Graduate Fellowships for research/study abroad

Graduate Fellowships for Research/ Study Abroad

American-Scandinavian Foundation
The American-Scandinavian Foundation (ASF) promotes firsthand exchange of intellectual and creative influence between the United States and the Nordic countries: Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden. A publicly supported American nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization, ASF has an extensive program of fellowships, grants, intern/trainee sponsorship, publishing, and cultural activities. Headquartered in New York City, ASF has members throughout the United States, and alumni and donors worldwide.

ASF offers fellowships, cultural grants, internships/training, publications, exhibitions and other public programs reinforcing the strong relationships between the two regions, honoring their shared values, and appreciating their differences.

Churchill Scholarship
The Churchill Scholarship awards up to 18 scholarships each year: 16 Churchill Scholarships in science, mathematics, and engineering, and two Kanders Churchill Scholarships in science policy. The scholarship supports one year of Master's study at the University of Cambridge, with programs typically lasting 9–12 months. The award covers tuition, roundtrip airfare to the UK, visa fees and the immigration health surcharge, as well as a stipend that exceeds the UK Research Council standard. Scholars are also eligible to apply for a $4,000 special research grant, bringing the total value of the award to more than $80,000.

Unlike many scholarships that emphasize "leadership potential" or "ambassadorial qualities," the Churchill Scholarship places primary emphasis on academic and research achievement. The program seeks to support accomplished scientists, mathematicians, and engineers by providing them with the resources and opportunities to maximize their future impact.

As part of this mission, Churchill Scholars participate in a science communication workshop and a science policy seminar. While not every Scholar will pursue a career in science communication or science policy, these skills can be valuable components of a successful career in STEM.

Requires institutional endorsement.

Fulbright
The Fulbright U.S. Student Program expands perspectives through academic and professional advancement and cross-cultural dialogue. Fulbright finds solutions to complex global issues and creates connections in a changing world. In partnership with more than 140 countries worldwide, the Fulbright U.S. Student Program offers unparalleled opportunities to advance knowledge and innovation across all academic disciplines. Awards are available to passionate and accomplished graduating college seniors, graduate students, and young professionals from all backgrounds. Program participants pursue graduate study, conduct research, or teach English abroad. 

Grant lengths and dates vary by award. Please consult the specific award description for details.

The U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) administers the Program under policy guidelines established by the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board (FFSB) in close coordination with binational commissions and foundations in 49 countries, U.S. embassies in more than 100 other countries, and cooperating agencies in the United States.

Does not require institutional endorsement, can apply as an "At-Large" candidate.

Gates Cambridge Scholarship
The Gates Cambridge Scholarship is an international program at the University of Cambridge that supports exceptional postgraduate students who demonstrate the potential to become leaders in their communities and a commitment to improving the lives of others. The program is grounded in five core values: Community, Learning, Internationality, Compassion, and Change.

Each year, Gates Cambridge awards approximately 70 fully funded scholarships to outstanding applicants from outside the UK pursuing postgraduate degrees in any subject offered at the University of Cambridge. About two-thirds of the scholarships are awarded to PhD students. Approximately one-third of the awards are available through the US round, with the remaining scholarships offered through the International round.

Marshall Scholarship
The Marshall Scholarship supports high-achieving young Americans pursuing graduate study in the United Kingdom. Each year, up to 50 Scholars are selected to pursue a degree at a UK university in any field of study.

The program aims to develop future leaders and strengthen the longstanding relationship between the United States and the United Kingdom. Marshall Scholars are selected for their academic talent, independence, and broad range of interests, and the experience is designed to foster both their intellectual and personal development. By engaging directly with British society and studying at leading UK institutions, Scholars gain experiences that contribute to their long-term personal and professional growth while deepening connections between the two countries.

Requires institutional endorsement.

US - Ireland Alliance Scholarship
The US-Ireland Alliance Scholarship Program is a nationally competitive scholarship designed to connect future American leaders with Ireland while supporting academic achievement, leadership development, and a sustained commitment to community and public service.

The program previously selected up to 12 Scholars between the ages of 18 and 30 each year for one year of postgraduate study at an institution in Ireland or Northern Ireland, in any field offered by the participating universities. Scholars were selected based on three primary criteria: academic achievement, leadership, and a demonstrated commitment to community and public service.

The scholarship provided funding for tuition, accommodation, living expenses, and travel for the academic year from September through May. In March 2024, the US-Ireland Alliance announced that it would pause the selection of future classes of Scholars.

National Institute of Health Oxford-Cambridge Scholars Program
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) Oxford-Cambridge Scholars Program is a highly individualized and accelerated doctoral training program for outstanding students committed to biomedical research careers. NIH Oxford-Cambridge (OxCam) students partner with two Investigators - one at the NIH and another at the University of Oxford or University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom - to perform a single, collaborative dissertation project. Since the program is based on the British system, OxCam Scholars perform doctoral research without required formal courses other than those students choose to take in relationship to their own scientific interests. As a result, OxCam students are able to complete the doctoral degree in approximately four years. Students are expected to divide the time evenly between the two laboratories, with two years in the NIH laboratory and two years in the UK laboratory.

Applications for the NIH OxCam Program are available online between August and December. Applicants must be a U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident and possess a Bachelor's degree by the start of the program. Students selected for admission typically demonstrate a sincere passion for science through previous participation in summer, job-related, or undergraduate/post-baccalaureate research opportunities. 

Rhodes Scholarship
The Rhodes Scholarship fully funds two years of graduate study at the University of Oxford, providing Oxford tuition fees and annual stipend. Each year, 32 students from across the United States are selected as Rhodes Scholars through a decentralized selection process representing the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories. To date, students from more than 320 American colleges and universities have received the scholarship, and new institutions continue to join the ranks of those represented among Rhodes Scholars.

Selection is based not only on academic excellence, but also on character, a commitment to serving others and the common good, and demonstrated potential to become leaders in their chosen fields and communities.

See this page for information about applying as a US citizen or Permanent Resident.

Requires institutional endorsement.

Schwarzman Scholarship
Schwarzman Scholars is designed to meet the challenges of the 21st century and beyond. It was inspired by the Rhodes Scholarship, which was founded in 1902 in an effort to promote international understanding and peace.

Schwarzman Scholars supports up to 200 Scholars annually from the U.S., China, and around the world for a one-year master's in global affairs at Beijing's Tsinghua University — ranked first in Asia as an indispensable base for China's political, business, and technological leadership.

Scholars chosen for this highly selective program will live in Beijing for a year of study and cultural immersion — attending lectures, traveling around the region, and developing a better understanding of China.

Thomas J. Watson Fellowship
The Watson Fellowship gives graduating college seniors of exceptional promise the opportunity to spend one year after graduation pursuing an independent project abroad. Fellows develop their own projects based on their personal, academic, and/or professional experiences, with an emphasis on meaningful engagement with other cultures. Rather than pursuing extended study at a foreign university, Fellows design projects that encourage independence, exploration, and personal growth.

The fellowship offers a unique opportunity to explore a significant interest on a global scale during the period between college and the start of a career. Fellows determine where they travel, whom they meet, and how their projects evolve throughout the year. They live and work independently outside the United States without formally enrolling in an academic institution or holding traditional employment.

Established in 1968, the Watson Fellowship has supported Fellows who have gone on to make contributions across a wide range of fields. The fellowship provides a $40,000 stipend, along with health insurance, support equivalent to 12 months of payments on eligible institutional and federally guaranteed student loans, and additional funding for personal assistance services or a spouse. Students must be nominated by a participating college or university.