Scholarship for Outstanding Graduates

The Luce Scholars Program provides stipends, language training, and individualized professional placement in Asia for one year. These work assignments run for approximately ten months, from September until July of the following year, and are intended primarily as learning opportunities for Luce Scholars. Eligible students must:

be a graduating senior or alum (have earned at least a bachelor’s degree or reasonably expect to receive that degree by June 20th of the year they enter the program)
not have spent more than 18 weeks in Asia since graduating high school
not have a degree in Asian studies (minors and language study are permitted)
have a competitive GPA, generally no less than 3.5

Deadline: Deadline for UNC endorsement: September 15

The Churchill Scholarship provides funding to American students for a year of Master’s study in science, mathematics, and engineering at the University of Cambridge, based at Churchill College. The total award is worth approximately $60,000. Eligible students must:

be a senior or a student who has graduated within the past 12 months
hold a bachelor’s degree or an equivalent, and not have attained a doctorate
have a competitive GPA, generally no less than 3.8
concurrently apply to the University of Cambridge by mid-October

Deadline for UNC endorsement: September 15

Schwarzman Scholars gives students the opportunity to develop their leadership skills and professional networks through a one-year Master’s Degree at Tsinghua University in Beijing. With this scholarship, students pursue a Masters in Global Affairs, with concentrations in either public policy, economics and business, or international studies. The scholarship includes tuition fees, room and board, travel to and from Beijing, an in-country study tour, required course books and supplies, health insurance, and a stipend for personal expenses. Eligible students must:

be on track to successfully complete all BA degree requirements before the Schwarzman orientation begins in August
be at least 18 but not yet 29 years of age as of August 1

Deadline to apply: September 22

Knight-Hennessy Scholars receive full funding to pursue any graduate degree at Stanford University in any field. This includes the JD, MA, MBA, MD, MFA, MS, and PhD programs, as well as all joint- and dual-degrees. The Knight-Hennessy Scholars program funds up to the first three years of your graduate education and looks primarily at three areas: (1) Independence of thought, (2) Purposeful leadership, (3) Civic mindset. Eligible students must:

apply to enroll in any full-time graduate degree program at Stanford
apply during their final year of study for their first/bachelor’s degree or within four years of earning their first/bachelor’s degree

Deadline to apply: October 1

The Michel David-Weill Scholarship covers the cost of a two-year master’s program (approximately $80,000 for tuition and living expenses) at Sciences Po in Paris. Sciences Po, an international research university, specializes in the social sciences and offers multidisciplinary programs taught in English and French. Although there is no restriction on the specific field of study at Sciences Po, students who are interested in pursuing an economics curriculum are strongly encouraged to apply, as this is Michel David-Weill’s field of expertise. Prior knowledge of French is not required, as the majority of programs offered at Sciences Po are taught in English.Eligible students must:

Have a 3.7 or higher GPA and be aged 19-25 without a doctoral degree
Be accepted to an eligible Sciences Po master’s program

Deadline for UNC endorsement: October 15

The Yenching Academy of Peking University fully funds a one-year, interdisciplinary master’s program in China Studies. The Yenching Academy is a fully funded residential program offering a wide array of interdisciplinary courses on China within broadly defined fields of the Humanities and Social Sciences. The award covers tuition fees, a travel stipend for one round-trip journey between each Scholar’s base city and Beijing, accommodations, and living costs on Peking University’s campus. Eligible students must:

Have a minimum of a Bachelor’s degree in any field, awarded no later than August 31 of the year in which they wish to enroll
Have a strong interest in interdisciplinary study of China
Hold a record of extracurricular achievement, community engagement and social responsibility
Display leadership potential

Deadline for UNC endorsement: October 15

The Paul and Daisy Soros Fellowship for New Americans supports one or two years of graduate study in any field and in any advanced degree-granting program in the United States. Each award is up for a total of $90,000. Eligible students must:

have new American status. This means that your birth parents must have both been born outside of the US as non-US citizens and must not have been eligible for US citizenship at the time of their births.
be a graduating senior or alum or be pursuing a full-time graduate degree at a US institution.
Be under 30 years of age.

