External Scholarships and Fellowships

The Alfa Fellowship Program offers support to live and work in Russia for intensive language training and to gain professional experience that will benefit U.S.-Russian relations.

The American Scandinavian Foundation provides fellowships and grants for graduate study in Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden.

The Robert Bosch Foundation offers support to live and work in Germany to gain professional experience that will benefit U.S.-German relations.

Boren Scholarships, an initiative of the National Security Education Program, provide unique funding opportunities for U.S. undergraduate students to study less commonly taught languages in world regions critical to U.S. interests and underrepresented in study abroad, including Africa, Asia, Central and Eastern Europe, Eurasia, Latin America, and the Middle East.

Maximum Scholarship Awards are:

$8,000 for a summer program (special initiative for STEM students only; 8 weeks minimum)

$10,000 for a semester

$20,000 for 6-12 months

Boren Scholarships promote long term linguistic and cultural immersion, and therefore study abroad proposals for two or more semesters are strongly encouraged. Preference will be given to undergraduate applicants proposing at least six months overseas. Boren-funded programs can begin no earlier than June 1 of the application year. Summer-only programs must be 8 weeks or more and are limited to science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) students.

For more information, contact campus representative  Dr. Tayler Kent, tmkent@ua.edu.

The Carnegie Endowment Junior Fellowships supports graduating seniors to work for one year as research assistants for Carnegie Endowment senior associates.

The Churchill Scholarship and Kanders Churchill Scholarship provide funding to American students for a year of Master’s study at the University of Cambridge, based at Churchill College. The program was set up at the request of Sir Winston Churchill in order to fulfil his vision of US–UK scientific exchange with the goal of advancing science and technology on both sides of the Atlantic, helping to ensure our future prosperity and security.

The application for 16 Churchill Scholarships in science, mathematics and engineering typically opens in the early fall and the national nomination deadline is typically the first week of November (4 p.m. CST) for matriculation in the following academic year. The University of Alabama’s campus deadline is generally in September. Applicants should contact externalscholarships@ua.edu for more information.

Applicants for the two Kanders Churchill Scholarships in Science Policy should apply to the Master’s in Public Policy in early October (the same deadline as the Gates Cambridge Scholarship) and indicate that they would like to be considered for the award. No institutional endorsement is required for the Kanders Churchill.

The Critical Language Scholarships (CLS) program supports summer study of one of 14 critical needs foreign languages (Arabic, Azerbaijani, Bengali, Chinese, Hindi, Indonesian, Japanese, Korean, Persian, Portuguese, Punjabi, Russian, Turkish, and Urdu). Contact Dr. Tayler Kent for more information about this scholarship or to learn about CLS-Spark, a pilot virtual initiative for U.S. undergraduate students to learn Arabic, Chinese, or Russian. Contact the CLS campus advisor, Dr. Tayler Kent, at (205) 348-9303 or tmkent@ua.edu

The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) supports a wide variety of scholarships, fellowships, and grants for undergraduate students, graduate students, and professionals to study or work in Germany.

The Ford Foundation Fellowships program provides support for three years for up to $20,000 per year for study toward the doctoral degree in eligible fields of study. Eligibility requirements include 1) Open to all citizens or nationals of the United States, regardless of race, national origin, religion, gender, age, disability, or sexual orientation. However, belonging to one of the following ethnic groups will be counted as a positive factor in the evaluation of the applicants: Alaska Natives (Eskimo or Aleut); African Americans; Mexican Americans/Chicanas/Chicanos; Native American Indians; Native Pacific Islanders (Polynesian/Micronesian); Puerto Ricans. 2) Applicants must provide evidence of superior academic achievement. 3) Targeted toward individuals committed to a career in teaching and research at the college or university level. 4) Only individuals who are enrolled in or planning to enroll in an eligible research-based program leading to a Ph.D. or Sc.D. degree at a U.S. educational institution who have not earned a doctoral degree at any time, in any field, are eligible to apply.

