National Scholarships

These scholarships require institutional endorsement.

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Carnegie Endowment for International Peace

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JMU application deadline: December 1, 2007

Carnegie Endowment application deadline: January 15, 2008

Description:The Carnegie Endowment offers 8-10 one-year fellowships each year to graduating seniors and individuals that have graduated during the past academic year. Junior Fellows provide research assistance to senior associates working on topics such as non-proliferation, democracy building, trade, China-related issues, South Asian issues, and Russian/Eurasian studies. They conduct research for books, co-author papers, participate in high-level meetings, and organize briefings. Junior Fellows are selected based on the quality of the essay, academic study and work experience, grades, recommendations, and personal interviews. They receive $2,750 each month ($33,000 per year) and a full benefits package. Eligibility: Applicants must be graduating seniors or students who have graduated during the last academic year. No one who has started graduate studies is eligible. Important notes: Requires institutional endorsement.

DAAD

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DAAD application deadline: Varies

Description: DAAD is the German national agency for international academic cooperation and exchange. It offers a wide range of opportunities to undergraduate students including funding for study abroad, internships, and senior thesis research. DAAD also offers study scholarships for graduating seniors. Eligibility: Varies Important notes: Requires institutional endorsement.

Freeman-Asia Program

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Freeman-Asia application deadline: October 17, 2007 (for programs with start dates between December and April)

Description: This program supports American undergraduates with demonstrated financial need who are planning to study overseas in East or Southeast Asia. It provides need-based funding to cover study abroad expenses including tuition, airfare, living costs, books, etc. The program provides up to $3000 for summer programs, up to $5000 for semester programs, and up to $7000 for academic year programs. Eligibility: Applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents, receive need-based financial aid, be an undergraduate in good standing, apply through U.S. home campus, and plan to participate in a study abroad program based in Cambodia, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Laos, Macao, Malaysia, Mongolia, the Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, or Vietnam. See website for additional eligibility requirements. Important notes: Requires institutional endorsement.

Fulbright Fellowship

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JMU application deadline: September 20, 2007

Fulbright application deadline: October 19, 2007

Description: The Fulbright Program is an international exchange program established by the U.S. Congress in 1946 to “enable the government of the United States to increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries.” Awards cover round-trip transportation to host country, maintenance for the academic year, health benefits, full or partial tuition, and language or orientation courses where appropriate. In addition to the full grant, which supports individually designed programs, the Fulbright program also funds English Teaching Assistantships in over 20 countries. Eligibility: Applicants must be U.S. citizens and have completed a B.A. degree or the equivalent before the start of the grant. Applicants must have sufficient proficiency in the language proficiency. Specific language requirements vary by country. Important notes: Current JMU students must go through a campus evaluation process and be evaluated by a campus committee.

Gilman Scholarship

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Gilman application deadline: October 9, 2007 (for programs beginning between December 15, 2007 and April 15, 2008)

Description: The Gilman Scholarship Program is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and offers awards for undergraduate study abroad. The Gilman Scholarship provides up to $5000. Students who apply for and receive the Gilman Scholarship are eligible to receive an additional $3000 Critical Needs Language Supplement for the study of Arabic, Chinese, Korean, Russian, Turkic Persian, and Indic languages. Eligibility: Applicants must be U.S. citizens, receive the Pell Grant, attend a 2-year or 4-year college or university, and participate in a study abroad program. Important notes: Requires institutional endorsement. Applicants must receive a Federal Pell Grant to be eligible for the Gilman Scholarship. Applicants must be studying abroad at least four weeks in one country. Programs going to more than one country are eligible if the student will be studying in one country for at least four weeks. Summer only study abroad programs are not eligible.

Goldwater Scholarship

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JMU application deadline: December 2007

Goldwater application deadline: February 2008

Description: The Goldwater offers scholarships to rising juniors and seniors of up to $7500 per year. Applicants must have outstanding academic potential and intend to pursue careers in mathematics, natural sciences, and engineering. The scholarship covers eligible expenses including undergraduate tuition, fees, books, and room and board. Eligibility: Applicants must be a full-time sophomore or junior pursuing a degree at an accredited university, have a GPA of at least a “B,” and be U.S. citizen or permanent resident. Important notes: Applicants must go through a campus selection process and be nominated by the university. JMU can nominate up to four students. Students who plan to study medicine are eligible for the Goldwater only if they plan a research career rather than a career as a medical doctor in a private practice.

Jack Kent Cooke

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JMU deadline: February 2008

Jack Kent Cooke application deadline: March 2008

Description: The mission of the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation is to help young people of exceptional promise reach their full potential through education. The program provides up to $50,000 a year to college seniors or recent graduates to attend graduate or professional programs. Awards cover a portion of educational expenses (tuition, living expenses, required fees, and books). The maximum length is six years. Eligibility: At a minimum, candidates must be a senior or recent graduate, have a bachelor’s degree by the beginning of the fall 2008 semester, have a cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.5, be nominated by the candidate’s undergraduate institution, have unmet financial need, have not been nominated for the scholarship in the past, and plan to attend a full-time graduate or professional program at an accredited university in fall 2008. Important notes: Focuses on scholarships for outstanding individuals with financial need. Students interested in this scholarship must be nominated by their institution.

