Scholarships and Fellowships for Sophomores and Juniors

Join the Fellowships email list for announcements on these and other opportunities!

The Beinecke Scholarship

For graduate study in the Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences, this scholarship enables highly motivated students of exceptional promise to pursue opportunities available to them and to be courageous in the selection of a graduate course of study.

  • Campus Deadline: January 22, 2008
  • Information Meeting: November 27, noon to 1:00 p.m. in Meyer 144. RSVP here
  • Award: A total of $34,000 for graduate education; $4000 of the total may be applied to costs associated with undergraduate program of study  
  • Eligibility
    • Nomination by Stanford through UAR
    • Junior status
    • Major in humanities, social sciences or the arts
    • Intention to enter a master's or doctoral program in the arts, humanities or social sciences
    • Demonstrated superior standards of intellectual ability, scholastic achievement
    • US citizen or US national from American Samoa or the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands
    • Documented history of receiving need-based financial aid during undergraduate education
  • Application Instructions
    • Download and read the detailed instructions on how to complete and submit an application (PDF)
    • Download the Financial Form and ask Student Financial Services to fill it out
    • Download the short application cover
    • Register via the UAR pre-application form to participate in the campus competition 
    • Consult with Beinecke campus advisors regarding the content and writing of your statement of purpose
    • Request letters from three professors in your field
    • Visit the Beinecke Scholarship website

Back to Top

Center for the Study of the Presidency Fellowship Program

For sophomores and juniors with a focused research agenda related in some way to the American presidency who want to learn about leadership and governance, to share their outstanding research and scholarship, to develop as future leaders of character, and to be inspired to careers in public service. 

  • Campus Deadline: Tuesday, February 19, 2008 - PLEASE NOTE DATE CHANGE
  • Award
    • Lifelong Fellowship in the Center
    • Funding to attend two conferences in Washington DC, one in the Spring and one in the Fall of academic year 2008-2009, where they have the opportunity to develop and present a research paper
    • Mentorship by government or think tank staff
  • Eligibility
    • Nomination by Stanford through UAR 
    • Currently enrolled Stanford sophomores and juniors majoring in history, international relations, political science, or related fields
    • Demonstrated strong academic record
    • Demonstrated interest in the Office of the Presidency
    • Demonstrated leadership skills
    • Demonstrated ability to research, write and present original material
  • Application Instructions
    • Download and read the detailed instructions (PDF)
    • Register via the UAR pre-application form to participate in the campus competition 
    • Consult with CSP campus advisors regarding the content and writing of your application

Back to Top

The Goldman Sachs Global Leaders Program


For sophomores in all fields with demonstrated potential to create global communities in response to world challenges.

  • Campus Deadline: October 30, 2007
  • Award:
    • All expense-paid participation in weeklong leadership and mentoring program
    • Membership in Global Leaders cohort
    • Potential future funding of an individual project up to $10,000 awarded to Global Leaders only
  • Eligibility
    • Nomination by Stanford through UAR
    • Current Stanford sophomores with a minimum GPA of 3.4 to 4.0 or equivalent
    • Pursuing their first undergraduate degree
    • Strong record of leadership and participation in public or community affairs
  • Application Instructions
    • PLEASE NOTE: This application requires two applications — one for the campus competition due on -------- and the other by campus finalists in January direct to the foundation.
    • Download and read the detailed instructions (PDF)
      • Register via the UAR pre-application form to participate in the campus competition
      • Consult with GSGLP campus advisors regarding the content and writing of your application

Back to Top

The Goldwater Scholarship

For sophomores and juniors with outstanding potential who intend to pursue a career in mathematics, engineering, and/or the natural sciences.

