Click Here to Access the 2024 Statement of Interest Form

(For Fall 2024 Potential Applicants)

Each year, the University of Connecticut nominates, endorses, and/or advises students who are competing for postgraduate scholarships and fellowships in the United Kingdom, including the Rhodes, Marshall, Churchill, Gates, and Fulbright.  Staff in the Office of National Scholarships & Fellowships administer this process and support/advise students as they craft their applications.

The Rhodes Scholarship funds 1-4 years of graduate study at the University of Oxford (UK) and is awarded to seniors and recent graduates with proven intellectual and academic achievement, integrity of character, interest in and respect for their fellow beings, the ability to lead, and the energy to use their talents to the full.

Please review all eligibility requirements and rules on the official Rhodes Scholarship website.

(Note that the deadline for the Rhodes varies depending on one’s nationality; international students should visit Check your eligibility and apply – Rhodes Trust (ox.ac.uk) to identify their deadline and to determine if their country requires institutional nomination.)

The Marshall Scholarship funds 1-3 (typically 2) years of graduate study at any university in the UK (including Oxford) and is awarded to seniors and recent graduates who demonstrate exceptional academic merit, leadership potential and ambassadorial potential.

Please review all eligibility requirements and rules on the official Marshall Scholarship website.

The Churchill Scholarship, which funds one year of graduate study at the University of Cambridge (UK) and is awarded to graduating seniors on the basis of academic and research achievement. The Churchill Foundation seeks to provide accomplished scientists, mathematicians, and engineers with the tools to maximize their future impact. UConn may nominate up to two students per year.  Students who wish to be considered for this award must apply directly to the University of Cambridge by October 15.

Please review all eligibility requirements and rules on the official Churchill Scholarship website.

The Gates Cambridge Scholarship, which funds graduate study at the University of Cambridge (UK), does not require nomination. It is, however, equally competitive. Students who wish to be considered for this award must apply directly to the University of Cambridge by October 15.

Please review all eligibility requirements and rules on the official Gates Cambridge Scholarship website and visit ONSF or work with a faculty member for guidance through the process.

 

(For any of the scholarships listed above, students should make an appointment with Vin Moscardelli, Director of ONSF, to discuss their eligibility before applying for nomination.)

 

The US-UK Fulbright Commission administers more than 40 awards in a range of disciplines in partnership with universities across the United Kingdom, as well as a single Open Award for postgraduate study or independent research projects in any recognized UK university.  To learn more about Fulbright opportunities in the UK and elsewhere, visit ONSF’s Fulbright U.S. Student Program page and then reach out to UConn’s Fulbright Program Advisor Dr. Michael Cunningham via Email or Nexus.

The British Council is a great resource for non-U.S. students who wish to learn more about scholarships that support postgraduate study in England, Scotland, Wales, or Northern Ireland.

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Information Sessions:

ONSF will host virtual information sessions on these awards in April and early May, the first of which will take place at noon on Tuesday, April 30 (follow the link for more details, including the Webex link).

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How to Apply – Fall 2024 Deadlines

To enter the Rhodes, Marshall, and/or Churchill Scholarship competitions at the national level, you must first be nominated by the University of Connecticut through a process managed by the Office of National Scholarships and Fellowships.

To be considered for nomination, you must complete the following:

• Complete the “Statement of Interest” form linked at the top of this page as soon as possible.  ONSF staff will begin reviewing submitted forms in April.  (After May 31, interested candidates should Email Vin Moscardelli to discuss their candidacies and get further instructions, access to the campus application, etc.)
• Submit complete internal applications by 4:00pm, Thursday, August 29, 2024. (Note that while most of these applications require 4-8 letters of recommendation, potential applicants only need to submit three letters by the time of this campus deadline.)

A faculty review panel will review the application materials and interview a subset of the strongest candidates.  From this group, the committee selects the eventual nominees who will advance to the national competitions.  The deadlines for all of these awards appear below:

• Rhodes Scholarship (non-U.S. applicants):  Varies by country (some are as early as June)
• Rhodes Scholarship (U.S. and Canadian applicants):  October 2, 2024 (campus deadline Aug. 29)
• Marshall Scholarship:  September 19, 2024 (campus deadline Aug. 29)
• Fulbright U.S. Student Program:  October 8 (campus deadline Sept. 9)
• Gates-Cambridge:  Mid-October 2024 (n/a)
• Churchill Scholarship:  November 1, 2024 (campus deadline Sept. 26)

 

The University of Connecticut has nominated three students for the Udall Undergraduate Scholarship, which is awarded to college sophomores or juniors who have demonstrated extraordinary commitment to the environment through participation in campus activities or service to their community.  Learn more about UConn’s nominees below.

 

Kanika Chaturvedi ’26 (CLAS) is a sophomore from Danbury, CT. She is an Honors student currently majoring in environmental studies with a minor in psychology. Driven by her dedication to sustainability and environmental justice, she actively contributes to the cause as a Sustainability Intern at UConn’s Office of Sustainability. There, she spearheads initiatives aimed at promoting environmental justice while also playing a pivotal role in the communications team to foster greater community engagement on environmental issues. Kanika helps supervise the Eco-Captain program, as well, to ensure that awareness about sustainability is widespread among the student body. Beyond her environmental endeavors, she serves as the Philanthropy Chair for the Hindu Students Organization, striving to enrich UConn’s campus by integrating her cultural heritage. Kanika plans to pursue a law degree, and hopes to specialize in environmental law, driven by her desire to advocate for those disproportionately affected by environmental injustices.