Deadline to apply: October 29

The Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship is given to college sophomores and juniors who intend to pursue research careers in the natural sciences, mathematics and engineering. Scholarships of up to $7,500 a year are provided to help cover costs associated with tuition, mandatory fees, books, room and board. Sophomores receive support in both their junior and senior years. Juniors will receive support in their senior year. Eligible students must:

Be a full-time matriculated sophomore or junior
Intend to pursue a research career in a natural science, mathematics or engineering, as defined by the Goldwater Scholarship’s Conditions of Eligibility
Have a competitive GPA of at least a 3.0, and usually 3.6 or higher
Be nominated by a faculty member, in an email sent to ODS during the current application year

Deadline: November 16

The Harry S. Truman Scholarship Foundation awards merit-based scholarships of up to $30,000 for graduate or professional school to college students who plan to pursue careers in government or elsewhere in public service. Scholars are required to work in public service for three of the seven years following completion of a Foundation-funded graduate degree program as a condition of receiving funding. Eligible students must:

Be a full-time junior-level student at a four-year institution pursuing a bachelor’s degree during the academic year of application
Be in the upper quarter of his or her class

Deadline: November 16

The James C. Gaither Junior Fellows Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace is designed to provide a substantive work experience for students who have a serious career interest in the area of international affairs. Fellows will work as employees at Carnegie in Washington, DC on a full-time basis for a period of one year. Here, they will provide research assistance to scholars working on Carnegie Endowment’s projects, including: democracy, nuclear policy, energy and climate, Middle Eastern studies, Asian studies, Russian studies, and geoeconomics. The salary is approximately $39,500 for one year, subject to taxes. A generous benefits package is provided. Fellows are responsible for their own housing arrangements. Eligible students must:

be graduating seniors or students who have graduated during the last academic year
be eligible to work in the United States for a full twelve months (August 1 through July 31)
have not started graduate studies
have a competitive GPA, generally 3.6 or higher

Deadline: November 16

Boren Scholarships and Fellowships provide funding for U.S. undergraduate and graduate students to experience long-term overseas study of the languages and cultures of Africa, Asia, Central & Eastern Europe, Eurasia, Latin America, and the Middle East. Preference is given to applicants who: (1) Have a desire to work in the federal government; (2) Propose countries, languages, and fields of study critical to U.S. national security (American well-being as well as sustainable development, the environment, disease, migration, and economic competitiveness); (3) Propose long-term study abroad. Eligible students must:

be planning an overseas program that meets home institution standards in a country outside of Western Europe, Canada, Australia, the United States or New Zealand.
Matriculated in a degree program and remain matriculated in their programs for the duration of the scholarship.

Deadline for graduate and undergraduate applications: December 15

The Beinecke Scholarship Program seeks to encourage students to pursue a graduate course of study in the arts, humanities and social sciences. Each scholar receives $4,000 immediately prior to entering graduate school and an additional $30,000 while attending graduate school. Recipients are allowed to supplement the award with other scholarships, assistantships and research grants. Eligible students must:

Be a college junior pursuing a bachelor’s degree during the application year expecting to receive a baccalaureate degree by the Spring of the following year
Plan to enter a master’s or doctoral program in the arts, humanities or social sciences. Students in the social sciences who plan to pursue graduate study in neuroscience should not apply for a Beinecke Scholarship.
Have a competitive GPA, typically 3.6 or higher
Have a documented history of receiving — or being eligible to receive — need-based financial aid during undergraduate enrollment. During the selection process, the amount of financial need will be one of the factors considered.

Deadline: January 15

The Udall Scholarship is a merit award for second- and third-year students who have demonstrated a commitment to issues related to American Indian nations or to the environment. The award provides leadership, public service, internship, and networking opportunities in addition to up to $7,000 for eligible academic expenses. Eligible students must:

be a sophomore or junior-level college student at a two-year or four-year accredited institution of higher education in the United States, pursuing a bachelor’s or associate’s degree at the time of application
be pursing your BA degree full-time during the next academic year

Applicants interested in tribal policy and Native health care must satisfy one of the following:

You are enrolled in a state or federally recognized tribe or band
One or more of your parents or grandparents was an enrolled member of a state or federally recognized tribe or band

Deadline: February 1

Still not sure if any of these scholarships would be a good fit?

Search the STRIVE database at www.STRIVE.UNC.edu

Book an appointment to talk your options over with ODS here or with our director, Dr. Brodey, here.