List of Top Nationally Competitive Awards
Check out these opportunities below, which represent some of the top nationally competitive awards available. Awards here offer research opportunities, experiences abroad, funding for graduate school, and more. Be sure to locate the information about eligibility and deadlines, as well as any awards requiring a campus endorsement, and follow the link below each summary section for further information.
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Amgen Scholars
- Fully-funded undergraduate research program in science and biotechnology
- Involves a summer research program at a top-ranked institution such as Caltech, Duke, Howard University, UCLA, or Yale, and includes presentation at research symposium
- Applicants must be US citizens or permanent residence, and must be sophomores, juniors, or non-graduating seniors
- Requirement of 3.2 cumulative GPA and interest in pursuing a PhD or MD-PhD (not MD alone)
Critical Language Scholarship
- An 8 to 10 week fully funded immersion scholarship program, focused on nations with languages viewed as “critical” by the US federal government. Host families and pre-departure workshop in Washington DC are part of the experience
- Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors who are US citizens and passport holders are eligible to apply
- Deadline in November; repeat applicants encouraged to apply; no letters of recommendation required
DAAD-RISE
- A research internship program hosted by STEM laboratories across Germany, which takes place during the summer. Fields represented include Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Physics, Earth Sciences, and Engineering.
- You can apply for up to 3 projects each year; only one letter of recommendation required
- Eligible students are sophomore and junior STEM majors; German language skills not necessary as lab work is conducted in English
- Deadline in late November / early December
FAO Schwarz Fellowship
- A paid, two-year internship with a leading nonprofit organization in Boston, New York City, or Philadelphia. These organizations have an established track record in addressing social inequity, particularly involving young people. Fellowship also includes retreats, trainings, and mentoring as participants prepare for a career in social impact.
- Must be a senior at the time of applying, and eligible to work in the United States.
- Deadline is in February; no letter of recommendations required
Fulbright U.K. Summer Institute
- Study abroad program in a 3- or 4-week themed institute in the UK. Themes have included areas such as technology and creativity, Black humanities, climate change and the environment, and identity and nationhood; sites are at universities in England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
- Costs covered include airfare, tuition and fees, accommodations, and some meals
- Open to freshmen and sophomores who have not had substantial experiences outside of North America, and who have 3.7 GPA at least. Applicants must be US citizens in possession of a US passport, and at least 18 years old.
- Deadline in early February
Fulbright U.S. Student Program
- Students can apply to any of a variety of Study/Research programs *or* English Teaching Assistant (ETA) positions in many countries around the world.
- Deadline for a campus interview in August; national deadline in October.
- Our campus Fulbright Program Advisor is Mr. Brad Sekulich (sekulich@charlotte.edu)
Gaither Jr. Fellows Program
- Fully-paid 1-year fellowship in Washington DC that consists of a research assistantship
- Junior fellows work with scholars at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, focusing on areas such as nuclear non-proliferation, democracy, climate, or regional studies (e.g., Asia, Middle East, or Russia)
- Applicants must be current seniors or recent graduates who are eligible to work in the U.S.
- Campus deadline in mid-December, for campus endorsement; national deadline in mid-January
Gilman Scholarship
- Award assists Pell Grant-eligible students with $5,000 – $8,000 support for a one-term study abroad program.
- To be eligible, students must be US citizens and undergraduates, and Pell Grant recipient at time of application or term of study abroad; student must study abroad for at least 3 weeks.
- Deadlines in both October and March
Goldwater Scholarship
- Award consists of $7,500 for one or two years for undergraduate expenses on the way towards Ph.D. studies in mathematics, science, or engineering.
- Eligible students are sophomore or junior STEM majors (e.g. Mathematics, Sciences, Engineering) who are also U.S. citizens or permanent residents. GPA of successful applicants is often 3.7 or higher. Supports students pursuing the Ph.D. (not M.S., or M.D.)
- Requires campus endorsement; campus deadline in December, with the national competition’s deadline the last Friday in January.
Institute for Responsible Citizenship
- A selective internship progam for outstanding African American male college students in their second academic year of study, which takes place in Washington DC.
- Awardees participate in an internship in the field of their choice, seminars, and programs with high-impact people in high-impact fields.
- All majors welcome; no GPA requirement; students should have leadership and service experience, and must be able to make two-summer commitment.
- Deadline in mid-January.
Marshall Scholarship
- Prestigious graduate scholarship for study in the United Kingdom; applicants may select a graduate program at any of dozens of universities in the U.K.
- Criteria for selection include: academic merit, ambassadorial potential, leadership potential
- Open to US citizens with US-issued undergraduate degrees; GPA of 3.7
- Requires campus endorsement; campus deadline in early September, with the national competition’s deadline in late September.
