Major National Awards

Scholarships & Fellowships/Featured Awards/Major National Awards

Astronaut Scholarship

Created in 1984 to honor the Mercury 7 astronauts, the Astronaut Scholarship is not just for students in aerospace engineering. Like the Goldwater Scholarship, its mission is to promote future U.S. scientists in all STEM fields.  The scholarship offers $10,000 and an invitation to network with other scholarship winners at an induction ceremony at the Astronaut Hall of Fame. The scholarship is for students planning research careers.  Students planning to pursue an MD only and conduct clinical research are not eligible, but those planning to pursue an MD-PhD and career in biomedical science research are eligible.

Institutional Endorsement:  The Astronaut Scholarship does not accept direct applications; students must be nominated by the U-M STEM Scholarship Committee.

U-M Application Deadline: First Monday of December by 12:00 noon.

U-M Contact: Henry Dyson, Office of National Scholarships and Fellowships (ONSF)

Eligibility:

  • U.S. Citizenship
  • Sophomore or junior standing with full-time enrollment. “Sophomore” is defined as a student who has two more years (4 semesters) of full-time undergraduate study remaining beginning in the September after application.  “Junior” is defined as a student who has one more year (2 semesters) of full-time undergraduate study remaining beginning in the September after application.
  • Most successful applicants have at least a 3.8 GPA, strong grades in STEM classes related to their intended field of graduate study, and at least one year of sustained involvement in one or more research projects.

 

Churchill Scholarship

Established in 1963, the Churchill Scholarship funds one year of graduate research and study in a STEM field at the University of Cambridge. 15 Scholars are selected each year.  Scholars typically complete a one-year Master’s degree before applying to US or UK doctoral programs, although the Churchill can be used to fund the first year of a two year Master’s program at Cambridge.

Applicants for the Churchill are strongly encouraged to consider applying for the Gates Cambridge Scholarship as well since it will also support a 1-year master’s degree in a STEM field.

Institutional Endorsement: The Churchill Scholarship does not accept direct applications; students must be nominated by the Office of National Scholarships and Fellowships (ONSF).  The University of Michigan may nominate up to two students each year.

U-M Nomination Deadline: Final Monday of September by 12 noon.

Cambridge Application Deadline: Applicants for the Churchill Scholarship must apply to their intended graduate program at Cambridge by October 11th.  Applicants must list Churchill College as their first choice on the Cambridge application.

U-M Contact: Henry Dyson, Office of National Scholarships and Fellowships (ONSF)

Eligibility:

  • A citizen of the United States
  • Between 19 and 26 years of age at the time of application.
  • Must hold a bachelor’s degree, but cannot have completed a doctorate, by time of enrollment at Cambridge.
  • A minimum GPA of 3.7, although most successful applicants with will have a 3.9 or above and significant research accomplishments in their proposed field of study.  (Profiles of past Churchill Scholars)

Fulbright Program

The Fulbright U.S. Student Program is the largest U.S. exchange program offering opportunities for students and young professionals to undertake international graduate study, advanced research, university teaching, and primary and secondary school teaching worldwide. The program currently awards approximately 1,900 grants annually in all fields of study, and operates in more than 140 countries worldwide.  U-M consistently ranks among the top institutions for Fulbright applications and awarded grants.

U-M Contact: Melissa Vert and Heather Johnson, International Institute. Please see the U-M Fulbright webpage for upcoming information sessions and university-specific application instructions.

The Fulbright U.S. Student Program offers several types of grants.  Please see individual links for eligibility, deadlines, and application instructions.

The Fulbright Study/Research grant is a traditional award opportunity where candidates design a proposal for a specific country.

The Fulbright English Teaching Assistant programs place grantees in schools overseas to supplement local English language instruction and to provide a native speaker presence in the classrooms.

The Fulbright–National Geographic Digital Storytelling Fellowship provides a unique platform for American Fulbright students to develop global narratives and discuss commonalities across borders around a common issue or theme. Trained, supported, and mentored by National Geographic Editors during their grants in one or multiple countries, Fellows will use new media platforms to help build ties across cultures while enhancing mutual understanding. The digital content that they produce will be featured online in various places, including, most prominently, a blog hosted by National Geographic.

 

Goldwater Scholarship

The Barry Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence Program was established by Congress in 1986 to honor the former Arizona Senator. The purpose of the Foundation is to provide support for highly qualified STEM students who plan to pursue a PhD and research career in these fields.  The scholarship provides $7,500 in support for the junior and/or senior year of undergraduate study. (Students apply in sophomore or junior year.)  

