CUFR is here to help you develop a well-constructed working knowledge of undergraduate and postgraduate nationally competitive awards. Review the opportunities below and schedule a meeting with us to discuss your next steps.
Get Started on a National Award Application
Going first means we're bold enough for big ideas.
Fill out our form to join the CUFR community on Blackboard. Review the “Guide for National Awards” under Resources to determine which awards align with your goals.
Visit award websites and review profiles of past award recipients.
Schedule a meeting with a member of the CUFR team to discuss the application process in more detail.
Attend our workshop series, Buff and Blue Table Talk, to learn more about national award competitions.
Attend information sessions hosted by scholarship and fellowship organizations.
Find an Award
National Awards for Undergraduate Study
*Asterisk indicates fellowships requiring GW Nomination or endorsement. Several nationally competitive fellowship programs require University nomination or endorsement. In some cases, the University may nominate only a limited number of applications. The nomination and endorsement processes differ among these programs. Please consult the requirements of each program carefully.
- Boren Scholarship*
- Undergraduate international language study and cultural immersion
- Duration: 2-12 months and up to $20k and one-year commitment to federal government
- Campus due date: November
- For more information visit the Boren Awards webpage (https://www.borenawards.org/)
- Critical Language Scholarship
- Undergraduate and postgraduate summer language study in a critical need language
- Duration: 8-10 weeks and all expenses paid (expect passport and medical exam fees)
- National due date: November
- For more information visit the CLS Program webpage (https://clscholarship.org/)
- Freeman-ASIA
- Undergraduate international language study in East and Southeast Asia
- Duration: 2-12 months and up to $7k
- National due date: October
- For more information visit the Freeman-ASIA webpage (https://www.iie.org/programs/freeman-asia/)
- Gilman Scholarship
- Undergraduate study abroad and international internships
- Duration: One to ninc months, support up to $8k, limited to Pell Grant recipients
- National due dates: October and March
- For more information visit the Gilman Scholarship Program webpage (https://www.iie.org/programs/gilman-scholarship-program/)
- Goldwater Scholarship*
- Undergraduate research in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM)
- Duration: One to two years of support/$7,500 per year
- Campus due date: November
- For more information visit the Goldwater Scholarship webpage (https://goldwaterscholarship.gov/)
- Research Experiences for Undergraduates
- Summer research experience across multiple fields
- Duration: summer
- Awards dependent on available funding and may include assistance with housing and travel
- For more information visit the National Science Foundation webpage (https://www.nsf.gov/crssprgm/reu/)
- Udall Scholarship*
- Undergraduate study in tribal health or environmental policy
- Duration: One to two years of support and up to $7,500 per year
- Campus due date: November
- For more information visit the Udall Scholarship webpage (https://udall.gov/OurPrograms/Scholarship/Scholarship.aspx)
- UK Fulbright Summer Institute
- Fully funded UK program for undergraduates
- Duration: Three to four weeks
- National due date: February
For more information visit the UK Fulbright Summer Institute webpage
National Awards for Graduate Study
*Asterisk indicates fellowships requiring GW Nomination or endorsement. Several nationally competitive fellowship programs require University nomination or endorsement. In some cases, the University may nominate only a limited number of applications. The nomination and endorsement processes differ among these programs. Please consult the requirements of each program carefully.
- Beinecke Scholarship Program *
- Graduate study in the arts, humanities, and social sciences
- Support up to $35k
- Campus due date: November
- For more information visit the Beinecke Scholarship Program webpage (https://beineckescholarship.org/)
- Churchill Scholarship Program*
- Graduate study in science, mathematics, and engineering at University of Cambridge
- Duration: 9-12 months of support up to $65k
- Campus due date: October
- For more information visit the Churchill Scholarship Program webpage (https://www.churchillscholarship.org/the-scholarship)
- Ford Foundation Predoctoral Fellowship
- Graduate study for diversity-minded student seeking Ph.D/Sc.D.
