National Scholarships

These scholarships are for seniors or graduate students.

National scholarships homepage.

Scholarships home.

Carnegie Endowment for International Peace

Website

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

Website

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.

Fulbright Fellowship

Website

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.

Gates Cambridge Scholarships

Website

Gates application deadline: October 15, 2007

Description: The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation established the Gates Scholarship to enable outstanding graduate students outside of the United Kingdom to study at the University of Cambridge. Scholarships are awarded based on applicants’ intellectual ability, leadership capacity, and ability to contribute to society by applying their talents to improve the lives of others. The scholarship covers tuition, maintenance funds, and travel to Cambridge. 100 new scholarships are awarded each year. Eligibility: Applicants can come from any country except the United Kingdom. They must apply to study a subject currently available at the University of Cambridge and must be admitted to Cambridge through the University’s normal academic procedures. Applicants must have excellent transcripts with a high GPA and academic references that speak to the candidate’s leadership potential, social commitment, and intellectual ability. Important notes: Applicants for a Gates Scholarship must apply to Cambridge in the normal way. They must complete and submit a Graduate Admission and Scholarship Application Form (GRADSAF) to the Board of Graduate Studies no later than October 15, 2007.

Jack Kent Cooke

Website

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.

James Madison Fellowships

Website

James Madison Fellowship deadline: March 1, 2008

Description: The James Madison Fellowship Foundation offers funding to a select group of individuals desiring to become outstanding teachers of the American Constitution. The maximum amount of the award is $24,000 (no more than $12,000 per academic year) to cover the costs of tuition, required fees, books, and room and board. Eligibility: Applicants must be a U.S. citizen or national; be a teacher or plan to become a teacher of American history, government, or social studies at the secondary level; possess a bachelor’s degree by August 31 of the year in which they are applying; and wait at least three years from the time that any previous graduate degree was awarded before applying for a James Madison Fellowship. Important notes: After earning a master’s degree, fellows must teaching American history, government, or social studies in grades 7-12 for no less than one year for each full academic year of study under the fellowship.

Javits Fellowship

Website

Javits application deadline: October 5, 2007

Description: Provides fellowships to students of superior academic ability to undertake study at the doctoral and Master of Fine Arts level in selected fields of arts, humanities, and social sciences. Recipients are selected on the basis of demonstrated achievement, financial need, and exceptional promise. Covers tuition and provides recipients with a stipend based on financial need. Eligibility: Applicants must be undergraduate students about to enter graduate school and graduate students who have not yet completed their first year of graduate study and plan to pursue a doctoral degree in approved fields within the arts, humanities, and social sciences. Applicants intending to pursue a master’s degree can receive the fellowship if the master’s degree is the highest degree in the field. Eligibility is limited to U.S. citizens or nationals, permanent residents, and citizens of one of the Freely Associated States. Applicants must demonstrate financial need. Important notes: Candidates must demonstrate financial need by filing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

Marshall Scholarship

Website

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

Website

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.

Rhodes Scholarship

Website

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.

Rotary Ambassadorial Scholarships

Website

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.

Soros Fellowships for New Americans

Website

Soros application deadline: November 1, 2007

Description: The purpose of the fellowship is to provide opportunities for continuing generations of able and accomplished New Americans to achieve leadership in their chosen fields. The Soros Foundation provides up to $20,000 plus one-half tuition for two years of graduate study for new Americans. Eligibility: A New American is an individual who is (1) a resident alien (holds a Green Card), (2) has been naturalized as a U.S. citizen, or (3) is the child of two parents who are both naturalized citizens. Applicants may not be older than 30 on November 1, 2007, and they must be a college senior, hold a bachelor’s degree, or be enrolled in graduate school.

Thomas R. Pickering Graduate Foreign Affairs Fellowship

Website

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 provides tuition, room, board, and mandatory fees for the first and second year of graduate study. Graduate-level fellows receive stipends during participation in a domestic summer internship and an overseas internship. Each successful candidate is obligated to a minimum of three years’ service in an appointment as a Foreign Service officer. Eligibility: Applicants must be U.S. citizens, have an undergraduate GPA of 3.2 or higher, and must be seeking admission to graduate school for the following academic year. Selected applicants are expected to enroll in a two-year, full-time master’s degree program in public policy, international affairs, or public administration, or in an academic field such as business, economics, political science, sociology, or foreign languages. Important notes: This scholarship has a service requirement.

Return to top.