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Scholarship Opportunities

Nationally competitive postgraduate scholarships coordinated by the faculty Postgraduate Scholarship Committee are listed below. Applicants must be prepared to submit completed application dossiers to the Rhodes faculty Postgraduate Scholarship Committee on or before the deadlines.

Institutional Nomination: Some postgraduate scholarships and fellowships require that student applicants receive an institutional nomination, that is, a written endorsement from the designated faculty representative at Rhodes College. Because of this, there is an internal deadline for students to submit their applications for faculty review. This internal deadline is determined by Rhodes College and is much earlier than the external deadline that is set by the scholarship and fellowship organizations.

  • Some programs, such as the Luce and the Truman, only accept a given number of endorsements each year. 
  • Other programs, such as the Rhodes Scholarship and the Marshall Scholarship, require institutional nomination from the college, but the college may send as many applications as we consider competitive. 
  • Students applying for the Fulbright must go through the interview process at Rhodes College.

For programs requiring an institutional nomination, Rhodes sets an early deadline, at least 3-4 weeks in advance of the national deadline for that scholarship. This allows time for the Postgraduate Scholarship Committee to collect all the materials, ask for revisions, and write the endorsements.

Carnegie Endowment Junior Fellows Program
Emerson National Hunger Fellows Program
Fulbright Grants
Gates Cambridge Scholarships
Lilly Fellows Program in the Humanities and the Arts
Luce Scholars Program
Madison Fellowships
Marshall Scholarships
Mitchell (Not available for 2024-2025)
The Morris K. and Stewart L. Udall Foundation Undergraduate Scholarship
National Science Foundation
Boren/National Security Education Program 
Paul and Daisy Soros Foundation Fellowship for New Americans
Point Scholarship
Postgraduate NCAA Fellowship
Rhodes Scholarships
Steve and Riea Lainoff Crop Trust Fellowship
Truman Scholarships 
Watson
More Links to Postgraduate Scholarship Information


One-year fellowship as a research assistant to a senior associate at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.

  • Eligibility: Graduating seniors or seniors who have graduated in the past year and are interested in international affairs
  • Institutional nomination: YES
  • Selection criteria: The successful candidates will have a strong record of academic achievement, excellent written and oral communication skills as well as evidence of engagement in the research field to which they are applying. In addition, candidates should note the requirements, such as additional language skills of individual projects.
  • Notes: The Carnegie Endowment for International Peace is one of the nation’s leading think tanks and promotes cooperation between nations and active international engagement by the U.S. The Junior Fellows Program offers 8-10 one-year fellowships to graduating seniors and individuals who have graduated during the past academic year who have a dedicated career interest in international affairs. Carnegie Junior Fellows work as full-time research assistants to the Endowment′s senior associates for one year. Back to top.

  • Eligibility: US citizen or permanent resident; BA or equivalent by beginning of grant period, language proficiency  
  • Notes: the Emerson Hunger Fellow Program is a social justice program that trains, inspires, and sustains leaders. Fellows gain field experience fighting hunger and poverty through placements in community-based organizations across the country, and policy experience through placements in Washington, D.C. The program bridges community-based efforts and national public policy, and fellows develop as effective leaders in the movement to end hunger and poverty.
  • Selection criteria: Commitment to social justice; Demonstrated leadership qualities and skills; Commitment to anti-racism; Flexibility and ability to adjust to new situations; Creativity and initiative in problem solving; Willingness to learn from experts in the field, and commitment to the search for new models in anti-hunger and anti-poverty work.
  • Award includes: $16,000 annual living allowance; Health insurance; Travel expenses; Housing during field placement; $3,500 end of service award; $4,000 housing subsidy in DC; Relocation subsidies. Back to top.


International study or teaching grants, normally for one year

  • Eligibility: US citizen; BA or equivalent by beginning of grant period, language proficiency
  • Institutional nomination: YES, application must be coordinated with the faculty member serving as the Fulbright Program Advisor.
  • Notes: Founded by an act of Congress in 1945, Fulbright Grants support research and teaching at participating universities abroad with the aim, in the words of Senator J. William Fulbright, of fostering “international good will through the exchange of students in the fields of education, culture, and science." Graduating seniors may apply for one of two types of Fulbright Grants: Research and English Teaching Assistantships (ETA). Applicants are chosen on the basis of the quality and feasibility of the research proposal/statement of grant purpose as well as the personal statement.
  • Selection criteria: Successful grantees demonstrate qualities of flexibility, resourcefulness, and openness to new experiences. Fluency in the host language is preferred. Strong candidates will be able to demonstrate a familiarity with the current events and recent history of the host country. A record of leadership and community involvement is a plus. Back to top.


Full support for graduate study and research in any field available at Cambridge University

  • Eligibility: citizens of any country outside the United Kingdom
  • Institutional nomination: NO, but consultation with faculty advisors recommended
  • Applicants must apply and be admitted to Cambridge University (Cambridge application is concurrent with the Scholarship application)
  • Notes: Sponsored by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the Gates Cambridge Scholarships provide full support for graduate study and research in any field available at Cambridge University. The ideal candidate “will be driven by the values of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation which include a commitment to reducing inequities and improving lives around the world.” Back to top.