  • Campus Deadline: December 4, 2007
  • Award
    • Eligible expenses for tuition, fees, books and room and board, up to the maximum of $7,500 annually
    • Junior-level scholarship recipients are eligible for a maximum of two years of scholarship support; senior-level scholarship recipients are eligible for one year of scholarship support
  • Eligibility
    • Nomination by Stanford through UAR.
    • Open to full-time registered sophomores or juniors at Stanford who intend to pursue careers in mathematics, the natural sciences, or engineering
    • While the Goldwater Foundation requires a GPA of at least a B (or the equivalent) in the upper fourth of your class, the Stanford selection process is highly competitive and experiences indicates that only students with a GPA of 3.7 and above will be nominated
    • US citizen, resident alien, or US national from American Samoa or the Commonwealth of the Mariana Islands
  • Application Instructions

Back to Top

Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellowship Program

For sophomores who are committed, as future professors, to try to address the educational consequences of racial and ethnic disparities in higher education.

  • Campus Deadline: TBD; please check back
  • Award
    • Structured programming, faculty mentoring, term-time stipend for research activities, support for summer research, and repayment of undergraduate loans of up to $10,000 
    • Additional financial support available for expenses related to pursuit of graduate degree
  • Eligibility
    • Junior standing (90+ units) by September 2007, with no more than six quarters at Stanford by that date
    • An interest in a career in college or university teaching
    • Exceptional scholarly promise in one of the following Mellon-designated fields of study:
      • Anthropology
      • Area Studies
      • Art History
      • Classics
      • Computer Science
      • Demography
      • Drama
      • English
      • Ethnomusicology
      • Foreign Languages
      • History
      • Linguistics
      • Literature
      • Musicology
      • Philosophy
      • Political theory
      • Religion
      • Sociology
    • An intention to matriculate in a Ph.D. program
    • Status as a U.S. citizen or permanent resident
  • Application Instructions
    • Submit the following materials to Laura Selznick in office 341 on the third floor of Sweet Hall:
      • A cover sheet with name, address(es) (campus, summer, and/or permanent), phone number, declared or prospective major, names of reference writers, and a waiver granting permission to share your official transcript with the campus selection committee and the Mellon Foundation
      • Three letters of recommendation including at least two written by faculty familiar with your work
      • A one-page personal essay relating your academic and career goals to the legacy of Dr. Benjamin E. Mays. This essay should describe other activities that demonstrate your ability to take responsibility, work, independently, and show initiative or perseverence. Dr. Mays' biography and bibliographic references may be found at http://mmuf.stanford.edu
      • A two- to three-page essay on one of the following topics:
        • Your academic interests, the area you plan to study in depth and why
        • An academic experience that has motivated you toward advanced study
        • A situation in which you felt like a scholar: What intellectual experience or scholarly discovery inspired you?
      • A personal interview will be required

Back to Top

Pickering Foreign Affairs Undergraduate Fellowship Program

For sophomores in academic programs relevant to international affairs, political and economic analysis, administration, management, and science policy. The goal of this scholarship is to attract outstanding students from all ethnic, racial, and social backgrounds who have an interest in pursuing a Foreign Service career in the U.S. Department of State.

  • Deadline: February 8, 2008
  • Award: The Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation offers two different awards. The first is for undergraduates and the second is for graduate or professional schooling in the following fields:
    • International affairs
    • Political and economic analysis
    • Administration
    • Management
    • Science policy or related fields
  • The Thomas R. Pickering Foreign Affairs Undergraduate Fellowship Program offers the following:
    • Funding to sophomores for junior and senior years, plus the first year of graduate studies, including tuition and other fees. In addition, it offers a living stipend, reimbursement for books and one round-trip travel between home and school
    • Financial support from participating schools for the second year of graduate study, based on need
    • Stipends to fund participation in one domestic and one overseas internship within the US Department of State
    • Mentoring from a Foreign Service Officer during the graduate degree segment of the program
  • PLEASE NOTE: Successful candidates must attend a summer institute between the junior and senior years of college and complete specified coursework by graduation. The successful candidate is also obligated to a minimum of four and one-half years of service in an appointment as a Foreign Service Officer.
  • Eligibility
    • US citizens only
    • Sophomores only
    • A cumulative GPA of 3.2 (or higher) on a 4.0 scale at the time of application
    • Maintenance of a cumulative GPA of 3.2 (or higher) on a 4.0 scale throughout participation in the program
    • Community, academic, other extracurricular and leadership activities will be considered during the selection process
    • Medical and security clearances required for program participation. Fellows must meet Department of State entry requirements for Foreign Service Officers
  • Application Instructions
    • Read the detailed instructions available at the Woodrow Wilson Foundation
    • Consult the foundation website to request that a copy of materials be sent to you via US Postal Service up to one week before the deadline. YOU MUST REQUEST AN APPLICATION
    • Submit application materials directly to The Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation
    • Consult with campus advisors regarding the content of your application, selection of recommenders and preparation for an interview