The Fulbright U.S. Student Program includes comprehensive (full) grants, which support research in a foreign country or teaching grants to teach English language classes in a limited number of foreign countries. Provide round-trip transportation, tuition, book and research allowances, supplemental health and accident insurance, and living expenses for an academic year based on living costs in the host country. Language or orientation courses are provided, as needed. Proposals may include university coursework, classes in music or art schools, independent research, teaching, or a combination of these.

Number of Awards: Up to 1,200 awards are made each year for study in over 140 countries. The number of awards available for each country varies. Awards include comprehensive (full) grants, which support research in a foreign country; travel grants (only to Germany, Hungary, or Italy) to supplement other awards or a student’s own funds for study in one of these countries; or teaching grants to teach English language classes in a limited number of foreign countries.

Eligibility: Applicants must be U.S. citizens and generally hold a bachelor’s degree before the beginning date of the grant (with some exceptions for individuals in the creative arts

Selection Criteria: Selection is based primarily on the feasibility of the proposed project, on the language skills and academic qualifications of the applicant, and on the commitment of the applicant to become involved in the local community to further mutual

Preliminary applications are due on-campus early in September; final applications are due mid-October.

Campus Contact/Faculty Representative: Dr. Matthew Feminella, 205-348-9067 or mfeminella@ua.edu or Dr. Beverly Hawk, 205-348-7390 or Beverly.hawk@ua.edu 

Award: The Gates Cambridge Scholarships award all tuition and fees, a maintenance allowance for living expenses, plus travel expenses for one to four years of study at Cambridge (a second Bachelor’s degree, a one-year graduate program, a two-year graduate program, or the Ph.D. degree, in which the scholarship may be renewed for up to four years). The annual value of the scholarship is currently in excess of $30,000.

Number of Awards: Approximately 100 each year.

Eligibility: Must be a graduate of an accredited university with an excellent academic record before beginning study and be admitted to Cambridge for graduate study. There is no age limit.

Selection Criteria: Scholarships are awarded based on the person’s intellectual ability, leadership capacity, and the desire to use their talents and knowledge to contribute to society throughout the world to improve the lives of others.

Campus Contact/Faculty Rep: Dr. Brad Tuggle – 205-348-7052, bdtuggle@ua.edu; 375E Honors Hall

Deadline: Applications are due around mid October.

Gilman Scholarships support undergraduates who are already receiving financial support through a Pell Grant to study abroad. Stipends up to $5,000 are available to cover the cost of tuition, room and board, books, insurance, and transportation. For more information, contact the Education Abroad office, 135 BB Comer or studyabroad@ua.edu.

Goldwater Scholarships award up to $7,500 per year, based on need, for up to two years for undergraduate students majoring in the natural sciences, mathematics, or engineering.

Applicants must be a U.S. citizen or resident alien who is a full-time sophomore or junior in an accredited college or university and in the upper fourth of his/her class. Nominees for Goldwater Scholarships must express an interest in pursuing a graduate degree and a career in the natural sciences, mathematics, or engineering. Students who plan to study medicine are eligible only if they plan a career in research rather than one in private practice. Strong candidates will already have extensive research experience prior to applying for an award.

Applicants must be nominated by their college or university. Preliminary applications to select up to four nominees are typically due on campus in November. One additional nomination is allowed if the applicant is a transfer student. A pre-application meeting with the campus representative is required. Final applications are submitted to the Goldwater Foundation by the Campus Representative around the end of January.

Campus Representative: Dr. Lucy Kaufman, externalscholarships@ua.edu.

Hertz Fellowships support up to five years of graduate work at a number of prestigious universities toward the Ph.D. in applications of the physical sciences (e.g., astronomy; applied math; some areas of biology, including biotechnology; chemistry; earth sciences; engineering; physics).

The Huntington Public Service Award provides a stipend of $20,000 awarded to one to three graduating seniors to support a one-year public service project.

Javits Fellowships support graduate work in the arts, humanities, and social sciences.

