Seniors and Alumnae/i
Explore fellowships and scholarships for seniors and alumnae/i.
A Note About Deadlines
Internal deadlines indicate when an application is due to the Undergraduate Dean's Office. External deadlines refer to the date all application materials are due to the awarding institution. Be aware that most institutions do not accept late applications.
Fellowships and Scholarships
For a year of well-defined study or research project that makes a stay in Germany essential. Projects may be in a wide variety of fields, and candidates are expected to have a good command of German. Internships are available in various fields ranging from German studies to journalism and scientific research. Citizens of countries other than the U.S. or Canada should contact the New York office regarding eligibility.
Learn more about DAAD Study Scholarship for Graduating Seniors/Internships.
- Adviser: Jennifer Prudencio, Career and Civic Engagement Center
- Deadline: mid-January 2025
- Learn more
Provides $10,000 to a Bryn Mawr student or group of students to design a grassroots summer project to promote peace.
- Adviser: Eleanor (Ellie) Stanford, Fellowship Adviser
- Deadline(s): Internal : Nov. 18, 2024; External: Jan. 15, 2025
- Gaither Online Application Instructions
- Internal Application
Gaither Junior Fellows work as research assistants to the Endowment's senior associates working on the Carnegie Endowment’s projects. Junior Fellows have the opportunity to conduct research for books, co-author journal articles and policy papers, participate in meetings with high-level officials, contribute to congressional testimony and organize briefings attended by scholars, activists, journalists and government officials. Positions are paid, full-time positions for one year. Junior Fellows are currently paid a salary of $40,000 per year. A full benefits package is also provided.
Applicants must be graduating seniors or students who have graduated during the last academic year. Applicants should have completed a significant amount of course work in international affairs, political science, economics, history, Russian, Chinese or Middle East studies or communications.
This one-year fellowship is highly competitive. Applications are judged on the quality of the written essay, related academic study and/or work experience, grades, recommendations, and personal interviews. Foreign students are eligible, but must be able to work in the U.S.
- Adviser: Eleanor (Ellie) Stanford, Fellowship Adviser
- Deadline(s): Preliminary: Jul.1, 2024; Internal: Sep. 6, 2024; External: October 8, 2024
Awarded for a year's study or research abroad in many different countries. There are also awards to assist in teaching English as a second language in more than 50 countries. U.S. citizenship required.
- Deadline(s):
- U.S. citizens: Preliminary: Aug. 1, 2024; Internal: Sep. 1, 2024; External: Oct. 11, 2024
- International: Preliminary: Aug. 1, 2024; Internal: Oct. 12, 2024; External: early Dec. 2024 OR early Jan 2025
Awarded for graduate study at Cambridge. You must apply directly to Cambridge University and fill out a Gates Supplementary Information Form by the beginning of November. GREs are required.
This program provides an annual fellowship for up to 48 months to students of superior academic ability—selected on the basis of demonstrated achievement, financial need, and exceptional promise—to undertake study at the doctoral and Master of Fine Arts level in selected fields of arts, humanities, and social sciences. The fellowship consists of an institutional payment and a stipend. (In 2010, the maximum stipend was $30,000, and the institutional payment was estimated to be $13,755.) Eligibility is limited to individuals who at the time of application plan to enter a doctoral or a Master’s of Fine Art program in upcoming academic year or who have not yet completed the first full year of study in the program for which they are seeking support. Eligibility is limited to U.S. citizens or nationals, permanent residents of the U.S., or citizens of any one of the Freely Associated States.
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The Luce Scholars Program provides a paid year-long internship in an Asian nation for 18 young Americans with little or no previous experience in Asia. The Program finds an internship appropriate for each scholar, based on the Scholar's background, experience, training and aspirations. Prior to travel to Asia, Scholars attend a week-long orientation session in Princeton. The program is designed to provide an intensive experience in Asia for those who would not, during the normal course of their careers, expect to have such exposure.
Deadlines
- Preliminary: Aug. 1, 2024
- Internal: Sept. 1, 2024
- External: Oct. 1, 2024
On the basis of this internal application, the Fellowships Adviser will give feedback.