Goldwater Scholars usually go on to top Ph.D. programs are highly competitive for graduate funding such as NSF Graduate Research Fellowships.  The scholarship is for students planning research careers.  Students planning to pursue an MD only and conduct clinical research are not eligible, but those planning to pursue an MD-PhD and career in biomedical science research are eligible.

Institutional Endorsement: The Goldwater Scholarship does not accept direct applications; students must be nominated by the U-M Goldwater Committee. 

U-M Application Deadline: First Monday of December by 12:00 Noon.

U-M Contact: Henry Dyson, Office of National Scholarships and Fellowships (ONSF)

Eligibility:

  • U.S. Citizen or permanent resident at time of application. Permanent residents must include a letter stating intent to obtain U.S. citizenship. (Non-US citizens should consider applying for the U-M STEM Research Career Award instead.)
  • Sophomore or junior standing with full-time enrollment. “Sophomore” is defined as a student who has two more years (4 semesters) of full-time undergraduate study remaining beginning in the September after application.  “Junior” is defined as a student who has one more year (2 semesters) of full-time undergraduate study remaining beginning in the September after application.
  • Most successful applicants have at least a 3.8 GPA, strong grades in STEM classes related to their intended field of graduate study, and at least one year of sustained involvement in one or more research projects.

 

Marshall Scholarship

Founded by a 1953 Act of Parliament, and named in honor of US Secretary of State George C. Marshall, the Marshall Scholarship commemorates the humane ideals of the Marshall Plan and they express the continuing gratitude of the British people to their American counterparts.  Up to forty Scholars are selected each year to study at the graduate level at an UK institution in any field of study.  The scholarship provides full cost of attendance for 1-2 years of graduate study.  Scholars typically pursue one or two 1-year or 2-year Master’s degrees.  Scholars are selected for their academic merit, leadership potential, and ambassadorial potential.

Institutional Endorsement: The Marshall Scholarship does not accept direct applications from current U-M students; current students must be nominated by the Office of National Scholarships & Fellowships (ONSF).  Please see this page for application instructions for endorsement.  Graduates and graduate students are not required to seek institutional endorsement.

U-M Nomination Deadline: Fourth Monday of August by 12 noon.  Application timeline.

U-M Contact: Henry Dyson, Director, Office of National Scholarships and Fellowships

Eligibility:

  • A citizen of the United States at time of application
  • Completion of an undergraduate degree by September in the first year of the scholarship
  • Must not have studied for or hold a degree from a British university
  • Must have received an undergraduate degree within two years
  • Sufficiently advanced academically to assure completion of a bachelor’s degree before October 1st in the year following election
  • Minimum of undergraduate GPA of 3.7 – Most successful applicants have very strong academic records as well as accomplishments in the areas of research, service, and leadership.

Please refer to the Marshall website for a detailed description of their rules and selection criteria

 

Mitchell Scholarship

The George J. Mitchell Scholarship Program honors former US Senator George Mitchell’s pivotal contribution to the Northern Ireland peace process. Up to twelve Mitchell Scholars between the ages of 18 and 30 are chosen annually for one academic year of graduate study in any discipline offered by nine institutions of higher learning in the Republic of Ireland.  Applicants are selected on the basis of their scholarly abilities, leadership potential, and sustained commitment to community and public service.

The Mitchell Scholarship Program provides tuition, accommodation, a stipend for living expenses and travel.

Institutional Endorsement: The Mitchell Scholarship does not accept direct applications from current U-M students; current students must be nominated by the Office of National Scholarships & Fellowships (ONSF).  Please see this page for application instructions for endorsement.  Graduates and graduate students are not required to seek institutional endorsement.

U-M Nomination Deadline: Fourth Monday of August by 12 noon. Application Timeline

U-M Contact: Henry Dyson, Office of National Scholarships and Fellowships (ONSF)

Eligibility:

  • A citizen of the United States.
  • At least 18 but not yet 30 years of age. (Applicants must still be 29 on October 1st of the year of application.)
  • Sufficiently advanced academically to assure completion of a bachelor’s degree before October 1st in the year follow election.

