Fellowships and Scholarships for Study Abroad

Caitlin Roberts-Donovan
Caitlin Roberts-Donovan

About 45% of Wellesley students pursue study abroad during their time as an undergraduate—and fellowships and scholarships can help support that study!  Explore this resource for specific opportunities and advice on how to get started.

Teaching Fellowships

Caitlin Roberts-Donovan
Caitlin Roberts-Donovan

One of the common “purposeful activities” that fellowships can fund is teaching: in the U.S. or abroad; opportunities with or without previous teaching experience; and at all levels of instruction, from elementary school to university level and beyond. This resource is by no means exhaustive, but instead aims to provide seniors and graduates with an introduction to the biggest and most common teaching fellowships

Killam Fellowships Program (students)

Kate Dailinger
Kate Dailinger

The Killam Fellowships Program, administered by Fulbright Canada, allows undergraduate students from Canada and the United States to participate in a program of binational residential exchange. Killam Fellows spend either one semester or a full academic year as an exchange student in the host country. Students can apply either to the direct exchange program, which is limited to certain participating university partners, or to the open competition, allowing for participation from (and to) any accredited degree-granting college or university in either country.

Beinecke Scholarship Program (juniors)

Kate Dailinger
Kate Dailinger

Supports two years of graduate study at a university in the US or abroad for those aiming to pursue degrees in the arts, humanities, and social sciences. Eligible are US citizens and nationals who are current juniors. Campus application deadline typically in January.

Boren Awards (students)

Kate Dailinger
Kate Dailinger

Supports study abroad of less-commonly-taught languages in world regions critical to US interests, and underrepresented in study abroad. Study abroad programs of a year are preferred, but a spring plus summer can be a good option and summer programs will be considered for students majoring in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields. Eligible for the Scholarship are Wellesley first years, sophomores, and juniors who are US citizens, and Wellesley seniors who are also applying for U.S.-based graduate programs might apply for the Fellowship. Campus application deadline typically in January.

Wellesley students should seek advice about appropriate study abroad programs from the Office of International Study, although the Fellowships office is happy to offer advice on Boren Scholarship applications.

A Brief Introduction to Fellowships and Scholarships

Kate Dailinger
Kate Dailinger

Fellowships and scholarships offer funding to support a range of purposeful activities, including undergraduate research, language study/other study abroad, self-designed projects, teaching and service, graduate or professional study, or even internships and professional placements. They can open doors for you to things you might not be able to pursue otherwise.

There are opportunities for students and graduates of every nationality and at every stage of their careers. What might be the right fit for you?

Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellowship (sophomores and juniors)

Kate Dailinger
Kate Dailinger

The Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellowship Program (MMUF) was founded to increase diversity among minority faculty scholars in higher education. MMUF supports underrepresented minority students and others who have demonstrated commitment to eradicating racial disparities in academia by encouraging talented students to develop their academic interests, pursue and complete their doctoral training, and thrive in their faculty careers in higher education. With funding from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, MMUF undergraduates are able to conduct original undergraduate research in the humanities and social sciences. Campus deadline annually in March

Projects for Peace (students)

Kate Dailinger
Kate Dailinger

Created in 2007 by Kathryn Wasserman Davis (Wellesley College '28), the Projects for Peace program offers undergraduates and graduating seniors funding to design a grassroots project for the summer of 2024—anywhere in the world — that promotes peace and addresses the root causes of conflict among parties. Projects may employ innovative techniques for engaging project participants in ways that focus on conflict resolution, reconciliation, building understanding and breaking down barriers that cause conflict, and finding ways to resolve conflict and maintain peace. Any current Wellesley student is eligible to apply. Campus application deadline typically in January.

Sep 27, 2024

Jerome A. Schiff Fellowship - expected direct application deadline

Eligible: Wellesley students enrolled in a 360 in the fall or intending to enroll in a 360 in spring.

Undergraduate, Research/Gradschool, International Student

A generous gift from the Jerome A. Schiff Charitable Trust allows Wellesley to support students pursuing independent research projects through the senior Honors thesis program.  The fellowships are awarded on the basis of merit, and the number of fellows each year is determined by available funding and the number of qualified applicants.  **For details please see the Schiff website.  

**Please note this is an expected deadline; please see the program website for updates and additional details.

Questions?  Any prospective applicants are welcome to seek advice from the ...

Sep 23, 2024

Daniels Fellowship - expected direct application deadline

Eligible: seniors in good standing at Wellesley.

Undergraduate, International Student, Research/Gradschool

Wellesley's Pamela Daniels ’59 Fellowship is a merit award intended to encourage the maverick spirit at Wellesley. It is meant to provide an opportunity for seniors to envision and carry out a piece of work that they would love to do before graduation—a work of imagination as well as intellect, a worthy and vivid dream project that explores who they are as well as what they know. The Daniels supports a senior project (that may be but is not required to be an honors thesis).

What would you love to do...