After the application is submitted: Finalists are interviewed during December or January, by one representative of the Luce Foundation, at a mutually convenient location. Forty-five finalists are selected for regional interviews in February. Eighteen scholars are named by mid-March.
Adviser: Eleanor (Ellie) Stanford, Fellowship Adviser.
Selection criteria: Candidates should have a record of the highest academic achievement, combined with evidence of outstanding leadership ability, either on campus or off. More important than any other single criterion, candidates must have a mature and clearly defined career interest in a specific field, and must have given evidence of a potential for professional accomplishment within that field and strong personal motivation.
Recommended: Students considering the Luce are strongly recommended to complete the online preliminary application.
Application procedure: Students interested in applying should submit the online internal application following to the Dean’s Office by noon by the posted deadline:
A current, comprehensive resumé, including employment, activities and honors. This need not be limited to one page. A signed personal statement of no more than 1,000 words outlining long-range career interests, how they developed and plans for pursuing them; experiences with and ideas about leadership, and reasons for applying to the program Names of four recommenders, representing a range of academic, professional and personal references
In addition, to be eligible, you must not have:
Already had a significant exposure to Asia A professed career interest in Asian affairs An academic concentration in any aspect of Asian studies
Who is Eligible?
To be eligible for the Luce Scholars Program, you must be:
A U.S. citizen Under 30 years of age on July 1 of the year you would enter the program. Recipient of a bachelor's degree before taking up the award.
Awarded to college seniors and recent graduates who are committed to the teaching of American history, government, and social studies in secondary schools. The grant supports graduate studies leading to a Master's degree. U.S. citizenship or permanent residence status required.
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At least 40 Marshall Scholarships are awarded each year. They may be held at any British university and cover one or two years of graduate study in almost any discipline. The scholarship covers all tuition costs and fees; it also provides a monthly stipend and some funds for travels and books. The Marshall Commission maintains a very useful website, and interested students should familiarize themselves with the rules for candidates, frequently asked questions, and the various resources about British universities and academic programs.
Deadlines
- Preliminary: Aug. 1, 2024
- Internal: Sept. 1, 2024
- External: Sept. 24, 2024
On the basis of that application and interview, the Committee will decide whether or not to endorse your application. If you are selected as a nominee, the committee will prepare an official letter of support for your application. You will also receive some feedback on your application and have a short time period in which to revise materials for your final application. The better and more polished your initial application; the likelier you are to have a strong interview, a strong letter of support, and the strongest possible final application.
External application: Revised application must be submitted to Eleanor (Ellie) Stanford, Fellowship Adviser, at least two days before the official external deadline. If necessary, you should be prepared to make last-minute editorial corrections and must submit the corrected version by 5 p.m. on the day before the published external deadline.
After the application is submitted: Candidates selected for interview will be notified by mid-September. They must take a printed and signed copy of their application and four passport-size photos to their interviews. The final selection will be announced shortly after the interview. Successful applicants will be offered a scholarship in writing, and will be asked to accept or decline this offer, also in writing, within 12 days of receiving it.
Official fall internal application: Prospective applicants must register on the Marshall website in order to access the online application. In this first stage, you submit your application electronically to Eleanor (Ellie) Stanford, Fellowship Adviser, and are interviewed soon after by the Committee on Fellowships and Prizes here on campus. This application includes the following elements:
A 3-page application form, including a section asking about “personal interests and non-academic activities” and a “brief statement of future career aims."
Personal statement of not more than 1,000 words describing your “academic and other interests and pursuits.”
A description (not more than 500 words) of your “proposed academic programme, giving reasons for your choice of course and preferred university.” A brief essay (not more than 500 words) describing your reasons for pursuing graduate study in the UK Four letters of recommendation Click here for instructions and advice for your recommenders.
Adviser: Eleanor (Ellie) Stanford, Fellowship Adviser
Selection criteria: Candidates for the Marshall Scholarship should demonstrate “distinction of intellect and character,” as well as “strong motivation and seriousness of purpose.” Both in their academic work and other activities, strong Marshall applicants will show evidence of the potential to be leaders in society. Finally, a strong Marshall application will offer a well thought-out rationale for the proposed academic program.
