Apply for Awards
Fellowships can come in many shapes and sizes. What they do have in common is that they are all prestigious, merit-based competitions that are external to the University of Houston. All fellowships promote a specific mission that prospective candidates should understand. While fellowships can seem desirable because they provide opportunities such as travel, research, graduate tuition, internships, and monetary stipends (to name but a few examples), it is more important for prospective applicants to consider whether the mission and desired candidate profile are the right fit.
You will find on this page a selection of different fellowships and databases. Please note that some fellowships, as denoted below, require an official campus nomination. In these cases, you must seek a formal nomination from the University of Houston through the Office of Undergraduate Research and Major Awards (OURMA). Generally speaking, all students are encouraged to speak with OURMA as early as possible about their interest in any fellowship opportunity.
Fellowships and Awards
All Language and Study Abroad Awards
- Boren Awards
- Summer, semester, and year-long study in regions critical to U.S. national security. Requires one-year commitment to federal government employment after graduation (can be deferred).
- Deadline: January
- Critical Language Scholarship
- Funds intensive summer language institute in a country where critical language is spoken.
- Deadline: November
- DAAD Scholarship
- Short- and long-term internships, research, and study abroad programs in all fields in Germany. Some require university or department endorsement.
- Deadlines vary
- Fulbright U.K. Summer Institutes
- Three to six-week academic and cultural summer programs for first-year and sophomore students.
- Deadline: February
- Fulbright U.S. Student Program
- Prestigious cultural exchange program sponsored by the U.S. State Department. Supports one year of independent research, arts projects, graduate study, or teaching English abroad.
- Campus Deadline: September
- *Campus nomination required
- Humanity in Action
- The Humanity in Action Fellowships explore issues of social justice, human rights, remembrance culture, and civic engagement. Fellows participate in an intensive three-week educational program, after which they embark on implementing an Action Project in their own communities.
- Deadline: February
- Princeton in Africa
- Offers a year-long experience contributing to Africa's institutions in areas such as business and economic development, education and youth capacity building, public and community health, environmental conservation and sustainability, and civil society.
- Deadline: October
- Princeton in Asia
- Offers a one or two year immersive work placement at host organizations in Asia.
- Deadline: November
- Princeton in Latin America
- Places highly qualified recent college graduates in year-long service fellowships with nonprofit, public service, humanitarian, and government organizations in Latin America and the Caribbean.
- Deadline: November
All Undergraduate Awards
- Amgen Scholars
- Students work full-time on independent research projects under the guidance of a research scientist. Additionally, students take part in seminars, networking events, and a symposium where they meet their peers, learn about biotechnology, and hear from leading scientists.
- Deadline: February
- DAAD RISE Germany
- Offers summer research and professional internships in Germany for undergraduate students.
- Deadline: November
- DOD SMART
- Full scholarship and summer internship opportunities. For every year of funding, the recipient commits to working for a year with the Department of Defense.
- Deadline: December
- Gaither Junior Fellows
- Fellows work as research assistants to Carnegie Endowment for International Peace's senior scholars.
- Deadline: January
- *Campus nomination required
- Goldwater Scholarship
- Prestigious award for students pursuing research careers in STEM. Awards $7,500 per year for up to two years.
- Campus Deadline: November
- *Campus nomination required
- Hollings Undergraduate Scholarship
- Up to $9,500 per year for two years of study and a 10-week, full-time paid summer internship at a NOAA facility.
- Deadline: January
- PBK Key into Public Service
- $5,000 scholarship and conference program that provides training on pathways into public service careers.
- Deadline: January
- Point Flagship Scholarship
- Financial support and mentoring for LGBTQ students earning their undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral degrees at accredited colleges in the U.S.
- Deadline: December
- PPIA Junior Summer Institute
- Rigorous graduate-level preparation program for juniors committed to public service careers.
- Deadline: November
- National Science Foundation REUs
- Supports active research participation by undergraduate students in any of the areas funded by the National Science Foundation.
- Deadlines vary
- Rangel International Affairs Summer Enrichment Program
- Six-week summer program for U.S. students planning a career in the foreign service.
- Deadline: February
- Sumners At-Large Scholarship
- $15,000 per year for juniors and seniors attending a Texas or Oklahoma university or college.
- Deadline: March
- Udall Scholarship
- $7,000 to sophomores and juniors with the commitment and potential to make significant contributions to the fields of the environment, tribal health, or tribal governance.
- Campus Deadline: December
- *Campus nomination required
- Voyager Scholarship
- Gives college students financial aid to alleviate the burden of college debt, meaningful travel experiences to expand their horizons, and a network of mentors and leaders to support them, including up to $50,000 in financial aid, a sumer work-travel experience, and travel stipend.
