Fellowships and Scholarships for Study Abroad
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
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
Ronald E. McNair Scholars Program at Wellesley College (sophomores and juniors)
The McNair Scholars Program is a federal TRIO program funded at 187 institutions across the United States and Puerto Rico by the U.S. Department of Education. McNair participants are first-generation college students with financial need, and/or members of a group that is traditionally underrepresented in graduate education and have demonstrated strong academic potential. The goal of the McNair Scholars Program is to increase graduate education for students from underrepresented groups. At Wellesley, the McNair Scholars Program is STEM focused, and applications are typically due in November each year.
National Institutes of Standards & Technology Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (NIST SURF) (students)
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) offers Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowships (SURF) at NIST laboratories in Gaithersburg, MD; Boulder, CO; and Waimanalo, Hawaii. The Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship is designed to inspire undergraduate students to pursue careers in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) through a unique research experience that supports the NIST mission. Eligible are currently enrolled undergraduates who are US citizens or permanent residents, majoring in chemistry, computer science, physics, engineering, materials science, fire research, nanotechnology, information technology, mathematics, biology, manufacturing, statistics, or another STEM discipline.
A Brief Introduction to Fellowships and Scholarships
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?
Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship (sophomores and juniors)
Supports one or two years of undergraduate study in the fields of mathematics, engineering, and natural sciences. Eligible are college sophomores or juniors who are US citizens, permanent residents, and nationals intending to pursue research careers in STEM fields. Campus application deadline typically in late November/early December.
Projects for Peace (students)
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.
Brooke Owens Fellowship - expected direct application deadline
Eligible: anyone whose gender is underrepresented in aerospace (e.g. cisgender woman, a transgender woman, non-binary, agender, bigender, two-spirit, demigender, genderfluid, genderqueer, or another form of gender other than cisgender man) and who is currently pursuing a bachelors or associates degree as of October 2024, and will have at least one semester of study left after summer '24. International students with CPT are eligible!
Brooke Owens Fellowship offers paid internships and executive mentorship for exceptional undergraduates in aerospace! Work at the coolest companies, doing the most meaningful things; connect directly with the leaders of today's industry; build a network that will launch you to the career of your dreams.
Did you know? Shannon Kearney '18, Grace Jackson '22, and Paige Dean '23 won the Brooke Owens Fellowship!
Please note, this is an expected deadline. Check official website for details....
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.
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 ...
Daniels Fellowship - expected direct application deadline
Eligible: seniors in good standing at Wellesley.
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...