National Scholarships


These scholarships are for freshmen, sophomores, or juniors.

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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.

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.

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.

Rotary Ambassadorial Scholarships

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Rotary application deadline: Varies by club and district.

Description: The Ambassadorial Scholarships provide $23,000 for one academic year of study in another country where a Rotary club is located. The covers costs associated with round-trip transportation, tuition, fees, room and board expenses, and educational supplies. Recipients are expected to participate in a formal course of study at a university but do not need to pursue a graduate degree. Eligibility: Applicants must be citizens of a country where there are Rotary clubs; have completed at least two years of college-level coursework; and must be proficient in a language of the proposed host country. Relatives or dependents of Rotarians are not eligible. Important notes: Applicants must apply through a local Rotary club.

Thomas R. Pickering Undergraduate Foreign Affairs Fellowship

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Thomas Pickering application deadline: February 2008

Description: The Pickering Graduate Foreign Affairs Fellowship is funded by the U.S. Department of State. It seeks to recruit talented students in academic programs relevant to international affairs, political and economic analysis, administration, management, and science policy. The fellowship award includes tuition, room, board, and mandatory fees during junior and senior years of college and during the first year of graduate study. Fellows must participate in one overseas and one domestic summer internship within the U.S. Department of State. Each successful candidate is obligated to a minimum of four-and-one-half years’ service in an appointment as a Foreign Service officer. Eligibility: Applicants must be U.S. citizens, must have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.2, and must be in the sophomore year of undergraduate study. Important notes: This fellowship has a service requirement.

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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