Awards: Madison Fellowships are awarded to students who are about to complete, or have completed, their undergraduate course of study and plan to begin graduate work on a full time basis. Junior Fellows have two years to complete their degree. Senior Fellowships are awarded to teachers who wish to undertake work for a graduate degree on a part-time basis through summer and evening classes. Senior Fellows have up to five years to complete their degree. The maximum amount of each award is $24,000, prorated over the individual period of study. Fellowship payments cover the actual costs of tuition, required fees, books, and room and board, but cannot exceed $12,000 per academic year. Normally, Fellows receive less than these maximum amounts.

Number of Awards: At least one award is made for each state each year.

Eligibility: Applicants must 1) be a U.S. citizen of U.S. national, 2) be a teacher, or plan to become a teacher, of American history, American government, or social studies at the secondary level, 3) possess a bachelor’s degree or plan to receive a bachelor’s degree no later than August 31 of the year in which they are applying 4) wait at least 4 years from the time that any previous graduate degree was awarded before applying for a James Madison Fellowship, and 5) after earning a Master’s degree, each James Madison Fellow must teach American history, American government, or social studies in grades 7-12 for no less than one year for each full year of academic study under the fellowship. Fellows are required to attend a four week summer workshop at Georgetown University.

Selection Criteria: Applicants are evaluated based on 1) their demonstrated commitment to a career teaching American history, American government, or social studies at the secondary school level, 2) demonstrated intent to pursue and complete a program of graduate study that emphasizes the Constitution and offers instruction in that subject, 3) demonstrated devotion to civic responsibility, 4) demonstrated capacity for study and performance as a classroom teacher, and 5) their proposed courses of graduate study.

Nomination/Application Procedure: No nomination by the University is necessary. Applicants turn in an application form, two or three letters of evaluation, and a 600-word essay on why study of the Constitution is an important part of a secondary school education.

Deadline: Applications must be received no later than March 1.

Up to 50 Marshall Scholarships are awarded for one or two years of study at any British university for a graduate degree, with the possibility of extensions for those pursuing the Ph.D. Includes living expenses, tuition, books, travel to and from the U.S., travel in connection with studies, and a contribution to the support of a spousal dependent..

Applicants must be U.S. citizens, hold a first degree from an accredited four-year college or university in the U.S., have a GPA of at least 3.7, and be endorsed by the applicant’s educational institution.

Marshall Scholars are selected based on their intellect, leadership potential, and character, as evidenced by their scholastic attainments and by other activities and achievements. They act as ambassadors from the U.S. to the U.K. and vice versa throughout their lives, thus strengthening British-American understanding.

Application materials are due on campus early in August, with on-campus interviews following almost immediately. Completed materials must be received by the Regional Center early in October. UA students who are from Alabama apply through the Regional Center in Atlanta, GA., which includes applicants from Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee. UA students from other states can apply through the Atlanta Region or through their home region. Scholarship recipients will be selected by the Regional Committees after finalist interviews that will take place in early November.

To learn more about the Marshall Scholarship, contact Dr. Lucy Kaufman, externalscholarships@ua.edu.

The Marshall Sherfield Postdoctoral Fellowship in science and engineering funds American students to undertake post-doctoral study for a period of one to two academic years at a British University or research institute.

The Fellowships are named after Sir Roger Makins FRS, later Lord Sherfield (1904-1996), British Ambassador to the United States from 1953 to 1956 and the architect of the Marshall Scholarships programme. He went on to be the Chairman of the Marshall Commission, and of the UK Atomic Energy Authority, and from 1970-1992 was Chancellor of the University of Reading.

The aim of the Marshall Sherfield Fellowships is to introduce American scientists and engineers to the cutting edge of UK science and engineering. It is intended that this in turn will build longer-term contacts and international links between the United Kingdom and the United States in key scientific areas. The wider objectives are similar to those of the Marshall Scholarships programme: to enable intellectually distinguished young Americans, their country’s future leaders, to study in the UK; to help fellows gain an understanding and appreciation of contemporary Britain; to contribute to the advancement of knowledge in science and technology at Britain’s centres of academic excellence; to motivate fellows to act as ambassadors from the USA to the UK and vice versa throughout their lives, thus strengthening British-American understanding; to promote the personal and academic fulfilment of each fellow.

