Graduate School Preparation Mini-Grants

Wellesley Career Education logo
Wellesley Career Education

The Graduate/Professional School Preparation Fund, funded by a generous grant from the Wellesley Students’ Aid Society, is intended to help current Wellesley students with expenses related to graduate or professional school preparation. 

Financing Your Graduate School Education

Wellesley Career Education logo
Wellesley Career Education

Everyone will specific questions regarding their financial situation and how it impacts the entire application and funding process. This resource provides information to help you project costs and possible methods of funding including loans, school-based aid, PhD specifics, outside funding, fellowships, and scholarships.

Michel David-Weill Scholarship (seniors)

Kate Dailinger
Kate Dailinger

Supports a two-year master’s degree in any field at the Institut d’Etudes Politiques de Paris (Sciences Po), but Economics is especially encouraged. Eligible are graduating seniors at Wellesley who are US citizens. Campus application deadline typically in November.

Truman Scholarship (juniors)

Kate Dailinger
Kate Dailinger

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.

Marshall Scholarship (rising seniors & graduates)

Kate Dailinger
Kate Dailinger

Supports one or two years of study in any discipline at a university in the United Kingdom. Eligible are graduating seniors and recent gradiates who are US citizens. Campus application deadline for Wellesley's endorsement typically in August.

Churchill Scholarships (seniors & graduates)

Kate Dailinger
Kate Dailinger

Supports one year of graduate study (including one-year research degrees) in science, mathematics, or engineering at Cambridge. Eligible: graduating seniors and recent graduates of Wellesley College who are US citizens with majors in appropriate STEM fields. Campus application deadline typically in early October.

McCall MacBain Scholarships at McGill (rising seniors & graduates)

Kate Dailinger
Kate Dailinger

The McCall MacBain Scholarships seek to bring together exceptional students from around the world who strive to engage in positive change by taking on meaningful leadership roles. McCall MacBain Scholars connect with mentors and participate in an interdisciplinary leadership program while pursuing a fully funded master’s or professional degree at McGill University! (Campus deadline typically in August.)

Schwarzman Scholars Program (rising seniors & graduates)

Kate Dailinger
Kate Dailinger

Supports leadership development & a special one-year Master’s program at Tsinghua University in Beijing, taught in English. Eligible are graduating seniors, current graduate and professional students, and recent graduates from any country and any major (knowledge of Mandarin is an asset but is not required). Official deadlines typically in May and September.

Rhodes Scholarship (rising seniors & graduates)

Kate Dailinger
Kate Dailinger

Did you know that citizens of any country are now eligible to apply for the Rhodes Scholarships, for graduate study at the University of Oxford? Campus deadline for Wellesley applicants for Global Rhodes is typically in early June and for the Canadian and US Rhodes typically in late August. Application deadlines for other Rhodes competitions may fall even earlier (see their website, and Career Education deadline listings). All prospective Wellesley Rhodes applicants are encouraged to seek advice from Kate Dailinger, of Wellesley's Career Education, and learn more through this resource page.

Mitchell Scholarship (rising seniors & graduates)

Kate Dailinger
Kate Dailinger

*As of March, 2024, the Mitchell Scholarship has paused the selection of new Scholars. There will be no new class selected in autumn 2024, but they hope in future to be able to re-open this award.

Supports one year of study in any discipline at a university in Ireland. Eligible are graduating seniors and graduates who are US citizens between the ages of 18 and 30. Campus application deadline for seniors (who must seek institutional nomination) typically in August; graduates apply directly for the Mitchell but are very welcome to seek application advice from Wellesley's Fellowships office.

Knight-Hennessy Scholars Program (seniors & graduates)

Kate Dailinger
Kate Dailinger

Offers full scholarships for any graduate or professional degree offered at Stanford University, plus leadership development, aimed at preparing leaders to find creative solutions for the world's greatest problems. Eligible are graduating seniors and recent graduates, from any country. Apply to the Knight-Hennessy by their deadline in early October, and to the Stanford degree program of your choice by the deadline for that program.

The Susan Rappaport Knafel ’52 Scholarship for Foreign Study or Traveling Fellowship (seniors)

Kate Dailinger
Kate Dailinger

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.

Wellesley College Graduate Fellowships (WCGF—seniors & graduates)

Kate Dailinger
Kate Dailinger

Wellesley College offers a number of fellowships and scholarships for graduate study or research open to Wellesley seniors and graduates. Two awards are open to women graduates of any American institution (the Schimke and the Shackford). Awards are usually made to applicants currently enrolled in or applying to graduate/professional school for the following academic year; there is a single common application process for most of these awards, and the campus deadline is typically in January.

Aug 29, 2024

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.

Research/Gradschool, Postgraduate, Service

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...

Sep 5, 2024

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.

Research/Gradschool, Postgraduate, Service

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...

Aug 21, 2024

McCall MacBain Scholarships at McGill - campus deadline to declare intention to apply

Eligible: candidates in all fields, from any country, planning to apply in the same application cycle for admission to a full-time master’s or second-entry professional undergraduate program at McGill University.

Research/Gradschool, International Student, Postgraduate, Travel

The new McCall MacBain Scholarships seek to bring together exceptional students who strive to engage in positive change by taking on meaningful leadership roles. McCall MacBain Scholars connect with mentors and participate in an interdisciplinary leadership program while pursuing a fully funded master’s or professional degree at McGill University!

Applications will open this summer for the third global cohort. Up to 20 Canadians (citizens, permanent residents, and refugees) and 10 international candidates will...

Jun 20, 2024

Rhodes Scholarship: Global Competition - campus deadline to declare interest

Rising seniors, current seniors, and alumnae from any country not included in another Rhodes competition (see official website for details), who meet the official eligibility criteria.

Research/Gradschool, International Student, Travel, Postgraduate, Service

The Rhodes Trust, based at the University of Oxford, brings together and develops exceptional people from all over the world, and in all fields of study, who are impatient with the way things are and have the courage to act.  One of the oldest and most prestigious international awards, Rhodes Scholarships provide full funding for postgraduate study in any field at the University of Oxford.  For the first time in 2018, Rhodes Scholarships were opened to citizens of any country, through the creation of the Global...