Prestigious scholarships are an excellent way for students to have opportunities to study on a graduate level and gain international experience and also participate in network building. Connections between countries and the interaction of ideas with other cultures sets the stage for collaboration and change that results in society becoming better for everyone. Applying for these scholarships is a deeply personal experience for students as they reflect seriously on their skills and abilities and decide how to apply them and see what they need to do to prepare for their future. Students need to become focused on their calling and purpose in order to see which scholarship fits their goals and what they have accomplished. Students in all majors can find scholarships that will help them advance their studies.
For information on each prestigious scholarship, see descriptions below as well as the websites provided. Advisors for each scholarship are also given.
Please note: If you have any interest as a student in pursuing one or more of these prestigious scholarships, please begin the process by contacting Dr. Mark Hall, Provost Scholarly Initiative Coordinator, mhall@oru.edu.
The Rhodes Scholarship is the oldest and perhaps most prestigious international scholarship program, enabling outstanding young people from around the world to study at the University of Oxford. All disciplines are eligible for two years of study at the University with possible renewal for a third year. A Rhodes Scholarship covers all University and College fees, the University application fee, a living stipend, one economy class airfare to Oxford at the start of the scholarship and one economy flight back to the student's home country at the conclusion of the scholarship. Rhodes Selection Committees are looking for young people of outstanding intellect, character, leadership, and commitment to service. A GPA of 3.75 is suggested as a minimum, but candidates should at least be in the top 10% of their class and demonstrate excellent academic work. Thirty-two candidates are selected each year from the United States.
Eligibility:
- Candidates must be a U.S. or Canadian citizen or lawful permanent resident, DACA recipient, or citizen of a country not covered by an existing Rhodes Scholarship.
- Candidates must be age 18, but not yet 24, by October 1 of application year or be up to a maximum age of 28 if the first undergraduate degree was earned within the last 2 years.
- Candidates must have academic standing sufficiently advanced to assure completion of a bachelor's degree before October 1 of year following application.
Deadline: October 5, 2022
http://www.rhodesscholar.org/
ORU Advisor: Professor Nathan Opp
Email: nopp@oru.edu
The Marshall Scholarships finances young Americans of high ability to study for a degree in the United Kingdom. Up to fifty scholars are selected each year to study either at graduate or occasionally undergraduate level at a UK institution in any field of study. The scholarship covers University fees, cost of living expenses, annual book grant, thesis grant, research and daily travel grants, fares to and from the United States and, where applicable, a contribution towards the support of a dependent spouse. Each scholarship is tenable for two years.
Eligibility:
- Candidates must be citizens of the United States of America (at the time they apply for a scholarship).
- By the time they take up their scholarship, candidates must hold their first undergraduate degree from an accredited four-year college or university in the United States.
- Candidates must have obtained a grade point average of not less than 3.7 on their undergraduate degree at the time of application. Rounded GPA's are not accepted.
Deadline: October 23, 2022
http://www.marshallscholarship.org/
ORU Advisor: Dr. Andrew Lang
Email: alang@oru.edu
The Truman Scholarship is the premier graduate fellowship in the United States for those pursuing careers as public service leaders. The foundation seeks scholars who plan to have an impact on a particular issue or community in the area of public service. Recipients receive up to $15,000 for the first year of graduate study, and $15,000 for their final year of graduate study. No minimum GPA is required, but most applicants maintain a 3.8 GPA or higher. There are between 55 to 65 scholars selected each year, usually one from each state.
Eligibility:
- Candidates must be full-time students pursuing a bachelor's degree with junior-level academic standing or have senior-level standing in the third year of college enrollment. (Note: Students who are already attending graduate school are not eligible for the Truman Scholarship.)
- Candidates must be U.S. citizens (or U.S. nationals) or will receive citizenship by the date the scholarship will be awarded.
- Candidate must be comfortable committing to work in public service for three of the first seven years after completing a graduate degree funded by the Truman Scholarship.
- Candidates must pursue a master's degree, a doctorate, or a professional degree, such as a law degree or a Master of Public Administration, Master of Public Health, Master of Social Work, Master of Education, Master of Public Policy, or Master of International Affairs.