National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship
- Graduate fellowship of $37,000 for up to three years, for students pursuing graduate school in STEM and Social Science fields.
- Applicants seeking graduate degrees from top programs in their field will be able to make the most persuasive case for funding.
- Seniors and recent graduates may apply; US citizens or permanent residents eligible
- Deadline in October; for additional support at UNC Charlotte, contact Dr. Adam Reitzel (adam.reitzel@charlotte.edu)
Paul and Daisy Soros Fellowship for New Americans
- Up to $90,000 awarded over two years to each fellow for the U.S. graduate program of their choice
- 30 awards granted each year
- Eligible applicants are “New Americans,” meaning immigrants or children of immigrants to the U.S., of outstanding achievement who wish to be change agents in their field of study
Visit the Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowship for New Americans website
Phi Kappa Phi Graduate Fellowship
- Fellowships ranging from $5,000 up to $35,000 for students entering their first year of graduate or professional study. Awards may be deferred up to 2 years.
- Applicants must be seniors, or recent graduates; they must be active members of the local Phi Kappa Phi chapter, and must have applied to enroll as a full-time student in a graduate program.
- Other eligibility criteria: international students are eligible; students registering in all professional and graduate fields are eligible; students should not hold other graduate degrees or have more than 10 graduate credits.
- Requires chapter endorsement, set by Phi Kappa Phi administrators; national deadline is in mid-April.
Pickering and Rangel Fellowships
- Award consists of funding for graduate programs (e.g. a two-year Master’s program) for students who are pursuing careers in foreign service. $42,000 per year for tuition, room, board, books, and fees; includes two summer internships and mentoring form a foreign service officer.
- Seniors or recent graduates are eligible to apply; must be a US citizen with 3.2 GPA and applying to a graduate program relevant to foreign service. Application to graduate program takes place separately
- Deadline in late September
Rales Fellows
- Fully funded STEM graduate program at Carnegie Mellon University (includes tuition, living expenses, and health insurance)
- Applicants must be U.S. citizens, permanent residents, or DACA recipients who are also applying to a full-time STEM degree program on CMU’s Pittsburgh campus
- Applicants must also have received a Federal Pell Grant or need-based financial aid as an undergraduate student, or is a first-generation college student
- Deadline is in mid-December; requires short answers and one letter of recommendation
Rhodes Scholarship
- The single most prestigious graduate-level scholarship, for study at Oxford University in the United Kingdom
- Rhodes Scholars are selected on the criteria of outstanding scholarly achievements, character, commitment to the common good, and potential for leadership.
- Applicants must be graduating seniors, or recent graduates aged 23 or younger. US citizens, permanent residents, and DACA recipients are all eligible.
- Requires campus endorsement; campus deadline in early September, with the national competition’s deadline in early October.
Schwarzman Scholars
- A fully-funded, one-year Master’s program in Global Affairs, with a concentration in Public Policy, Economics/Business, or International Studies at Tsinghua University in Beijing, China.
- Award includes travel, exchanges with global leaders, and mentorship.
- Applicants must have completed bachelor’s degree by August 1st of enrollment year; citizens/nationals from any nations can apply; internship, community service, and work experience desirable
- Deadline in September for US applicants
Truman Scholarship
- $30,000 fellowship for graduate study in a field of public service (broadly conceived); only undergraduate juniors may apply
- Awarded on the basis of leadership potential, commitment to public service, and intellect and ability to excel in graduate-level education
- Applicants must be US citizens/nationals and current juniors, and must desire to go to graduate school (Ph.D., J.D., M.P.A., M.S.W; not M.B.A.) and to become a “change agent.”
- Requires campus endorsement; campus deadline in mid-December, with the national competition’s deadline in early February.
Udall Scholarship
- $7,000 scholarship to students who have demonstrated a commitment to environmental issues and/or conservation
- Native American or Alaskan native students who apply are also eligible for fields related to tribal health care or tribal policy.
- Requires campus endorsement; campus deadline in mid-December, with the national competition’s deadline in early March
Voyager Scholarship for Public Service
- Award includes up to $50,000 in financial aid, a $10,000 stipend and free Airbnb housing for summer work-travel experience; a ten-year travel stipend for after graduation, totaling $20,000; a fall summit, and access to a network of leaders
- To be eligible, students must be full-time undergraduate sophomores who can demonstrate financial need and who have a minimum GPA of 3.0; they must have a demonstrated commitment to public service and a plan to pursue a careeer in public service.
- Applicants must be US citizens, permanent residents, or DACA individuals.
- Awardees must commit to participating fully in monthly programming with coaches and network.
- Deadline in March