At the end of the Marshall Sherfield Fellowship, Fellows are eligible to apply for endorsement from the Royal Society for the Global Talent Visa https://royalsociety.org/grants-schemes-awards/global-talent-visa/route-2-individual-fellowships/.

Four letters of recommendation required. Applicants apply directly for this opportunity.

Mitchell Scholarships support one year of graduate study in any discipline at any university in Ireland or Northern Ireland.

Campus Contact/Faculty Representative: Dr. Lucy Kaufman, externalscholarships@ua.edu.

NIH Undergraduate Scholarships support one to four years for undergraduate students from disadvantaged backgrounds who are committed to careers in biomedical, behavioral, and social science health-related research.

The NIH Graduate Partnerships Program provides support for prospective or current graduate students in biomedical disciplines for up to five years of study. The students do their research in labs at the NIH or at the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge in collaboration with NIH mentors. Registration Info Link: https://www.training.nih.gov/programs/gpp/reginfo

The NOAA/Ernest F. Hollings Scholarship Program provides support for full-time study during the junior and senior years and a paid summer internship for students in the life and physical sciences, mathematics, engineering, computer and informational sciences, social and behavioral sciences, and teacher education in order to prepare students for careers with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration or other federal, state, or local levels of government involved in natural resources or science.

NSEP/David L. Boren Fellowships provide one to six semesters of support for graduate study of foreign languages and cultures deemed critical to U.S. National Security. Contact Dr. Tayler Kent, tmkent@ua.edu for information about these fellowships.

NSEP/David L. Boren Undergraduate Scholarships provide one to two semesters of support for undergraduate study of foreign languages and cultures deemed critical to U.S. national security. Contact Dr. Tayler Kent, tmkent@ua.edu.

NSEP/David L. Boren Undergraduate Scholarships provide one to two semesters of support for undergraduate study of foreign languages and cultures deemed critical to U.S. national security. Contact Dr. Tayler Kent, tmkent@ua.edu.

Obama-Chesky Voyager Scholarship for Public Service is for Americans interested in careers in public service and funds up to $50,000 of financial aid to cover the last two years of university tuition and expenses for rising juniors enrolled in 4-year accredited universities. $10,000 summer travel stipend for the summer between junior and senior years, annual $2,000 travel stipend for ten years following graduation. Fall summit with President Obama and Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky, and access to a network of leaders. Apply directly.

Pickering Foreign Affairs Fellowships provide support for tuition, room, board, and mandatory fees during the junior and senior years of college or the first and second year of graduate study in areas such as political science, public policy, international affairs, public administration, business, economics, foreign languages, or sociology.

Quad Fellowship sponsors 100 exceptional American, Japanese, Australian, and Indian master’s and doctoral students in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) to study in the United States. The fellowship will develop a network of science and technology experts committed to advancing innovation and collaboration in the private, public, and academic sectors, in their own nations and among Quad countries.

Each Quad Fellow will receive a one-time award of $50,000 which can be used for tuition, research, fees, books, room and board, and related academic expenses (e.g., registration fees, research-related travel). All Quad Fellows are eligible to apply for separate demonstrated needs-based funding of up to $25,000 to cover costs related to completing graduate-level studies.

Applicants must be at least 18 years of age at the time of application, be citizens or permanent residents of Australia, India, Japan, or the US, have a bachelor’s degree or its equivalent in a STEM field, and demonstrate superior academic achievement at the undergraduate level. Applicants currently enrolled in a Master’s or PhD program in the US may apply if they will be enrolled in a qualified academic program during their time as a Fellow.

Apply directly.

Award: Rhodes Scholarships award two years of support, with the possibility of a third year, for study at The University of Oxford for a second bachelor’s degree or a graduate degree. Includes all tuition and fees plus a maintenance stipend for living expenses and paid traveling expenses to and from Oxford. Additional funds for research or study-related travel may also be available.

Number of Awards: Thirty-two scholarships are assigned annually to the U.S.