 

Amanda Stowe ’26 (CAHNR) is a sophomore Honors student from Newtown majoring in environmental sciences with a concentration in sustainable systems and a minor in ecology & evolutionary biology (EEB). Amanda is a Sustainability Intern for the Office of Sustainability, playing a pivotal role on the communications team and in planning conservation and sustainability focused initiatives. Amanda is also an ambassador for the College of Agriculture, Health, and Natural Resources and is the secretary of the UConn Chapter of the Soil and Water Conservation Society (SWCS). This past summer Amanda was a Conservation Intern for the Newtown Forest Association, where she conducted field research on invasive species, and a Field Research Intern for Global Treks and Adventures on the Big Island, Hawaii, where she researched species and conservation efforts on the island. Amanda aspires to pursue a career as a conservation scientist, protecting endangered species and restoring threatened habitats.

 

Andy Zhang ’26 (CLAS & CAHNR), from Sandy Hook, CT, is a second-year student double-majoring in economics and environmental science with minors in social responsibility & impact in business and environmental science & policy. He is passionate about delving deeper into the intersection of economic, social, and environmental factors as well as the role that businesses can play in mitigating the climate crisis. On campus, he serves as an intern at the Office of Sustainability, Difference Maker Mentor for the Natural Resources Conservation Academy, and student ambassador for the College of Agriculture, Health, and Natural Resources.

 

Congratulations to all three of UConn’s 2024 Udall Scholarship nominees!

 

 

The University of Connecticut has been recognized among the top producers of Fulbright U.S. Student Program award recipients for the first time in school history. These results are from U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and were featured in The Chronicle of Higher Education on Tuesday, Feb. 13.

UConn had 10 students named to the Fulbright U.S. Student Program in 2023-24, a record-setting number for the school.

 

Continue reading in UConn Today . . . .

 

The Gilman Scholarship, a prestigious academic award congressionally funded through the Bureau of Education and Cultural Affairs at the State Department, has been awarded to seven UConn students for the most recent (fall 2023) application cycle. The funding supports broadening student participation in study abroad programs and encourages travel to diverse locations around the globe, along with intensive language study and internship experiences. 

“We are very excited to see STEM students being represented with Gilman Scholarships this award cycle,” says Valerie Jenkelunas, Experiential Global Learning (EGL) advisor and community liaison specialist. “We also appreciate that four students will be studying abroad in East Asia, an underrepresented region in study abroad nationally.”

In addition to EGL, students applying for Gilman Scholarships also work with advisors in UConn’s Office of National Scholarships & Fellowships (ONSF).  Michael Cunningham, Assistant Director of ONSF and UConn’s Fulbright Program Advisor, is one of two Gilman certifying advisors at UConn along with Jenkelunas.

Continue reading on UConn Today . . . .

 

 

 

UConn sophomore Chapal Bhavsar ’26 (BUS) spent four weeks this summer in England as part of the prestigious Fulbright U.K. Summer Institute. The Danbury native and finance major was selected by the US-UK Fulbright Commission to study at the University of Exeter’s Summer Institute on Global Sustainability, an interdisciplinary program emphasizing climate change, sustainability, and civic responsibility for the future of the planet.

“As a Fulbright summer program participant, I was able to explore the University of Exeter and all that it has to offer in addition to further exploring my interests in a more interconnected and sustainable world,” says Bhavsar. “I hope the work I did will enable me to be a more involved and global citizen and the knowledge I brought back will help me create broader connections among my community.”

 

Continue reading on UConn Today . . . . 

 

UConn doctoral student Anagha Payyambally has been named to the first class of Quad Fellows, an initiative of the governments of the United States, Australia, India, and Japan. This first-of-its-kind scholarship program is designed to build ties among the next generation of scientists and technologists. The Quad Fellowship is operated in consultation with a nongovernmental task force composed of academic, foreign policy, and private-sector leaders from each Quad country.

Payyambally, a native of Kerala, India, is a second-year doctoral student in marine sciences at UConn Avery Point, and plans on completing her degree in 2027.

The Quad program is highly competitive, with only 100 students selected for the initial class among 3,600 initial applicants. Payyambally is just one of 25 students from India to be accepted as a Quad Scholar.

 

Continue reading on UConn Today . . . .

 

Mariam Vargas ’25 (CLAS), a junior political science major, was one of 15 individuals nationally who took part in the 2023 Charles B. Rangel International Affairs Summer Enrichment Program this summer. Selection to the Washington, D.C.-based program is highly competitive, as almost 1,000 students applied for the 15 spots.

Mariam Vargas ’25 (contributed photo)

The Rangel Summer Enrichment Program is a US State Department program administered by Howard University through a cooperative agreement with the Bureau of Global Talent Management. The program provides undergraduate students with a deeper appreciation of current issues and trends in international affairs, a greater understanding of career opportunities in international affairs, and the enhanced knowledge and skills to pursue such careers.

The program’s goals are to promote greater diversity and excellence in the US foreign service. The program was named to honor Charles Rangel, who represented New York City in Congress from 1971 to 2017.

Vargas spent six weeks in Washington, D.C., learning from diplomats, foreign service officers, and other leading foreign affairs professionals.

 

Continue reading at UConn Today . . . .

 

Ten UConn students have been selected as recipients of a grant through the Fulbright U.S. Student Program for the 2023-24 academic year. The program provides grants for individually designed study and research projects or for English teaching assistantships around the world. Students meet, work, live with, and learn from the people of the host country, sharing daily experiences.

UConn had 19 semifinalists for Fulbright Student Program awards, which includes the 10 finalists and an alternate. A total of 20 UConn students completed UConn’s campus application process for the 2023-24 Fulbright round.

 

Continue reading on UConn Today . . .