Undergraduate Research Fellowships
This page is a resource for students looking for fellowships to support undergraduate research (you can also check out our resource on language and study abroad).
Beinecke Scholarship Program (juniors)
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.
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.
Truman Scholarship (juniors)
The Harry S. Truman Scholarship Foundation supports the graduate education and professional development of outstanding young people committed to public service leadership. This scholarship provides funding toward senior year and graduate school for juniors interested in a career in public service. Campus application deadline typically in November.
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?
Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellowship (sophomores and juniors)
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
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.
The Susan Rappaport Knafel ’52 Scholarship for Foreign Study or Traveling Fellowship (seniors)
Scholarship for Foreign Study – up to $36,000
The scholarship will be awarded to a member of the graduating class who displays a desire for learning and an ability to impart knowledge and judgment to others. It will fund a year of study at a foreign institution to pursue a specific subject that requires contact with foreign scholars, libraries or other resources.
Traveling Fellowship – up to $36,000
The fellowship will be awarded to a member of the graduating class who displays an interest in and an acceptance of others, and who displays the ethos of a Wellesley education. It will fund a year of purposeful travel abroad to explore a particular interest with the requirement that the recipient not remain in the same area for more than two months.
Rangel International Affairs Graduate Fellowship Program - expected direct application deadline
Eligible: seniors and graduates who are U.S. citizens and planning to start two-year graduate programs in fall following application for the Rangel.
The Charles B. Rangel International Affairs Graduate Fellowship program seeks young people interested in making a difference in the world as Foreign Service Officers in the U.S. Department of State. The Rangel Graduate Fellowship Program provides benefits of up to $84,000 over two years toward a master's degree, arranges internships on Capitol Hill and at U.S. embassies/consulates, provides mentorship and professional development support, and leads to a career in the State Department...
Thomas R. Pickering Graduate Foreign Affairs Fellowship - expected direct application deadline
Eligible: seniors or graduates who are U.S. citizens, with a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.2, applying for eligible U.S. graduate programs to start in 2025-26.
Interested in a career serving U.S. interests abroad? If so, the Thomas R. Pickering Graduate Fellowship offers a unique opportunity to promote positive change in the world. Upon successful completion of a two-year master’s degree program and fulfillment of fellowship and Foreign Service entry requirements, fellows have the opportunity to work as Foreign Service Officers with the U.S. Department of State, in accordance with applicable law and State Department policy, serving in...
Paul and Daisy Soros Fellowship for New Americans - direct application deadline
Eligible: graduating seniors and graduates whose birth parents were born outside of the US as non-US citizens. You might have been born in the US or be a naturalized citizen, adopted from abroad, a Green Card holder, granted asylum or refugee status in the US, or have graduated from high school & college in the US (including current and past DACA recipients). You must be 30 year old or younger as of the application deadline and planning to be enrolled in graduate school full-time in the 2025-2026 academic year.
Paul and Daisy Soros Fellowships for New Americans support up to two years of graduate/professional study in any discipline at universities in the United States.
Find out if you're eligible!
(Please note the deadline for this fellowship is 2:00 pm EST.)
Did you know? Nneoma Nwogu '10, Sanja Jagesic '08,...
National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship (NSF GRFP) - expected direct application deadline
Eligible: graduating seniors and recent grads who are U.S. citizens, nationals, or permanent residents, applying for or in one of the first two years of study in an eligible graduate program.
National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowships (NSF GRFP) support up to three years of graduate study in the sciences and social sciences at a U.S. institution. Application Deadline(s) vary according to proposed field of study (& are 5 p.m. local time at applicant’s mailing address). Please note, this is the earliest of expected deadlines; see the program website for updates and details.
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