Preliminary application: Because competition for this scholarship is so intense, it is important to begin the application process early. The initial application is intended to get you started putting together the materials you will need for later stages. Based on your initial application, you will receive feedback from the Fellowships Adviser regarding whether you have the potential to receive institutional endorsement and if so what steps you should take and what concerns you will have to address to earn that endorsement.
Marshall Preliminary Application Form
The preliminary application will consist of the following:
A current, comprehensive resumé, including employment, activities, honors, skills, and languages. This need not be limited to one page. Please include a description of planned employment or other activities for the upcoming summer and fall. The names of four potential writers of letter of recommendation, at least three of whom should be professors. You are advised to inform these writers of your plans to apply for this fellowship. A personal statement worksheet A list of any other fellowships you are planning to apply for A list of any questions you have about the fellowship or the application process
Who is Eligible?
The Marshall Scholarship has three basic conditions of eligibility:
U.S. citizenship (at the time of application) Completion of an undergraduate degree within the 3 years prior to beginning study in the UK Cumulative grade point average of not less than 3.7
The McCall MacBain Scholarships provide full funding for a masters or professional degree in any field at McGill University in Montreal. Open to U.S. and International students. Nomination required. Deadlines: Preliminary: Aug 1, 2024; Internal: Sept 1, 2024; External: Sept 27, 2024.
Eligibility
The scholarship is open to U.S. and International students, seniors and alums.
To Apply
- Complete the online McCall McBain Online Application Form.
- Arrange to have two letters of recommendation submitted through this online recommendation form. Send this link to your recommenders to complete.
- Provide the names of two potential writers of letters of recommendation, at least one of whom should be a professor. You are advised to inform these writers of your plans to apply for this fellowship.
- Deadline: Preliminary: Aug 1, 2024; Internal: Sept 2, 2024; External: Sept 27, 2024
More Information
For more information, please contact Fellowship Adviser Ellie Stanford at estanford1@brynmawr.edu or 610-526-5375.
NOTE: This program is on hiatus.
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Mitchell Scholarships support one year of graduate study in any discipline offered at an institution of higher learning in Ireland or Northern Ireland. The Mitchell Scholarship provides tuition, housing, a living expenses stipend, and international travel. Normally, 12 Scholarships are awarded each year. Mitchell Scholars must exhibit superior levels of academic achievement, leadership and community service.
Deadlines
- Preliminary: on hiatus 2024-2025
- Internal: on hiatus 2024-2025
- External: on hiatus 2024-2025
If you are chosen as a semifinalist, you will be asked to upload proof of U.S. citizenship. If you are chosen as a finalist, you will take the original with you for interview.
After the application is submitted: Approximately 30 semifinalists will be interviewed via Skype. Twenty finalists will be invited for interviews in Washington D.C. mid-November. Notification will happen shortly afterward.
On the basis of that application and interview, the Committee will decide whether or not to endorse your application. If you are selected as a nominee, the committee will prepare an official letter of support for your application. You will also receive some feedback on your application and have a short time period in which to revise materials for your final application. The better and more polished your initial application; the likelier you are to have a strong interview, a strong letter of support, and the strongest possible final application.
Revised application must be submitted to Eleanor (Ellie) Stanford, Fellowship Adviser, at least two days before the official external deadline. If necessary, you should be prepared to make last-minute editorial corrections and must submit the corrected version by 5 p.m. on the published deadline.
Final application includes:
Online application, including personal statement revised to take into account feedback from the Bryn Mawr committee Five letters of recommendation, submitted online by your recommenders Scanned and uploaded unofficial transcripts for each college or university attended Scanned and uploaded passport-size picture Scanned and uploaded signature Finally, please submit one copy of your application form and personal statement to the dean’s office, to be included in your permanent file.