Eligibility: Must be a U.S. citizen, preferably unmarried, and at least 18 but not yet 24 years of age, and be able to complete a bachelor’s degree prior to beginning tenure as a Rhodes Scholar.

Selection Criteria: Applicants should demonstrate intellectual and academic achievement of a high standard and show integrity of character, an interest in and respect for their fellow beings, the ability to lead and the energy to use their talents to the full. The latter quality typically is demonstrated by participation and success in sports.

Nomination/Application Process: Applicants must be nominated by their college or university.

Campus Contact/Faculty Representative: Dr. Brad Tuggle, 205-348-7052, bdtuggle@ua.edu, 375-E Honors Hall

Deadlines: Application materials are due on campus early in September followed by on-campus interviews soon after that. Completed applications must be received by the District Selection Committee early in October. UA students who are from Alabama will apply through District 7, which includes applicants from Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, and Mississippi. UA students from other states can apply through District 7 or through their home district. Scholarship recipients will be selected by the District Committees after interviews that will take place in early to mid November.

Soros Fellowships for New Americans supports up to two years of graduate study for New Americans (immigrants or children of immigrants).

Truman Scholarships award $30,000 annually for 2-3 years of graduate study in the U.S. About 55-65 awards are made each year. Candidates apply during their junior year and must be a U.S. citizen or U.S. national in the upper quarter of their junior class with outstanding leadership potential.

Successful candidates have extensive records of public and community service, are committed to careers in government or elsewhere in public service (includes employment in government at any level, uniformed service, public-interest organizations, nongovernmental research and/or educational organizations, public and private schools, and public service nonprofit organizations) and have outstanding leadership potential and communication skills. In 2005 a new service requirement was added to these awards. Truman Scholars are now required to work for three years (within the first seven years following graduation) in public service. If they fail to meet this requirement, the award must be repaid plus interest.

Applicants must be nominated to the Truman Foundation by their university. Campus deadlines typically fall in early December with on-campus interviews conducted by the Office of External Scholarships and Fellowships in early January. Universities may endorse up to four nominees, and up to two additional nominees who are transfer students. Final applications are due in Washington, D.C. near the end of January or the beginning of February. Finalists will be interviewed by the Truman Foundation in late February through March.

Campus Representative: Dr. Lucy Kaufman, externalscholarships@ua.edu.

Approximately 55 Udall Scholarships of up to $7,000 fund college sophomores and juniors who have demonstrated outstanding potential and a commitment to preserving, protecting, or restoring environmental resources. Applicants must be a U.S. citizen or U.S. national, have a minimum 3.0 GPA, and be in the top quarter of their class. Udall Scholars have: an extensive record of campus and community service directed toward environmental issues and causes or to tribal policy or health care; demonstrated commitment to and career goals consistent with improving, preserving, protecting, or restoring our environmental resources, or to tribal public policy or health care; knowledge and understanding of Morris K. Udall’s legacy of public service, particularly as it relates to career goals; and demonstrated leadership, character, integrity, and well-roundedness.

The Morris K. Udall and John S. McCain III Native American Graduate Fellowship in Tribal Policy (Native American Graduate Fellowship) awards two $25,000 fellowships annually to students whose work is in the areas of environmental public policy or environmental conflict resolution. Recipients must be in the final writing year of their Ph.D. work and must submit a copy of their dissertation to the Udall Foundation at the end of the award year. Applicants must be a U.S. citizen or U.S. national. The dissertation topic must have significant relevance to national environmental public policy and/or environmental conflict resolution. The fellowship must be used for the final year of writing the dissertation. Applicants must have completed all coursework, passed all preliminary exams, and had the dissertation research proposal or plan approved prior to submitting the application. Applications are reviewed by distinguished scholars in the field for quality, originality, significance, and the feasibility of completing the entire dissertation within a one-year period.

Applicants must be nominated by the Campus Representative to the Udall Foundation. The campus deadline typically falls in January. All undergraduate scholarship application materials must be submitted around the first of March and all graduate dissertation materials must be turned in around the first of February.

Campus Representative: Dr. Tara Mock, tmock@ua.edu