- Duration: Three years of support and up to $24k per year
- National due date: December
- For more information, visit the Ford Foundation Fellowship webpage (https://www.nationalacademies.org/our-work/ford-foundation-fellowships)
- Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program*
- Postgraduate international teaching, study, and research grants
- Duration: Less than one year
- Campus due date: August
- For more information visit the Fulbright Scholar Program webpage (https://us.fulbrightonline.org/)
- Gaither Junior Fellows Program*
- One-year foreign policy research fellowship for graduating seniors and recent graduates
- Campus due date: December
- For more information visit the Gaither Junior Fellows Program webpage (https://carnegieendowment.org/about/jr-fellows)
- Gates Cambridge Scholarship
- Graduate study at Cambridge University
- Duration: Three years of tuition and stipend support
- National due date: October
- For more information visit the Gates Cambridge Scholarship webpage (https://www.gatescambridge.org/)
- Knight-Hennessy Scholarship
- Full funding for graduate study at Stanford University
- Duration: Three years of tuition and stipend support
- National due date: September
- For more information visit the Knight-Hennessy Scholarship webpage (https://knight-hennessy.stanford.edu/)
- Marshall Scholarship*
- Graduate study in United Kingdom
- Duration: Two years of tuition and stipend support
- Campus due date: August
- For more information visit the Marshall Scholarship webpage (https://www.marshallscholarship.org/)
- Mitchell Scholarship*
- Graduate study in Ireland and Nothern Ireland in any discipline
- Duration: One year of tuition and stipend support
- Campus due date: August
- For more information visit the Mitchell Scholarship webpage (https://us-irelandalliance.org/)
- National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship (NSF GRF)
- Graduate study and research in the natural or social sciences
- Duration: Three years of support/$24,000 per year
- For more information visit the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship webpage (https://www.nsfgrfp.org/)
- National due dates vary by discipline: October-November
- Paul and Daisy Soros Fellowships for New Americans
- Graduate study in the US in any discipline for New Americans
- Duration: Two years of support and up to $45k per year
- National due date: November
- For more information visit the Paul and Daisy Soros Fellowships for New Americans (https://www.pdsoros.org/)
- Rangel Fellowship
- Graduate study in any field for students interested in the Foreign Service
- Duration: Two years/$37,000 per year
- For more information visit the Rangel Fellowship webpage (https://rangelprogram.org/)
- Rhodes Scholarship*
- Graduate study at University of Oxford in any discipline
- Duration: One to two years of tuition and stipend support
- Campus due date: September
- For more information visit the Rhodes Scholarship webpage (https://www.rhodeshouse.ox.ac.uk/office-of-the-american-secretary/)
- Schwarzman Scholarship
- Graduate study at Tsinghua University
- Duration: One year of tuition and stipend support
- Deadline: September
- For more information visit the Schwarzman Scholars webpage (https://www.schwarzmanscholars.org/)
- Truman Scholarship*
- Graduate study in the United States
- $30,000 for graduate education
- Campus deadline: November
For more information, visit the Truman Scholarship webpage (https://www.truman.gov/)
CUFR Internal Awards for Undergraduates and Alumni
The Center for Undergraduate Fellowships and Research offers a variety of scholarships exclusively available to enrolled undergraduates and alumni. To be eligible for consideration, students and alumni must meet the specific requirements associated with each scholarship and maintain good standing within the university. Applicants are welcome to apply for one or more scholarships but are advised to only apply for those for which they fully qualify.
These scholarship opportunities are made possible through the generous support of alumni, friends, and the business community. The primary goal of these scholarships is to assist students in their academic pursuits, contributing to their success in their chosen fields of study.
CUFR would be happy to help you with your applications for the following opportunities.
Awards with Spring Due Date: Last Day of February
- Caroline and Joseph S. Gruss Scholarship for Study at Israeli Universities
- Include most tuition costs for recent graduates planning graduate study at an Israeli university
- Duration: One year of graduate program of study
- Sponsored by The Joseph S. & Caroline Gruss Life Monument Fund
- Dorothy M. and Maurice C. Shapiro Traveling Fellowship
- Up to $16,000 to fund all or part of a Shapiro Traveling fellowship
- Duration: One academic year
- Sponsored by the Shapiro Charitable Trust
- GW Undergraduate Research Award
- Up to $5,000 for undergraduate research-related expenditures and up to $1,000 for supporting faculty mentors
- Duration: For projects undertaken in the spring and summer of the academic year
- Sponsored by the Office of the Vice Provost for Research and the Office of the Provost
- J.B. and Maurice C. Shapiro Scholarship at Oxford University
- Funding includes up to one year of study for graduates admitted to University of Oxford
- Duration: One year
- Sponsored by the Shapiro Charitable Trust
- J.B. and Maurice C. Shapiro Public Service Award
- $5,500 awards to support students undertaking voluntary public service
- Duration: 8-10 weeks
- Sponsored by the Shapiro Charitable Trust
- Sigelman Undergraduate Research Enhancement (SURE) Award
- Up to $1,000 for undergraduate research-related expenditures
- Duration: For projects undertaken in the spring and summer of the academic year
- Sponsored by GW professors Carol and Lee Sigelman
Additional Opportunities
In addition to the 20+ nationally competitive scholarships that we work with directly, Academic Commons maintains an inventory of fellowships for competitive awards that provide hands-on experience in a variety of disciplines as well as funding opportunities for independent research.
For more details on the awards you see above as well as additional opportunities, please visit the fellowships directory.
Join the Discussion
Buff and Blue Table Talk Workshops
Throughout the year, CUFR hosts conversations about national scholarships and fellowships to assist students in their application processes.
Learn about topics such as how to find and apply to awards for graduate study in the US, how to write a personal statement, and more.
