are eligible to apply
- Candidate must be nominated by department
- Minimum of 2 years of German language study in college
- Minimum of 3 courses in German studies: literature, history, politics, or other field
Multiple opportunities to apply; deadlines on May 1st and November 1st
University Summer Course Grants
- Undergraduate and master's students are eligible to apply
- 3-4 week summer courses (June to September) at German universities focusing on literary, cultural, political, and economic aspect of modern and contemporary Germany
- Courses are only taught in German
- Minimum of 2 years of German language study in college
German Bundestag: International Parliamentary Scholarships
- Students serve as interns to elected representatives in Berlin
- Undergraduates majoring in German, political science, international relations, law, history, or economics
- Some knowledge of German legislative process
- Fluency in German
- The internship takes place over 5 months each year from March 1st to July 31st
Gilman-DAAD Germany Scholarships
This opportunity provides additional scholarship funding for 40 U.S. undergraduate students per year to study abroad and/or intern in Germany through the Gilman Program. See the Gilman Program page for more details.
Department of Defense (DoD)
SMART Scholarship
Established by the Department of Defense, the SMART Scholarships support graduate students pursuing degrees in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Scholars are sponsored by a branch of the military, receive full tuition coverage, stipends, paid summer internships, and accept employment with the DoD after receiving their degree.
Environmental Research and Education Foundation (EREF)
Waste Management Scholarships
Scholarships are awarded to recognize excellence in graduate-level waste management research and education for masters and doctoral students. Candidates must demonstrate interest in waste management research. Scholarships provide stipends from the time of the award until the time of graduation.
Fulbright U.S. Student Program
English Teaching Assistantships (ETA)
The ETA program allows students to travel overseas and be placed in a classroom environment to supplement English language instruction and provide native speaker experience. The U.S. Fulbright Program has sent students to over 160 different countries and is open to students of all majors/backgrounds. Students must have a Bachelor's degree by the time of the experience abroad.
Study/Research Awards
Candidates must design a specific proposal for a research project or graduate program abroad. Study/Research Awards are available in 140 different countries around the world; programs and requirements will vary based on the country of interest. Applicants must have a Bachelor's degree by the time of the experience.
Gates Cambridge
Gates Cambridge International Scholarship
This opportunity provides full-cost scholarships for students to pursue a graduate degree in any field of study at the University of Cambridge. Those with a commitment to improving the lives of others and with the potential for outstanding leadership will be great candidates. Students should be able to make a strong case for why their proposed graduate degree is important and why it should take place at the University of Cambridge.
Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA)
Popular Annual Financial Report (PAFR) Fellows Program
The Popular Annual Financial Report, or PAFR, Program seeks to connect local governments interested in developing a PAFR for the first time with graduate students looking for practical experience. Together, they work to produce a PAFR that meets the criteria of GFOA’s PAFR Award program while also improving financial transparency and communication for the government. GFOA will provide a stipend to financially support the production of the PAFR.
Applications to the PAFR Program are due six months after a government’s fiscal year end.
Institute of Industrial & Systems Engineers
IISE Scholarships and Fellowships
These awards are offered for undergraduate (second year and above) and graduate study in a variety of areas relating to industrial engineering. The student's "scholastic ability, character, leadership, and potential service to the industrial engineering profession" are all taken into consideration. Criteria vary depending on the award; awards are valued up to $4,000.
Nominations open September 1st and are due by November 15th; contact Dr. Tom Moore for assistance with the nomination process.
James Madison Memorial Fellowship Foundation
James Madison Graduate Fellowships
Awards are given to graduating seniors (Junior Fellowship) and current classroom teachers (Senior Fellowship) to complete a master’s degree (MA, MAT, or MEd) with an emphasis on American history, government, political science, or other concentration that will enable them to teach American history, government, or social studies at the secondary level.