- Deadline: March
General Undergraduate Awards
- Point Flagship Scholarship
- Financial support and mentoring for LGBTQ students earning their undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral degrees at accredited colleges in the U.S.
- Deadline: December
- Voyager Scholarship
- Gives college students financial aid to alleviate the burden of college debt, meaningful travel experiences to expand their horizons, and a network of mentors and leaders to support them, including up to $50,000 in financial aid, a sumer work-travel experience, and travel stipend.
- Deadline: March
STEM Undergraduate Awards
- Amgen Scholars
- Students work full-time on independent research projects under the guidance of a research scientist. Additionally, students take part in seminars, networking events, and a symposium where they meet their peers, learn about biotechnology, and hear from leading scientists.
- Deadline: February
- DAAD RISE Germany
- Offers summer research and professional internships in Germany for undergraduate students.
- Deadline: November
- DOD SMART
- Full scholarship and summer internship opportunities. For every year of funding, the recipient commits to working for a year with the Department of Defense.
- Deadline: December
- Goldwater Scholarship
- Prestigious award for students pursuing research careers in STEM. Awards $7,500 per year for up to two years.
- Campus Deadline: November
- *Campus nomination required
- Hollings Undergraduate Scholarship
- Up to $9,500 per year for two years of study and a 10-week, full-time paid summer internship at a NOAA facility.
- Deadline: January
- National Science Foundation REUs
- Supports active research participation by undergraduate students in any of the areas funded by the National Science Foundation.
- Deadlines vary
- Udall Scholarship
- $7,000 to sophomores and juniors with the commitment and potential to make significant contributions to the fields of the environment, tribal health, or tribal governance.
- Campus Deadline: December
- *Campus nomination required
Social Sciences and Humanities Undergraduate Awards
- Gaither Junior Fellows
- Fellows work as research assistants to Carnegie Endowment for International Peace's senior scholars.
- Deadline: January
- *Campus nomination required
- PBK Key into Public Service
- $5,000 scholarship and conference program that provides training on pathways into public service careers.
- Deadline: January
- PPIA Junior Summer Institute
- Rigorous graduate-level preparation program for juniors committed to public service careers.
- Deadline: November
- Rangel International Affairs Summer Enrichment Program
- Six-week summer program for U.S. students planning a career in the foreign service.
- Deadline: February
- Sumners At-Large Scholarship
- $15,000 per year for juniors and seniors attending a Texas or Oklahoma university or college.
- Deadline: March
All Graduate Awards
- DAAD RISE Pro
- Offers summer research and professional internships in Germany for recent graduates and graduate students.
- Deadline: November
- DOD SMART
- Full scholarship and summer internship opportunities to prepare students for employment with the U.S. Department of Defense. For every year of degree funding, the recipient commits to working for a year with the DoD.
- Deadline: December
- Gates Cambridge Scholarship
- Post-graduate study at Cambridge University in all fields. Applicants must show evidence of commitment to improving the lives of others.
- Deadline: October
- GEM Fellowship
- Offers opportunities for MS and PhD students to enter industry in areas such as research and development, product development, and other high level technical careers. Fellows receive tuition, a stipend, and a graduate level summer work experience.
- Deadline: November
- Hertz Graduate Fellowship
- Prestigious graduate fellowship provides a $30,000+ stipend and educational costs for 3-5 years to top seniors and graduate students pursuing research careers in STEM.
- Deadline: October
- Knight-Hennessy Scholarship
- Up to three years of funding to pursue graduate studies at Stanford University.
- Campus Deadline: September
- *Campus nomination required
- Luce Scholars
- Nationally competitive fellowship that offers early-career leaders immersive, professional experiences in Asia.
- Deadline: October
- Marshall Scholarship
- Funding for graduate study in the UK in all fields. Scholars are intellectually very strong, have significant leadership potential, and can explain how they will contribute to the UK throughout their careers.
- Campus Deadline: September
- *Campus nomination required
- Mitchell Scholarship
- Funding for one year of post-graduate study in Ireland/Northern Ireland in all fields. Selection criteria include scholarship, leadership, and sustained commitment to public/community service.
- Campus Deadline: September
- *Campus nomination required
- NDSEG Fellowship
- Funding for doctoral degrees in science and engineering disciplines of military importance.
- Deadline: October
- National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowships Program (NSF-GRFP)
- $34,000 per year for up to three years of research-based study leading to an MS or PhD in STEM and Social Sciences.
- Deadline: October
- PKP Fellowship
- Scholarships for students entering the first year of graduate or professional study.