Official fall internal application: In this first stage, you submit your internal application internally and are interviewed soon after by the Committee on Fellowships and Prizes here on campus. This application includes the following elements:
A current, comprehensive resumé, including employment, activities, honors, languages, and skills. This need not be limited to one page. Personal essay, not more than 1,000 words in length, describing “the specific field of interest and the justification for the proposed study in Ireland or Northern Ireland. Three letters of recommendation, two of which should be from professors. Please direct recommenders to the online recommendation form.
Adviser: Eleanor (Ellie) Stanford, Fellowship Adviser.
Selection criteria: The Selection Committee looks for “persuasive, documented evidence of achievement in three areas: academic, leadership, and community service. Some applicants have impressive academic credentials but lack a credible record of achievement in leadership and service. All three fields are equally important criteria for the Mitchell Scholarship.” In addition, successful applicants should have strong preparation and a convincing rationale for the proposed field of graduate study.
Preliminary application: Because competition for this scholarship is so intense, it is important to begin the application process early. The initial application is intended to get you started putting together the materials you will need for later stages. Based on your initial application, you will receive feedback from the Fellowships Adviser regarding whether you have the potential to receive institutional endorsement and if so what steps you should take and what concerns you will have to address to earn that endorsement.
Mitchell Preliminary Application Form
The initial application will consist of the following:
A current, comprehensive resumé, including employment, activities, honors, skills, and languages. This need not be limited to one page. Please include a description of planned employment or other activities for the upcoming summer and fall. The names of five potential writers of letter of recommendation, at least four of whom should be professors. You are advised to inform these writers of your plans to apply for this fellowship. A personal statement worksheet A list of any other fellowships you are planning to apply for A list of any questions you have about the fellowship or the application process
Who is Eligible?
To be eligible for the American competition, you must be:
A U.S. citizen At least 18 but no more than 30 years old Recipient of a bachelor's degree before taking up the award
Awards three-year graduate fellowships in mathematics, science and engineering. Deadlines vary by field but all are in early November. GREs are required. U.S. citizenship or permanent residence status required.
Students interested in academic programs abroad, in countries other than Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and all those of Western Europe, may want to learn more about the NSEP Boren Scholarship. The Boren Scholarship Program is designed to increase U.S. knowledge of languages and countries deemed to have security interest for the U.S.
Applicants must write a statement of purpose that discusses their plans to “address important global economic, political and social issues affecting national security.” Recipients must agree to a “service requirement,” to work either in a federal agency with national security responsibilities or in an academic field related to the area of study for which the scholarship was given.
Deadlines
- Preliminary: N/A
- Internal: Jan. 8, 2025
- External: early February 2025
Who is Eligible?
Current undergraduates (including seniors willing to defer officially receiving their degree) committed to the study of languages, cultures, and world regions that are critical to U.S. national security and that are not widely studied in the U.S. Only freshmen and sophomores may apply for funding for summer programs. The Boren may also be used to fund a semester of study abroad during the junior year. U.S. citizenship required.
Adviser: Eleanor (Ellie) Stanford, Fellowship Adviser.
Internal application: Students interested in the Boren Scholarship should access the online application on the Boren website and submit it by the deadline. Students will receive feedback and will have the chance to revise and resubmit their application before formal internal review.
There is no limit on the number of students who may apply from Bryn Mawr. Each applicant will be reviewed and rated by an on-campus committee. Interested students are encouraged to contact Eleanor (Ellie) Stanford, Fellowship Adviser, in the fall semester or over winter break.
PHENND Fellows is a year-long post-graduate fellowship program which offers top graduates of Philadelphia-area colleges and universities positions in nonprofit agencies where they can help to make a difference in the city of Philadelphia.
This program is designed to aid in the transition between college and full-time employment, encouraging highly achieving students to remain in Philadelphia through housing, employment, benefits, and exciting opportunities to network and get involved in improving the city. Fellows can gain knowledge, contribute talent, and develop leadership skills while experiencing the Philadelphia lifestyle.
This fellowship is only available to graduating seniors. PHENND Fellows must be U.S. Citizens or Permanent Residents.