Provides $3,000 stipend, mentorship, and intellectual network for students pursuing a terminal graduate degree in the Humanities or the Arts, who wish to “explore the connections between Christianity and the vocation of teacher-scholar.”

  • Nominees must have earned or be in the process of earning a baccalaureate degree from a LFP network institution.
  • Eligibility is open to seniors graduating during the current academic year, or to anyone having received a baccalaureate from a network institution within the last five years.
  • Nominees must be U.S. Citizens.
  • Eligible disciplines are: art; art history; creative writing; history; interdisciplinary studies; languages and literature; music; music history; philosophy; religion; rhetoric; theater history; theater arts, and theology.  
  • Notes: To be eligible for the Lilly Graduate Fellowship, nominees must intend to enter a Ph.D., M.F.A., D.M.A., Th.D., or equivalent program the school of their choice in fall, 2013, that will lead to a teaching career in humanities or the arts within the academy. Nominees should also want to explore the connections between Christianity and higher education and have an interest in teaching at a church-related school. Back to top.


Year long professional internships in Asia with stipend.

  • Eligibility: US citizen; BA or equivalent; under 29 years of age; no significant exposure to Asian culture or Asian studies
  • GPA requirement: Competitive
  • Institutional nomination: Yes, application must be coordinated with faculty contact =
  • Notes: The Luce Scholars Program, supported by the Henry Luce Foundation, is aimed at college graduates from a broad range of disciplines who might not otherwise have the opportunity to experience and come to know Asia. Successful candidates will have a record of high achievement and excellent leadership abilities.The Foundation seeks to develop a better cultural exchange between Asia and the U.S. Back to top.


Support for future teachers of US History applying to MA programs

  • Eligibility: US citizen or US national enrolled or applying to an MA program in a related field; must teach for at least one year following completion of degree
  • Institutional nomination: NO  
  • Notes: Applicants are evaluated on their demonstrated commitment to a career teaching American history, American government, or social studies at the secondary school level; demonstrated intent to pursue and complete a program of graduate study that emphasizes the Constitution and offers instruction in that subject; demonstrated devotion to civic responsibility; demonstrated capacity for study and performance as classroom teachers, and their proposed courses of graduate study. Back to top.


For 2 years of study in any field at a United Kingdom university

  • Eligibility: US citizens who (by the time they take up their Scholarship) hold a first degree from an accredited four-year college or university in the United States. Candidates must have at least senior standing and be no older than 25 years of age in October of the year of application
  • Internal Deadline: mid-September
  • Notes: Candidates must possess a keen intellect and broad outlook as evidenced both by scholastic attainments and a strong record of service and leadership plus the capacity to make a significant contribution to their own society. Selectors will also look for strong motivation and seriousness of purpose, including the presentation of a specific and realistic academic program. Back to top.

The Marshall Commission will also be awarding up to 8 one-year Marshall Scholarships.

  • Applicants may apply for either the one-year or the two-year term, but NOT both (note separate applications)
  • Applicants must provide compelling reasons for needing to do a one-year rather than a two-year term
  • Applicants must have a clear post-scholarship plan
  • Eligibility and deadlines are the same as the two-year scholarship


One year of study in any discipline at institutions of higher learning in Ireland and Northern Ireland

  • Eligibility: 18-30 years old
  • Institutional nomination: YES  
  • Notes: “We look for persuasive, documented evidence of achievement in three areas: academic, leadership, and community service.” Back to top.


Awards scholarships of up to $5000 to college students committed to careers related to the environment, tribal public policy, or Native American health care.

  • Eligibility: Sophomore or Junior student who is a US citizen, national, or permanent resident enrolled in a two-year of four-year accredited institution of higher education in the United States. 
  • Institutional nomination: YES
  • Notes: To students who have demonstrated commitment to careers related to the environment including policy, engineering, science, education, urban planning and renewal, business, health, justice, economics, and other related fields; or to Native American and Alaska Native students who have demonstrated commitment to careers related to tribal public policy, including fields related to tribal sovereignty, tribal governance, tribal law, Native American education, Native American justice, natural resource management, cultural preservation and revitalization, Native American economic development, and other areas affecting Native American communities; or To Native American and Alaska Native students who have demonstrated commitment to careers related to Native health care, including health care administration, social work, medicine, dentistry, counseling, and research into health conditions affecting Native American communities, and other related fields. Back to top.
     


Three years of support for graduate study leading to research-based master’s or doctoral degrees in the fields of science, mathematics, and engineering

  • Eligibility: US citizens, nationals, or resident aliens enrolled in or applying to research-based graduate programs
  • Institutional nomination: NO  
  • Notes: “In considering applications, reviewers are asked to address two questions that are the basis of NSF′s merit review criteria: (1) What is the intellectual merit of the applicant? and (2) What are the broader impacts of supporting the individual′s graduate study?” Back to top.