Students/teachers of color who meet the above requirements are eligible for the Frederick Douglass-James Madison Fellowship. Students/teachers who meet the above requirements and have served in the US military are eligible for the Admiral Paul A. Yost, Jr.-James Madison Fellowship.
Knowles Teacher Initiative
Teaching Fellows Program
Candidates must have either a bachelor’s or advanced degree in science, engineering, or mathematics and should be committed to teaching high school science and/or mathematics in U.S. schools. The fellowship supports awardees professionally and financially for up to 5 years through a teacher preparation program to eligibility for tenure. During the initial year, fellows typically participate in a recognized teacher credentialing program.
Los Alamos National Laboratory
Student Programs
Los Alamos National Laboratory offers internships related to national security science for undergraduate and graduate students. Recent graduates can apply for summer, part-time, and full-time appointments. It is designed to provide work experience related to the student’s chosen field of study. Appointments are made in technical and administrative fields.
There are various deadlines for different programs offered here.
MacDowell Colony Residences
MacDowell Fellowship
The MacDowell Colony provides creative artists with time and seclusion to work and enjoy the experience of living in a community of gifted artists. Residences of up to two months are available. No residency fees are charged; grants for travel are awarded based on financial need. Disciplines include architecture and landscape architecture, film/video arts, interdisciplinary arts, literature, music composition, theatre, and visual arts.
Deadline for Fall/Winter season is February 10 and deadline for Spring/Summer season is September 10.
National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate
NDSEG Fellowship Program
The Department of Defense funds 3-year graduate fellowships in science and engineering disciplines of military importance for individuals who are pursuing doctoral degrees in a range of fields.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
Coastal Management Fellowship
Students completing master’s, doctoral, or professional degree programs in natural resource management or environmental studies are eligible to apply for this two-year fellowship. States submit proposals and applicants select the projects for which they consider themselves qualified. This opportunity provides a competitive salary, medical benefits, and travel reimbursement.
This fellowship is currently not accepting applications.
National Organization of Gay and Lesbian Scientists and Technical Professionals (NOGLSTP)
Out to Innovate™ Scholarships
There are three undergraduate scholarships available, each totaling $2,500 for the academic year. Eligible students are undergraduate STEM students who are part of the LGBTQ+ community or an ally; students currently enrolled at any U.S.-based college or university are eligible to apply.
There is additionally a scholarship (Amy A. Ross Scholarship in Bioscience) totaling $2,000 that is awarded to a student who can demonstrate a commitment to furthering LGBTQ+ visibility, diversity, and inclusion in the biosciences.
National Physical Sciences Consortium (NPSC)
Graduate Fellowships for STEM Diversity (GFSD)
GFSD is a partnership between industry, government, and higher education institutions that provides fellowships for graduate study. This opportunity is open to all U.S. citizens. Fellowships are renewable annually and typically provide between 3-6 years of support. This program includes paid summer internships with the industrial sponsor.
National Science Foundation (NSF)
Mathematical Sciences Graduate Internship
The Mathematical Sciences Graduate Internship provides the opportunity for doctoral students to intern at federal national laboratories and research facilities. This first-hand experience of using mathematics in a nonacademic setting is perfect for students who are interested in understanding the real-world application of advanced mathematical and statistical techniques.
Applications are due annually on January 31st.
Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program
Fellowship for graduate students in the secondary teacher preparation program at the University of Washington. In addition to the financial award, candidates receive mentoring after graduation. They must agree to teach math and/or science in local high schools for two years following completion of the program.
This program is not accepting submissions currently.
NSF supports research-based graduate study at both the master’s and doctoral levels. Fellows are “expected to become knowledge experts who can contribute significantly to research, teaching, and innovations” in their respective fields.
Graduate Research Fellowship (GRFP)
The Graduate Research Fellowship provides 3 years of support for students who are in the early stages of graduate study. (Seniors may apply, but first-year graduate students are typically more successful.) Candidates may be engaged in interdisciplinary studies, mathematical sciences, computer and information sciences and engineering, geosciences, life sciences, engineering, chemistry, physics, and astronomy. Deadlines range from October 27-30th depending on what field you are in.