- Adviser: Eleanor (Ellie) Stanford, Fellowship Adviser
- Deadline(s): TBA
PULSE invites talented university graduates to partner with Pittsburgh nonprofits for a year of service and leadership. PULSE Fellows SERVE with a Pittsburgh nonprofit full-time, LIVE in community with other Fellows, and GROW as leaders. During this year of service (August to August), PULSE Fellow benefits include housing, monthly stipends (food, transportation, personal, development, etc.), loan deferment eligibility and more.
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Thirty-two Rhodes Scholarships are awarded each year to U.S. citizens, for two years of study at Oxford University in England. The scholarship pays all fees and tuition in addition to a personal allowance. Scholars may earn a Master’s degree, a second B.A. or, in some cases, a D.Phil.
Deadlines
- Preliminary: Aug. 1, 2024
- Internal: Sept. 1, 2024
- External: Oct. 4, 2024
You are responsible for ensuring that your recommenders each upload their Letter of Appraisal. In 2010, for the first time, all letters of recommendation are due by the external deadline. Finally, please submit one copy of your application form, list of activities, and personal statement to the dean’s office, to be included in your permanent file.
After the application is submitted: Each regional selection committee will interview selected candidates on mid to late November. Results are announced at the end of the district interviews, and students selected as Rhodes Scholars are expected to immediately accept or reject the Scholarship. Scholars-Elect must then apply for admission to Oxford; they will be given more information about that process at the time of their election.
Instructions for writers of letters of recommendation (Please forward to your recommenders)
Link for writers for letters of recommendation (please email to your recommenders)
On the basis of that application and interview, the Committee will decide whether or not to endorse your application. If you are selected as a nominee, the committee will prepare an official letter of support for your application. You will also receive some feedback on your application and have a short time period in which to revise materials for your final application. The better and more polished your initial application; the likelier you are to have a strong interview, a strong letter of support, and the strongest possible final application.
External application: You may apply either from your home district or from District IV (Delaware and Pennsylvania). Consult with the Fellowships Adviser about which district to choose.
Revised application must be submitted to Eleanor (Ellie) Stanford, Fellowship Adviser, at least two days before the official external deadline. If necessary, you should be prepared to make last-minute editorial corrections and must ensure the final application is submitted by the published external deadline.
External application is now online and includes:
Rhodes application, which includes a list of principal activities and honors while in college (including prizes, scholarships, offices held, athletic record, extracurricular interests and activities) with dates Personal statement Transcript for each college or university attended Passport photo Scanned birth certificate, passport, or other proof of age and citizenship
- A “personal statement describing your academic and other interests.” This statement “should describe the specific area of proposed study and the applicants’ reasons for wishing to study at Oxford. ... This personal essay must not exceed 1000 words in length and should be written in as simple and direct a manner as possible.”
- Three letters of recommendation, at least two of which should be from professors. (Please note that you should have an addition two to five people lined up to write recommendations if you are selected for nomination.)
Official fall internal application: In this stage, you submit your online application internally and are interviewed soon after by the Committee on Fellowships and Prizes here on campus. This online internal application includes the following elements:
A current, comprehensive resumé, including employment, activities, honors, skills, and languages. This need not be limited to one page.
Please note that Rhodes Scholarships are available to citizens of more than 20 countries besides the United States. Deadlines for the competition in other countries may be much earlier than those in the United States. In addition, in some countries students pursuing undergraduate degrees abroad are not eligible to apply for the Rhodes. See the Rhodes website for more details.
Adviser: Eleanor (Ellie) Stanford, Fellowship Adviser.
Selection Criteria: In keeping with the criteria established by Cecil Rhodes’s will, selection committees seek candidates who will be “intellectually, morally, and physically capable of leadership,” whether that leadership is in traditional public service or not.
In addition to an excellent overall academic record, strong applicants will have extracurricular activities that demonstrate qualities of moral leadership and social purpose.
Finally, although Rhodes applicants need not be athletes, some activity that attests to “physical vigor” will certainly strengthen their application. In addition, successful applicants should have strong preparation and a convincing rationale for the proposed field of graduate study.