Supports study of languages and regions vital to US security but less frequently studied by US graduate students

  • Eligibility: Must be enrolled in or applying for enrollment to a graduate program
  • Institutional nomination: NO, but consultation with institutional coordinator strongly encouraged
  • Awards up to $28,000
  • Notes: “The primary factors in the selection of Fellows are demonstrated academic excellence; a comprehensive, clear, and feasible proposal; a plan to develop, maintain, or advance language competence; evidence of ability to adapt to a different cultural environment; and the integration of the proposed program into the applicant′s academic field and career goals.” Back to top


Supports two years of graduate study in any field and in any advanced degree-getting program in the United States.

  • Eligibility: Graduating seniors or recent graduates who fall into one of the following categories: naturalized US citizen; will have a valid green card by the application deadline; US citizen by birth but neither of your parents were US citizens at the times of their births; born outside of the US and adopted by American parents or awarded US citizenship as a result of your adoption; you have granted deferred action under the government’s Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.
  • Institutional Nomination:  NO
  • Selection Criteria: Includes the following; creativity, originality and initiative; a commitment to and capacity for accomplishment that has required drive and sustained effort; a commitment to the values expressed in the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights.
  • Notes: Each award is for up to $25,000 in maintenance grants and up to $20,000 in tuition support for each year of graduate study supported, a total of as much as $90,000. The program is intended to support individuals who will continue to regard the U.S. as their principal residence and focus of national identity. Deadline: November 1, 2017. Back to top.


Provides scholarships for undergraduate and graduate study for LGBTQ students.

  • Eligibility: Must be enrolled or intending to enroll at an accredited college or university based in the United States, including Hawaii and Alaska, in the fall of application year. Must be “out” as a person who identifies as a member of the LGBTQ community. Must be enrolled in a degree-granting undergraduate or graduate/ doctoral program.  Must demonstrate financial need. Open to all college students regardless of citizenship. Undocumented students are eligible and will be reviewed as international students.
  • Institutional Nomination:  NO
  • Selection criteria:  A proven track record of leadership and community involvement; strong academic achievement; working for the betterment of the LGBTQ community; financial need.
  • Deadline:  January 30. Back to top.


Awards grants to athletes who excel academically and athletically

  • Eligibility: An NCAA athlete who is in their final season of NCAA season eligibility or will not be using any remaining athletics eligibility and is interested in pursuing a graduate degree.
  • Institutional nomination: YES
  • Internal Deadline: Late November for fall sport, late January for winter sport, late March for spring sport
  • Notes: The NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship was created in 1964 to promote and encourage postgraduate education by rewarding the Association′s most accomplished student-athletes through tier participation in NCAA championship and/or emerging sports. Athletics and academic achievements, as well as campus involvement, community service, volunteer activities and demonstrated leadership, are evaluated. The program aims to reward those individuals whose dedication and effort are reflective of those characteristics necessary to succeed and thrive through postgraduate study in an accredited graduate degree program. Back to top.


For two years of study at the University of Oxford

  • Eligibility: 18-24 years old (no older than 24 years of age in October of the year of application); at least senior standing
  • Institutional nomination: YES
  • Notes: Awards provide for all educational costs, such as matriculation, tuition, laboratory and certain other fees, are paid on the Scholar′s behalf by the Rhodes Trustees; each Scholar receives in addition a maintenance allowance adequate to meet necessary expenses for term-time and vacations and the Rhodes Trustees cover the necessary costs of travel to and from Oxford, and upon application, may approve additional grants for research purposes or study-related travel
  • Selection criteria: The prestigious Rhodes Scholarship is the oldest international fellowship. It recognizes superior scholastic attainment, a history of service and leadership, knowledge of current global issues, fondness and success in sports, and altruism. Selection committees are charged to seek excellence in qualities of mind and in qualities of person which, in combination, offer the promise of effective service to the world in the decades ahead. Back to top.


Provides graduate school financial support to students committed to careers in public service, including (but not limited to) government, nonprofit advocacy, and education

  • Eligibility: U.S. citizenship
  • Institutional nomination: YES
  • Selection criteria: Highly competitive. The Truman seeks candidates who have extensive records of public and community service, and have outstanding leadership potential and communication skills.
  • Students apply during the fall semester of their junior year. Back to top.


One year grant for independent study and travel outside the United States

  • Eligibility: Must be graduating senior to apply; U.S. citizenship NOT required
  • Institutional nomination: YES
  • Notes: “A Watson project is something that you have wanted to do and dreamed about doing for a considerable period of time. You must want to do this so badly that when it is cold and rainy, and you have lost your passport, and your camera has been stolen, and you’re sick, and your best friend is getting married back home, you will still want to stay abroad and pursue your project.” Back to top.

More Links to Postgraduate Scholarship Information:
Many other scholarships are available that might better suit your needs, preparations, and career plans. Please contact Career Services and/or the Buckman Center for International Education for more information and additional resources.

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