Economics Program
The Economics Program supports research designed to improve the understanding of the processes and institutions of the U.S. economy and of the world system of which it is a part. This program also strengthens both empirical and theoretical economic analysis as well as the methods for rigorous research on economic behavior. It supports research in almost every area of economics, including econometrics, economic history, environmental economics, finance, industrial organization, international economics, labor economics, macroeconomics, mathematical economics, and public finance. Graduating seniors may apply, but first-year graduate students tend to be more competitive.
Full proposals are accepted any time of the year.
Pickering Foreign Affairs Program
Pickering Fellowship
Based on financial need, this fellowship supports graduate work by those historically underrepresented in the foreign service but is open to all. Appropriate fields include public policy, international affairs, public administration, business, economics, political science, sociology, or foreign languages. Candidates must enroll in a two-year master’s program and, following graduation, work for a minimum of three years as a foreign service officer.
This program is not currently accepting applications.
Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture
Residency Program for Emerging Visual Artists
Skowhegan offers an intensive 9-week summer residency program for gifted and diverse visual artists who have demonstrated a commitment to art-making and inquiry to create the most stimulating and rigorous environment possible for a concentrated period of artistic creation, interaction, and growth. Fellowships are available to cover tuition, room and board. Applicants must be 21 before the session begins.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting
Nicholl Fellowships are intended to identify and encourage talented emerging screenwriters. Applicants can submit scripts for consideration and recipients are expected to complete at least one original feature film screenplay during the year of the award.
The Consortium for Graduate Study in Management
This is a merit-based program that pays full tuition for an MBA at one of the business schools participating in the Consortium. The program is committed to diversity and inclusion in American business. When first established, the program targeted African-American men in attempt to bring greater racial diversity to the workplace. The program is now open to candidates who can convincingly demonstrate commitment to the mission of enhancing diversity in business education and leadership.
There are two deadlines: October 15 and January 5
The Rotary Foundation
Ambassadorial Scholarships
Rotary scholarships fund international graduate study and/or research in countries that have Rotary clubs. The purpose is to build understanding and friendly relations among people of different countries. This opportunity includes 9 months of full-time study or vocational training that are not intended for language study, therefore candidates should be proficient in the language of the country.
Scholarship value and availability vary depending on local club. Contact your local Rotary club to get started on an application.
U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)
Pathways Programs
Undergraduates, recent graduates, and graduate students are offered internships and job opportunities through the DOE Pathways Programs. Successful completion of an internship while in school may set students up for full-time employment after graduation. This program is also a great way to discover what it's like to be in a federal agency work environment.
Deadlines and specific eligibility requirements differ depending on the opportunity.
DOE STEM
The DOE STEM program aims to build pathways for students to enter the STEM workforce by providing training, education, and engagement opportunities. Opportunities include internships, scholarships, fellowships, graduate research, and more.
Udall Foundation
Native American Graduate Fellowship
Intended for outstanding Native American and Alaska Native graduate students pursuing degrees in healthcare fields, and who are committed to Native health care. This could include health administration, health education, public health, medical practice, policy, research, or related degrees. Fellowships are up to $25,000.
Applications open on January 31st.
Washington Sea Grant
Hershman Marine Policy Fellowship
This fellowship offers graduate students first-hand experience in crafting marine and natural resource policies. Selected students will spend 9 months working in Olympia with Washington State Ocean Caucus agencies. Graduate students who attend WA universities and are enrolled in a marine-related field including policy, law, social sciences, oceanography, and fishery sciences are encouraged to apply.
Knauss Marine Policy Fellowship
The Washington Sea Grant’s Knauss Fellowship program provides eligible graduate students a one-year work experience on the staff of the U.S. Congress or with a federal agency dealing with marine issues. Open to all graduate students with marine science or policy backgrounds. Applications open in the fall.