Deadline: February 1, 2022
http://www.truman.gov/candidates/candidates.html
ORU Advisor: Dr. Mark Hall
Email: mhall@oru.edu
The Goldwater Scholarship Program, one of the oldest and most prestigious national scholarships in the natural sciences, engineering, and mathematics in the United States, provides scholarships to support college sophomores and juniors who show exceptional promise of becoming this Nation’s next generation of research leaders in these fields. A student must have a minimum GPA of 3.0. A maximum of five students may be nominated by the university for the scholarship. Each Goldwater Scholar annually receives an amount equal to the cost of tuition, mandatory fees, books, and room and board minus the amount of support provided for by other sources, up to a maximum of $7,500.
Eligibility:
- Students must be full-time matriculated sophomores or juniors pursuing a degree at an accredited 2- or 4-year institution of higher education.
- Students must pursue research careers in natural science, mathematics or engineering.
- Students must be U.S. citizens from the 50 states or the District of Columbia; U.S. nationals for those students nominated by institutions in Puerto Rico, Guam, Virgin Islands, American Samoa, and Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands; or a permanent resident.
Deadline: January 27, 2023
http://www.act.org/goldwater/
ORU Advisor: Dr. William Ranahan
Email: wranahan@oru.edu
The Gates Cambridge Scholarship program was established in October 2000 by a donation of $210 million from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to the University of Cambridge; this is the largest ever single donation to a UK university. Each year Gates Cambridge offers approximately 80 full-cost scholarships to outstanding applicants from countries outside the UK to pursue a full-time postgraduate degree in any subject available at the University of Cambridge. They cover the full cost of studying at Cambridge as well as many ancillary expenses. Students with high academic achievement may apply.
Eligibility:
- Candidates must be citizens of any country outside the United Kingdom.
- Candidates must apply to pursue one of the following full-time residential courses of study at the University of Cambridge: PhD, MSc/MLitt, one year postgraduate course.
Deadline: October 12, 2022
https://www.gatescambridge.org/programme/the-scholarship/
ORU Advisor: Dr. James Shelton
Email: jshelton@oru.edu
The George J. Mitchell Scholarship Program is a national, competitive scholarship sponsored by the US-Ireland Alliance. It is designed to introduce and connect generations of future American leaders to the island of Ireland, while recognizing and fostering intellectual achievement, leadership, and a commitment to community and public service. Up to twelve Mitchell Scholars between the ages of 18 and 30 are chosen annually for one academic year of postgraduate study in any discipline offered by institutions of higher learning in Ireland and Northern Ireland. Applicants are judged on three criteria: scholarship, leadership, and a sustained commitment to community and public service. The Mitchell Scholarship Program provides tuition, accommodation, and a stipend for living expenses and travel.
Eligibility:
- Applicants must be U.S. citizens.
- Applicants must have completed a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university before beginning study as a Mitchell Scholar.
Deadline: September 1, 2022
https://www.us-irelandalliance.org/mitchellscholarship
ORU Advisor: Dr. William Lyons
Email: wlyons@oru.edu
The Fulbright Program is considered the largest and most prestigious educational exchange program, providing recent college graduates, graduate students and young professionals the opportunity to continue their education or professional development through research and study in a foreign country. The Fulbright U.S. Student Program provides grants for individually designed study/research projects or for English Teaching Assistant Programs. The program facilitates cultural exchanges between candidates from the United States and other countries through direct interaction on an individual basis in the classroom, field, home, and in routine tasks, allowing the grantee to gain an appreciation of others’ viewpoints and beliefs, the way they do things, and the way they think. The Fulbright Program also offers various comprehensive and travel grant opportunities. Most grants are awarded for programs of study or research that can be completed in one academic year.
Eligibility:
- Applicants must be citizens or nationals of the United States of America at the time of application. Permanent residents are not eligible.
- Applicants must have a conferred bachelor's degree or equivalent before the start of the grant. In the creative and performing arts, four years of professional training and/or experience meets the basic eligibility requirement.
Deadline: October 13, 2022
https://us.fulbrightonline.org/about/fulbright-us-student-program
ORU Advisor: Dr. Stephen Wheat
Email: swheat@oru.edu