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. See Deadlines & Contacts for information on faculty representatives for these foundations.
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.

• 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, 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.

Emerson National Hunger Fellows Program

• Eligibility: US citizen or permanent resident; BA or equivalent by beginning of grant period, language proficiency
• GPA requirement: student in good standing
• Awards: 20
• 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.

Fulbright Grants
International study or teaching grants, normally for one year

• Eligibility: US citizen; BA or equivalent by beginning of grant period, language proficiency
• GPA requirement: student in good standing
• Institutional nomination: YES, application must be coordinated with the faculty member serving as the Fulbright Program Advisor.
• Awards: number varies
• Internal Deadline: mid-September
• 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. 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.

Gates Cambridge Scholarships

• Eligibility: citizens of any country outside the United Kingdom
• GPA requirement: Highly competitive
• Institutional nomination: NO, but consultation with faculty advisors recommended
• Internal deadline: mid-September
• Approximately 100 scholarships awarded per year
• 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.”

Jack Kent Cooke Graduate Arts Award
Scholarships for outstanding students attending graduate school in the fine arts and performing arts

• G.P.A. requirement: minimum of 3.2
• Demonstrated financial need (FAFSA form required)
• Institutional Nomination: yes
• Internal Deadline: early February 
• Awards: approximately 10

Jacob K. Javits Fellowships         
Support for graduate study in selected fields in the humanities, arts, and social sciences
Important update: the Javits will not be offered for the 2012-2013 year.

• Eligibility: U.S. citizens or nationals, permanent residents of the U.S., or citizens of any one of the Freely Associated States, entering graduate school to pursue a doctoral degree (or master′s degree, if the master′s degree is the terminal or highest degree awarded in an approved field), with demonstrated financial need
• GPA requirement: Competitive
• Institutional nomination: NO, but consultation with faculty advisors recommended
• Awards: 48; all tuition and fees, plus stipend up to $30,000 per year (based on financial need) for up to a total of four years of graduate study
• Internal Deadline: September 15
• Notes: The U. S. Department of Education awards Jacob K. Javits Fellowships to provide financial assistance for students who have demonstrated superior academic ability and achievement; exceptional promise; and financial need. The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is required as part of the application for a Javits fellowship in order to complete the financial need calculation. Applicants must be eligible to be accepted to or currently attending a graduate program leading to a doctorate or a terminal master′s degree in an eligible field of study. Applicants attending a foreign institution are ineligible. Twenty percent of Javits Fellowships are awarded to students in the social sciences, twenty percent to students in the arts, and sixty percent to students in the humanities.

Lilly Fellows Program in the Humanities and the Arts
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.
• Institutional nomination: YES. Candidates are nominated by the Lilly Fellows Faculty representative (Prof. Judith Haas).
• Nominees must be U.S. Citizens.
• Nominees must have been accepted into a Ph.D., M.F.A., Th.D., or equivalent program by June 1st of the application year. The school must be located in North America.
• 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.
• GPA requirement: student in good standing
• Awards: 16 annually
• Internal Deadline: November 1
• Application Deadline: January 18
• 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.

Luce Scholars Program
Year long 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
• Awards: 15 annually
• Internal Deadline: early October
• 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.

Madison Fellowships
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
• Awards: at least one per state; up to $24,000
• Approximate External Deadlines: Normally mid-February to March 1.
• 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. 

Marshall Scholarships
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
• GPA requirement: 3.7 minimum
• Institutional nomination: YES
• Awards: Up to 40; about £20,000/year for two years
• 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.

NEW!  Beginning in 2009-10, the Marshall Commission will 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

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

• Eligibility: 18-30 years old
• GPA requirement:  Competitive
• Institutional nomination: YES
• Awards: about 12; tuition and housing for one year along with international travel and a living expenses stipend
• Internal Deadline: mid-September
• Notes: “We look for persuasive, documented evidence of achievement in three areas: academic, leadership, and community service.”

National Science Foundation
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
• Awards: about 1000; $30,000 stipend for 12-month tenure plus $10,500 cost-of-education allowance per tenure year; a $1,000 International Research Travel Allowance is also available
• Internal Deadline: mid-September
• 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?”

Boren/National Security Education Program
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
• Approximate External Deadline: Normally end of January
• 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.”

Rhodes Scholarships
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
• GPA requirement:  Highly Competitive
• Institutional nomination: YES
• Awards: 32; 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
• Internal Deadline: mid-September
• Notes: 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.

Rotary
Ambassadorial Scholarships provide individual grants of $25,000 for postgraduate study at a university abroad.

• Eligibility: citizen of country with Rotary clubs; language proficiency
• Institutional nomination: NO, application made through Memphis or home Rotary club, consultation with campus coordinator recommended
• Approximate External Deadline: set by individual clubs
• Notes: “While abroad, scholars serve as ambassadors of goodwill to the people of the host country and give presentations about their homelands to Rotary clubs and other groups. Upon returning home, scholars share with local Rotarians and others the experiences that led to greater understanding of their host countries.”

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

• Eligibility: U.S. citizenship
• GPA requirement:  juniors in upper quarter of class
• Institutional nomination: YES
• Awards: 75-80 awards from 600 applications; $26,000
• Internal Deadline: early December
• Notes: Highly competitive. 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.

Villers Fellowship for Health Care Justice
One-year fellowship with stipend/salary and health benefits

• Eligibility: Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States. Preference for a college degree completed prior to beginning of fellowship. Candidates from all academic backgrounds are encouraged to apply.
• Institutional nomination: NO
• Awards: one per year
• Internal Deadline: early December
• Notes: “The Villers Fellow works as a full-time policy analyst in Families USA’s Health Policy Department. The Fellowship is based in the Families USA office in Washington, D.C. and is designed to provide the Fellow with a national perspective on health care justice work and the opportunity to learn about a range of health care justice issues. The Fellow’s principal responsibilities include conducting primary and secondary research on a range of health care issues and health reform topics—such as Medicaid, Medicare, the state Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), and the private insurance market—as well as writing and contributing to publications that are relevant to current health reform issues.”

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

• Eligibility: Must be graduating senior to apply; U.S. citizenship NOT required
• GPA requirement:  student in good standing
• Institutional nomination: YES
• Awards: up to 40; $25,000
• Internal Deadline: early October
• 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.”

The Wellstone Fellowship for Social Justice
Twelve-month fellowship with stipend/salary and health benefits

• Eligibility: Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States. Preference for a college degree completed prior to beginning of fellowship. Candidates from all academic backgrounds are encouraged to apply
• Institutional nomination: NO
• Awards: one per year
• Internal Deadline: early December
• Notes: Founded in honor of the late Senator Paul Wellstone. Wellstone Fellows participate in health care advocacy work that focuses on the unique challenges facing many communities of color. “The Wellstone Fellowship is designed to increase the number of low-income, American Indian & Alaska Native, Asian American, Black/African American, Latino, and Native Hawaiian & Pacific Islander social justice leaders. Candidates seeking consideration for the Wellstone Fellowship must demonstrate an interest in using organizing and advocacy skills to achieve health care justice and social change. Applicants should also demonstrate a commitment to contributing to social justice advocacy following their year of hands-on experience as a fellow.”

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.

• FastWeb Scholarship Search
• FinAid: The Financial Aid Information Page
• SallieMae′s Online Scholarship Service
• Yahoo: Financial Aid and Scholarship Resources
• Nationally Coveted Scholarships, Fellowships & Postdoctoral Awards