Marshall Scholarship

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JMU deadline: September 10, 2007

Marshall application deadline: October 4, 2007

Description: The purpose of the Marshall Scholarship is to finance young Americans of high ability to study for a degree in the United Kingdom. The Marshall Scholarship funds two years of graduate study at an academic institution in the UK in any field of study. It covers university fees, living expenses, books, and fares to and from the United States. Eligibility: Applicants must be U.S. citizens who will have a bachelor’s degree by the time they begin the scholarship. The minimum GPA is 3.7. Applicants must have graduated from their undergraduate institution after April 2005. Important notes: Candidates must be nominated by their university and participate in a campus selection process. Applications must be made in one of eight regions of the United States. Candidates can apply in only one region—either the one in which they have their permanent home address or the one in which they are studying.

Mitchell Scholarships

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JMU deadline: September 10, 2007

Mitchell application deadline: October 5, 2007

Description: Named to honor the former U.S. Senator’s pivotal contribution to the Northern Ireland peace process, the George J. Mitchell Scholarships are intended to familiarize and connect the next generation of American leaders with Ireland. The Mitchell Scholarship funds one year of post-graduate study in any discipline offered by an institution of higher learning in Ireland or Northern Ireland. The scholarship covers tuition, housing, a living expenses stipend, and a travel stipend. Evaluation criteria include academic excellence, leadership, and a commitment to service. Eligibility: Applicants must be U.S. citizens, between the ages of 18 and 29 on October 1, 2007, and hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university before beginning study under the Mitchell Scholarship. Important notes: Candidates must be nominated by their university and participate in a campus selection process.

NSEP David L. Boren Undergraduate Scholarships

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JMU deadline: January 2007

NSEP application deadline: February 2008

Description: Awards scholarships to American students for study of world regions critical to U.S. interests. This includes Africa, Asia, Central and Eastern Europe, Eurasia, Latin America and the Caribbean, and the Middle East. Western Europe, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand are excluded. Study abroad programs must include a foreign language component. The maximum award is $8000 for the summer, $10,000 for a semester, and $20,000 for a full academic year. Eligibility: Applicants must be U.S. citizens, must be an enrolled student at an accredited college or university, must be applying to attend a study abroad program in an approved world region, and must plan to use the scholarship before they graduate. Important notes: Requires institutional endorsement. There is a service requirement. Recipients must work in the Departments of Defense, Homeland Security, State, or in the intelligence community.

Rhodes Scholarship

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JMU deadline: September 10, 2007

Rhodes application deadline: October 1, 2007

Description: The Rhodes Scholarship funds two years of study at the University of Oxford, with the possibility of renewal for a third year. The scholarship covers all educational costs, provides a living stipend, and covers the cost of travel to and from Oxford. Eligibility: Applicants must be U.S. citizens, be at least 18 but not yet 24 years old on October 1, 2007, and must complete a bachelor’s degree by October 1, 2008. Important notes: Applicants must apply to one of 16 districts, either the district where their permanent home is located or where their school is located. Applicants must be endorsed by their institution.

Truman Scholarship

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JMU deadline: December 2007

Truman application deadline: February 5, 2008 (Must be registered online by January 31, 2008)

Description: The Truman Scholarship provides up to $30,000 in funding to students pursuing graduate degrees in public service fields. The Truman Scholarship Foundation seeks to support college juniors with exceptional leadership potential who are committed to careers in government, nonprofit, education, and other public service fields. It provides financial support for graduate study, leadership training, and fellowship with other students committed to making a difference through public service. Eligibility: Applicants must be U.S. citizens (or expect to receive citizenship by the date the scholarship will be awarded) and full-time students pursuing a bachelor’s degree with junior-level academic standing (or senior-level standing in their third year of college enrollment) at the time that they apply. Important notes: Applicants must go through a campus selection process and be nominated by their university. There is a service requirement. Recipients are required to work in public service for three of the seven years following the completion of their graduate degree programs. Candidates should be registered for the online application by January 31, 2008.

Udall Scholarship

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JMU deadline: February 2008

Udall application deadline: March 2008

Description: The Udall provides up to $5000 to sophomores or juniors for study about the environment or Native American health and public policy. Scholarships are offered to students who have a demonstrated commitment to careers related to the environment and to Native American students who have a demonstrated commitment to careers related to tribal public policy or Native American health care. Eligibility: Candidates must be sophomore or junior-level students at an institution of higher education pursuing a bachelor’s or associate’s degree; be committed to a career related to the environment; have a college GPA of at least a “B;” be pursuing full-time study; and be a U.S. citizen, national, or permanent resident. Native Americans and Alaska Natives applicants must be committed to pursue a career in tribal public policy or Native American health care. Important notes: Candidates must be nominated by their universities.

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