Application Process
Preliminary application: Because competition for this scholarship is so intense, it is important to begin the application process early. The initial application is intended to get you started putting together the materials you will need for later stages. Based on your initial application, you will receive feedback from the Fellowships Adviser regarding whether you have the potential to receive institutional endorsement and if so what steps you should take and what concerns you will have to address to earn that endorsement.
Rhodes Preliminary Application Form
The preliminary application will consist of the following:
A current, comprehensive resumé, including employment, activities, honors, skills, and languages. This need not be limited to one page. Please include a description of planned employment or other activities for the upcoming summer and fall. The names of five to eight potential writers of letter of recommendation, at least four of whom should be professors. You are advised to inform these writers of your plans to apply for this fellowship. A personal statement worksheet A list of any other fellowships you are planning to apply for A list of any questions you have about the fellowship or the application process
Who is Eligible?
To be eligible for the American competition, you must be:
A U.S. citizen. At least 18 but not yet 24 on Oct. 1 of the year of application Recipient of a bachelor's degree before taking up the award.
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The Schwarzman Scholarship is awarded for a year of graduate study in public policy, economics and business, or international studies at Tsinghua University in Beijing, China.
Two hundred students of exceptional ability will have the opportunity to pursue a fully-funded Master's Degree at Schwarzman College in Tsinghua University. Schwarzman Scholars will study with world-renowned faculty from the U.S. and elsewhere and will also benefit from many opportunities for travel, mentorship, and leadership development. Note that prior knowledge of Mandarin is not required since core courses will be taught in English. For those students who do not know Chinese, basic conversational Mandarin classes will begin pre-semester and continue throughout the year.
Deadlines
- U.S. and other passports: Preliminary: Aug. 1, 2024; Internal: Sep. 1, 2024; External: Sep. 12, 2024
- Chinese passports: Preliminary: Mar. 1, 2025; Internal: Apr. 15, 2025; External: mid-May 2025 (to start Sept. 2026)
Official internal application: Leadership essay and Statement of Purpose
Official external application: The application includes the following major elements:
Online application Statement of Purpose (up to 500 words) Leadership essay (up to 750 words) Three letters of recommendation. One must be from someone who can speak to the experiences you discuss in your leadership essay. Schwarzman does not require an institutional nomination. Uploaded transcripts. Resume Strongly recommended: one-minute video introducing yourself.
Who is Eligible?
Students from all majors and international students.
Applicants must be at least 18 but not yet 29 years of age as of August 1 of their enrollment year.. No restrictions based on either citizenship or major. However, please note that applicants who hold passports from Mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Macao will apply online from January to May of the year before the program begins (i.e. January-May 2024 for study beginning in 2025).
Adviser: Eleanor (Ellie) Stanford, Fellowship Adviser.
Selection criteria: As stated on the Schwarzman website, "Scholars will be selected on the basis of not only their academic aptitude and intellectual ability, but also their leadership potential, entrepreneurial spirit, ability to anticipate paradigm changes, exemplary character, and desire to understand other cultures, perspectives and positions."
Although there is no GPA minimum, most strong candidates will have very strong academic records, with GPAs that would place them near the top of the course (approximately 3.8 and above).
Application Process
Preliminary application (recommended): Complete the online preliminary application.
US and other passports: online preliminary application Chinese passports: online preliminary application
Awarded for two years of graduate study in the U.S. Candidates must be under 30 and either holders of Green Cards, naturalized U.S. citizens, or children of two naturalized citizen parents.
- Adviser: Eleanor (Ellie) Stanford, Fellowship Adviser
- Deadline(s): Preliminary: Aug. 1, 2024; Internal: Sept. 20, 2024; External: early Nov. 2024
Awarded for a year of non-academic inquiry and travel abroad. Candidates must submit a "realistic, imaginative, and personally significant" project proposal. The fellowship does not fund formal study at a foreign university. Students must apply during their senior year; no applications from alumnae are accepted. Bryn Mawr is allowed to nominate up to four candidates from among the senior class.
