Scholarship lists & guides
There are many great scholarships out there, which makes searching for scholarships a challenging process that takes time. The lists we’ve collected here are intended to give you a helpful starting point, but you will find many more great options using additional search tools for a more extensive search. These are not exhaustive lists!
Search OMSFA’s database More search tools
More Scholarship Lists for:
Research
Below are links to selected examples of scholarships supporting students engaged in research in various fields. A * indicates those that require UW nomination or pre-application.
- Carnegie Endowment for International Peace Junior Fellowship*
- Department of Defense Science, Math and Research for Transformation Scholarship for Service Program
- Mary Gates Endowment Research Scholarship
- German Academic Exchange Service Research Internships in Science & Engineering
- Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship*
- NOAA Ernest F. Hollings Undergraduate Scholarship
- Levinson Emerging Scholars Program
- Library Research Award for Undergraduates
- National Institutes of Health Undergraduate Scholarship
- National Institutes of Health Post-Baccalaureate Intramural Research Training Award
- National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program
- Think Swiss Research Scholarship
- Washington Research Foundation Fellowship
Service and Leadership
Below are a some examples of scholarships supporting or related to students’ leadership & service experiences. A * indicates those that require UW nomination or pre-application:
- Mary Gates Endowment Leadership Scholarship
- Community Engagement & Leadership Education (CELE) Fellowships
- Bill Emerson National Hunger Fellowship
- Humanity in Action
- Samuel Huntington Public Service Award
- Luce Scholars Program*
- Marshall Scholarships*
- Public Policy & International Affairs (PPIA) Junior Summer Institute
- Charles B. Rangel International Affairs Summer Enrichment Program
- Partnership for Public Service Internship Program
- Harry S. Truman Scholarship*
- Morris K. and Stewart L. Udall Foundation Undergraduate Scholarship*
Study Abroad
Below are a few selected Examples of need-based study abroad scholarships:
- Gilman Scholarship
- Freeman-ASIA Scholarships
- OMAD/EOP Scholarships – Contact your EOP adviser to ask about these opportunities
- UW Study Abroad Scholarships
Selected Examples of Merit-based Study Abroad Scholarships. A * indicates those that require UW nomination or pre-application:
International Gap Year & Post-Graduation
Opportunities for funded study, research, and other experiences abroad after graduation are more limited, but here is a selected list of a few of the programs available. This does not include the myriad of opportunities that fund graduate studies, but includes a few that can be used to fund graduate studies internationally. A * indicates those that require UW nomination or pre-application:
Career related
Selected examples of scholarships supporting professional experiences, specific career goals, and/or students with strong work and internship experience:
- Boren Scholarships*
- Carnegie Endowment for International Peace Junior Fellowship*
- Department of Defense Science, Math and Research for Transformation Scholarship for Service Program
- National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program
- Luce Scholars Program*
- Thomas R. Pickering Foreign Affairs Fellowship
- Charles B. Rangel International Affairs Fellowship
- UW Class of 1954 Achievement Scholarship
- UW Class of 1957 Scholar Award
Additional Scholarship Information for:
International Students
While international students and their families do have to assume all financial responsibility for tuition and living expenses in the US, and not having US citizenship does limit the number of scholarships for which international students are eligible, there are scholarship opportunities international students can take advantage of. Eligibility requirements for scholarships vary, but many scholarships awarded by UW academic departments and programs are open to students regardless of US citizenship.
Use our scholarship search to get a more tailored list.
Additional scholarship search resources that may be helpful for international students:
- Institute of International Education
- NAFSA Association of International Educators
- International Education Financial Aid
- EduPASS Financial Aid for International Students
- US State Department’s Education USA
- International Study Abroad: Scholarships, Fellowships and Postdoctoral Awards for Students
- Study in the USA
- InternationalScholarships.com
- AbroadPlanet.com
Additional UW resources for international students:
- Center for International Relations & Cultural Leadership Exchange (CIRCLE)
- International Student Services Office
- FIUTS (Foundation for International Understanding Through Students)
Military Service Members, Veterans & Family Members
Military Service Members, Veterans and their family members can explore and receive scholarships to support their academic work, in addition to any GI benefits they may already be receiving. Scholarships specifically geared toward veterans and their families are often offered by government agencies, non-profit organizations within military communities, and others. Veterans’ experiences, leadership training, commitment, and academic interests often can make them very competitive for all types of merit-based scholarships, not just those specifically targeting veterans.
Use our scholarship search to get a more tailored list. Using the filter for “Veterans” will be helpful to target those scholarships specifically for military servicemembers, veterans and family members, including the Tillman Scholars Program.
Additional UW resources for military veterans:
Underrepresented Students
There are extensive scholarship programs that value and support students from underrepresented backgrounds, whether based on financial need, ethnicity, community, gender, and/or other identities. Please search our database, and see Other Search Tools for more extensive listings.
Short list of additional scholarship search resources:
- UNCF – private scholarship provider to minority group members
- APIASF – scholarship opportunities for Asian American and Pacific Islander Students
- HSF – empowers Latino families with the knowledge and resources to successfully complete a higher education
- American Indian College Fund scholarship resources
Additional UW resources:
Undocumented Students
Scholarship opportunities are more limited for those who are not US citizens, but there are scholarships that are open to students regardless of US citizenship status, and a few that specifically support undocumented students.
Washington State Financial Aid for DREAMers: Apply through WASFA
Apply for financial aid by completing the Washington Application for State Financial Aid (WASFA): http://readysetgrad.org/wasfa.
At UW, the Office of Student Financial Aid manages all financial aid programs included under the WASFA. Additional information is available from the Multicultural Outreach & Recruitment office.
Search our database of scholarships for those open to undocumented students.
Additional scholarship search resources for undocumented students:
- Beyond Dreaming: Scholarship List for Undocumented Students in Washington State was created by the 2018 Beyond Dreaming Conference.
- Immigrants Rising is a California-based organization that provides resources and advocacy for undocumented people and those navigating the immigration system. We recommend their Educational Resource Binder for an extensive list of scholarships for undocumented students updated every year.
- Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund provides bilingual resources for Chicano students, including scholarship lists updated annually with options open to students of all citizenship statuses.
- The Washington State Commission on Hispanic Affairs website lists resources related to college education and funding for Hispanic students across the state.
Additional UW resources for undocumented students:
- UW Leadership Without Borders is a hub for undocumented students to build community, grow as leaders, and access resources. Check out their scholarship resources and DACA myth-busters.
- Office of Minority Affairs & Diversity is the home of many academic and cultural programs to make UW a more diverse and equitable community, including academic advising, the Kelly Ethnic Cultural Center, and more.
- UW Admissions’ Financial Aid Information for Undocumented Students