The Mitchell Scholarship does not set a minimum GPA, but successful applicants for U-M nomination will typically have a 3.5 or higher GPA with the average probably around 3.7 GPA.  The foundation gives equal weight to three selection criteria:

  1. Academic excellence​
  2. Demonstrated leadership potential
  3. Commitment to public service

 

Rhodes Scholarship

Established in 1902, the Rhodes Scholarship fully funds 2-3 years of graduate study at Oxford University in any field.  Scholars pursue either a taught or research-based Master’s or Doctoral degree. (More information from Rhodes Trust.)

U-M Contact: Henry Dyson, Office of National Scholarships and Fellowships (ONSF)

Eligibility:

  • At least 18, but not yet 24 years of age. (Applicants must still be 23 on October 1st of the year of application.)  
  • Sufficiently advanced academically to assure completion of a bachelor’s degree before October 1st in the year following election.  The scholarship cannot be deferred.

Rhodes Selection Criteria:

  • Literary and scholastic attainment (academic excellence).  The Rhodes Scholarship has a minimum GPA of 3.7, but successful applicants for U-M institutional endorsement will typically have a 3.8 or higher GPA and significant academic and co-curricular accomplishments.
  • Energy to use one’s talents to the full (as demonstrated by mastery in areas such as sports, music, debate, dance, theater, and artistic pursuits, especially where teamwork is involved).
  • Truth, courage, devotion to duty, sympathy for and protection of the weak, kindliness, unselfishness, and fellowship.
  • Moral force of character and instincts to lead, and to take an interest in one’s fellow beings.

Institutional Endorsement: Applicants for the Rhodes Scholarship must follow one of three routes, each with different application instructions and deadlines:

(1) Citizens and permanent residents of the United States and Canada must apply for UM institutional endorsement by the fourth Monday of August.  Instructions for applying to for UM endorsement are listed below.  American and Canadian citizens may not apply directly for the scholarship without UM endorsement.

(2) Applicants from the following Rhodes constituencies must apply via their home country: Australia, Bermuda, China, East Africa (see list of specific countries), Germany, Hong Kong, India, Israel, Jamaica, Kenya, Malaysia, New Zealand, Pakistan, Singapore, Southern Africa (see list of specific countries), Syria, Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine, United Arab Emirates, West Africa (see list of specific countries), Zambia and Zimbabwe.  Each Rhodes constituency has a designated number of scholarships.  Deadlines and application instructions for each of these Rhodes constituencies can be found on the Rhodes Trust website.  They do not typically require UM institutional endorsement.

(3) Applicants who are not citizens of any of the countries listed above can now apply for two Global Rhodes Scholarships.  Applicants for the Global Rhodes Scholarship must receive UM endorsement and may not apply separately without UM endorsement. The deadline to apply for UM endorsement in 2018 will be the fourth Monday of June by 12 noon.  Application instructions are listed below.

Dual citizens may choose which route they will follow but may apply via only one Rhodes constituency.  

U-M Institutional Endorsement Deadline for US and Canadian citizens and permanent residents: Fourth Monday of August by 12 noon.  Application Timeline

U-M Institutional Endorsement Deadline for the Global Rhodes Scholarship: Fourth Monday of June by 12 noon.

 

Truman Scholarship

Founded in 1975 as a living memorial to our thirty-third President, the Harry S. Truman Scholarship Foundation provides up to $30,000 for the graduate education and professional development of outstanding young people committed to public service leadership.  Students apply in their third undergraduate year and should have an outstanding record of public service activities and leadership.  The Foundation is bipartisan and defines public service broadly as working for the common good.  Students in a wide variety of academic fields are encouraged to apply.

Institutional Endorsement: The Truman Scholarship does not accept direct applications; students must be nominated by U-M’s Truman Scholarship Committee.  Please see this page for application instructions for endorsement.

U-M Nomination Deadline: Monday AFTER Thanksgiving by 12:00 noon. 

U-M Contact: Henry Dyson, Office of National Scholarships and Fellowships (ONSF)

Eligibility:

  • Applicants must be U.S. citizens or expect to receive citizenship by the date the scholarship will be awarded.
  • Junior-level academic standing or third-year senior.
  • Commitment to work in government, education, the nonprofit sector, or public interest and advocacy for at least three of the first seven years after completing the Foundation-funded graduate degree.
  • Top 25% of the class (at U-M this is usually around a 3.7 GPA).

Extensive record of public service and leadership in two or more of the following areas: student government and organizations, community service, government or nonprofit internships, and partisan politics or campaigns.  Please see the Truman website for a more detailed description of successful applicants and profiles of recent winners.