Back to Top

The Truman Scholarship

For graduate or professional study, leadership training, and fellowship with other students who are committed to making a difference through public service, the Truman Scholarship seeks juniors with exceptional leadership potential committed to careers in government, the nonprofit or advocacy sectors, education or elsewhere in the public service.

  • Campus Deadline: November 5, 2007
  • Award: Tuition, fees, books, room and board, distributed as follows:
    • Up to $3,000 for the Scholar's senior year
    • An additional $27,000 spread over two or three years of graduate study in the US or abroad, including professional school, subject to annual review
  • Eligibility
    • US citizen
    • Juniors only
    • Commitment to a career in public service
    • Record of leadership
    • Minimum GPA of 3.5
  • Application Instructions
    • Nomination by Stanford through UAR
    • Download and read the detailed instructions
    • Preregister by sending your name, permanent address and GPA to Renee Courey by November 1.
    • Fill out UAR's pre-application form to participate in the campus competition. 
    • Consult with Truman campus advisors regarding the content and writing of your application.

Back to Top

Morris K. Udall Scholarship

For sophomores and juniors who intend to become leaders across a wide spectrum of environmental fields, including policy, engineering, science, education, urban planning and renewal, business, health, justice, and economics. The Foundation also seeks future Native American and Alaska Native leaders in public and community health care, tribal government, and public policy affecting Native American communities, including land and resource management, economic development, and education.

  • Campus Deadline: January 22, 2008
  • Award: Up to $5,000, or the cost of tuition, fees, books, room and board, whichever is less for one year of support per application year
  • Eligibility
    • Nomination by Stanford through UAR
    • Current sophomores or juniors (see Udall Foundation website for definitions of class standing).
    • Must study a field relating to the environment or Native American / Native Alaskan health care or tribal policy.
    • GPA of “B” or above
    • Full-time enrollment in Stanford during 2008-2009 year
    • Scholars selected during their sophomore year may be renominated during the next year's competition.
  • Application Instructions
    • Download and read the detailed instructions
    • To register, send your email and permanent address to Renee Courey.
    • Fill out UAR's pre-application form to participate in the campus competition. 
    • Consult with Udall campus advisors regarding the content and writing of your application.
    • Visit the Udall Scholarship website.
    • A committee of UAR staff and Stanford faculty will review applications and select up to six nominees for the national Udall Foundation. Nominees will resubmit a final version of the application on an official form, working closely with UAR staff to finalize materials. The UAR will send nominee applications to the Udall Foundation in February 2008.

Back to Top

The Elie Wiesel Prize in Ethics

For juniors and seniors who wish to analyze the urgent and complex ethical problems that confront them in today's world.

  • Deadline: TBD; traditionally in October
  • Award: First prize $5,000; second prize $2,500; third prize $1,500; two honorable mentions $500 each
  • Eligibility
    • Full-time juniors or seniors at accredited four-year colleges or universities in the US and Canada during the Fall 2008 semester
  • Application Instructions
    • Work with your faculty to prepare the essay and consult Hilton Obenzinger.
    • Read the detailed instructions and obtain entry form at the Elie Weisel Foundation website.
    • Obtain a letter on Stanford stationary from Office of the Registrar verifying eligibility.
    • Submit application materials directly to Elie Wiesel Foundation.

Back to Top