The Office of National Scholarships and Fellowships (ONSF) advises and mentors students applying for nationally competitive external awards that are typically funded by government agencies or private foundations and trusts. In other words, ONSF itself does not award scholarship money but serves as a resource for UConn students who are applying to such programs. Each scholarship has its own rules, guidelines, and deadlines, so it is important to fully explore their website and consult with us as you develop your application.

Some scholarships require that students obtain “nomination” or “endorsement” from their universities before they are permitted to submit a nationally competitive application. In these cases, ONSF serves as the administrator for the nomination process and nominees complete their applications under our guidance. If you are named a finalist in a competition that requires an interview, we will arrange a mock interview and provide sample questions and advice.

Please make an appointment with one of us on Nexus if you would like more information about any of the programs below.

Leadership & Public Service Scholarships

These programs focus on leadership and public service:

• The Gates Cambridge mission is to build a global network of future leaders committed to improving the lives of others. 
• The Knight-Hennessy Scholars Program cultivates and supports a multidisciplinary and multicultural community of scholar-leaders at Stanford University.
• Marshall Scholarships finance young Americans of high ability to study for a degree in the United Kingdom.
• The Newman Civic Fellowship is a year-long program that recognizes and supports student public problem solvers.
• The Public Policy and International Affairs Program’s Junior Summer Institute seeks out high-potential undergraduates to participate in an intensive seven-week program before their senior year.
• The Charles B. Rangel International Affairs Graduate Fellowship aims to prepare outstanding young people for careers in the foreign service.  Their Summer Enrichment Program gives rising juniors and seniors early preparation for these careers.  Along with the Thomas R. Pickering Foreign Affairs Graduate Fellowship and the Donald M. Payne International Development Fellowship, these three programs are designed to attract students from backgrounds traditionally underrepresented in the foreign service.
• The Rhodes Scholarship is a fully funded, full time, postgraduate award which enables talented young people from around the world to study at the University of Oxford.
• The Samvid Scholarship invests in the graduate education of future leaders who are committed to effecting positive change in society.
• The Schwarzman Scholars Program sends young leaders to Tsinghua University in Beijing for a fully-funded 10 month Master’s program in Global Affairs.
• Truman Scholarships identify aspiring leaders at an important inflection point in their development – when they are college juniors – and recognize and reward their commitments to careers in public service.
• Udall Scholarships are awarded to college sophomores and juniors for leadership, public service, and commitment to issues related to Native American nations or to the environment.
• Voyager Scholarships support college juniors with a passion for helping others, experience serving in or building community, and an expansive view of what’s possible through public service.

International Scholarships

The programs below focus on languages and intercultural exchange. Please note that the Fulbright has its own pages on our site (see the Fulbright tab on the main menu above).

• Boren Scholars and Fellows study a wide range of critical languages, including Arabic, Chinese, Portuguese, and Swahili. Boren Awards are available to students of all proficiency levels who are committed to enhancing their skills.
• The Critical Language Scholarship (CLS) Program is an immersive summer opportunity for American college and university students to learn languages essential to America’s engagement with the world.
• The Fulbright US Student Program provides grants for individually designed study or research projects and for English Teaching Assistantships. The program facilitates cultural exchange through direct interaction with people in the host country, which promotes mutual understanding across cultural boundaries.
• DAAD RISE matches undergraduate researchers in STEM fields with internships in Germany.
• The Gilman Scholarship enables students of limited financial means to study or intern abroad, providing them with skills critical to our national security and economic prosperity.

Research Scholarships

These programs focus on research:

• The Beinecke Scholarship supports graduate education in the Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences.
• The Churchill Scholarship provides funding to American students for a year of Master’s study at the University of Cambridge, based at Churchill College.
• The Gaither Junior Fellows program is a very selective, paid postgraduate internship program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace in Washington, DC.
• The Goldwater Scholarship awards $7,500 to college sophomores and juniors majoring in math, science, and engineering who plan to pursue careers in research.