- Campus Deadline: March
- *Campus nomination required
- Pickering Foreign Affairs Fellowship
- For those interested in careers in the U.S. Foreign Service.
- Deadline: October
- Point Flagship Scholarship
- Financial support and mentoring for LGBTQ students earning their undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral degrees at accredited colleges in the U.S.
- Deadline: December
- Rangel International Affairs Program
- Graduate fellowship for U.S. students planning a career in U.S. Foreign Service.
- Deadline: October
- Rhodes Scholarship
- Funding for graduate study at Oxford University in all fields. Applicants should demonstrate academic excellence, leadership potential in their fields, and the will to "fight the world's fight."
- Deadline: September
- *Campus nomination required
- Schwarzman Scholarship
- Funds a one year master's program (in English) at Tsinghua University in Beijing designed to prepare an elite class of future leaders to meet the challenges of the 21st-century global landscape.
- Campus Deadline: August
- *Campus nomination required
- Truman Scholarship
- $30,000 toward graduate or professional school for juniors who have demonstrated a commitment to making a difference through public service.
- Campus Deadline: November
- *Campus nomination required
General Graduate Awards
- Gates Cambridge Scholarship
- Post-graduate study at Cambridge University in all fields. Applicants must show evidence of commitment to improving the lives of others.
- Deadline: October
- Knight-Hennessy Scholarship
- Up to three years of funding to pursue graduate studies at Stanford University.
- Campus Deadline: September
- *Campus nomination required
- Marshall Scholarship
- Funding for graduate study in the UK in all fields. Scholars are intellectually very strong, have significant leadership potential, and can explain how they will contribute to the UK throughout their careers.
- Campus Deadline: September
- *Campus nomination required
- Mitchell Scholarship
- Funding for one year of post-graduate study in Ireland/Northern Ireland in all fields. Selection criteria include scholarship, leadership, and sustained commitment to public/community service.
- Campus Deadline: September
- *Campus nomination required
- PKP Fellowship
- Scholarships for students entering the first year of graduate or professional study.
- Campus Deadline: March
- *Campus nomination required
- Rhodes Scholarship
- Funding for graduate study at Oxford University in all fields. Applicants should demonstrate academic excellence, leadership potential in their fields, and the will to "fight the world's fight."
- Deadline: September
- *Campus nomination required
- Schwarzman Scholarship
- Funds a one year master's program (in English) at Tsinghua University in Beijing designed to prepare an elite class of future leaders to meet the challenges of the 21st-century global landscape.
- Campus Deadline: August
- *Campus nomination required
- Truman Scholarship
- $30,000 toward graduate or professional school for juniors who have demonstrated a commitment to making a difference through public service.
- Campus Deadline: November
- *Campus nomination required
STEM Graduate Awards
- DAAD RISE Pro
- Offers summer research and professional internships in Germany for recent graduates and graduate students.
- Deadline: November
- DOD SMART
- Full scholarship and summer internship opportunities to prepare students for employment with the U.S. Department of Defense. For every year of degree funding, the recipient commits to working for a year with the DoD.
- Deadline: December
- GEM Fellowship
- Offers opportunities for MS and PhD students to enter industry in areas such as research and development, product development, and other high level technical careers. Fellows receive tuition, a stipend, and a graduate level summer work experience.
- Deadline: November
- Hertz Graduate Fellowship
- Prestigious graduate fellowship provides a $30,000+ stipend and educational costs for 3-5 years to top seniors and graduate students pursuing research careers in STEM.
- Deadline: October
- National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowships Program (NSF-GRFP)
- $34,000 per year for up to three years of research-based study leading to an MS or PhD in STEM and Social Sciences.
- Deadline: October
- NDSEG Fellowship
- Funding for doctoral degrees in science and engineering disciplines of military importance.
- Deadline: October
Social Sciences and Humanities Graduate Awards
- Luce Scholars
- Nationally competitive fellowship that offers early-career leaders immersive, professional experiences in Asia.
- Deadline: October
- Pickering Foreign Affairs Fellowship
- For those interested in careers in the U.S. Foreign Service.
- Deadline: October
- Point Flagship Scholarship
- Financial support and mentoring for LGBTQ students earning their undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral degrees at accredited colleges in the U.S.
- Deadline: December
- Rangel International Affairs Program
- Graduate fellowship for U.S. students planning a career in U.S. Foreign Service.
- Deadline: October
Fellowship Databases
Want to expand your search? The following free databases can be a great way to explore national fellowship opportunities. In the process of your search, the Office of Undergraduate Research and Major Awards encourages you to speak with Dr. Ben Rayder about any opportunities that you might find for additional consultation.