Eligible Honors Program students should apply for post-graduate scholarships and fellowships
Post-graduate scholarship and fellowship planning may be incorporated into the Personal & Professional Development courses of the Honors Program, specifically for researching and planning summer internships and fellowships, which may make you a better candidate.
Additionally, Honors Program students who are interested in post-graduate scholarships and fellowships are encouraged to apply for the Distinguished Scholars Program by September of their sophomore year at The Citadel. The Honors and Distinguished Scholar Programs work hand-in-hand to prepare students for their post-graduate goals!
There are hundreds of post-graduate scholarships and fellowships fit for Honors Program students. All of these require considerable thought and effort in order to put together a competitive application. You will need to start developing your strategy for applying no later than second semester freshman year. Students should collaborate with the Honors Program director and departmental advisor and/or mentoring faculty, and participate in the Fellowship Preparation course offered each spring semester. Ideally, this should be taken during a student’s junior year.
Information on scholarships available to entering Honors Program freshmen and enrolled Honors Program upperclassmen can be found at the cadet scholarship page and the Office of Fellowships page. A sample of our favorite scholarships is given below.
Rhodes Scholarship
Intellectual distinction is the most important criterion. However, this cannot be measured by grades or college academic honors alone. Letter of reference (as produced through the application process) and the interviews for those candidates selected for them, are extremely important as well. There is no minimum GPA to be considered for a Rhodes Scholarship. Some Oxford departments may establish GPA requirements for certain degrees (usually 3.8), and, obviously grading standards vary substantially across U.S. institutions.
Website: http://www.rhodesscholar.org/
Truman Scholarship
The Truman is a highly competitive, merit-based award offered to U.S. citizens and U.S. nationals from Pacific Islands who want to go to graduate school in preparation for a career in public service. The scholarship offers:
- Recognition of outstanding potential as a leader in public service;
- Affirmation of values and ideals;
- Enhanced access to highly competitive graduate institutions;
- Access to Scholar programs such as Truman Scholars Leadership Week, the Summer Institute and various Truman Fellows Programs;
- Membership in a community of persons devoted to helping others and to improving the world; and,
- Up to $30,000 to apply toward graduate study in the U.S. or abroad in a wide variety of fields.
A successful candidate has a record of public service. Talk to Dr. Rhodes early about this one.
Website: http://www.truman.gov/
Marshall Scholarship
This pays all fees and living expenses for a student to take a degree at any participating university in the United Kingdom (Great Britain, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales). Applicants should have a 3.7 – 4.0 GPA and a specific plan for studying in the UK. Up to 40 scholarships are awarded annually.
Website: http://www.marshallscholarship.org/
Fulbright Fellowship
This pays living expenses for a student to live in a foreign country of his or her choosing for a year. Applicants are required to develop a statement of proposed study to justify their travel to the selected country. Individual countries have specific and varying requirements for their Fulbright participants. Applicants should study these requirements carefully; a detailed list can be obtained from Dr. Rhodes. Students must have at least a 3.0 GPA. However, a higher GPA is necessary because of competitiveness.
Website: https://us.fulbrightonline.org/fulbright-us-student-program
Knight-Hennessy Scholars
Knight-Hennessy Scholars develops a community of future global leaders to address complex challenges through collaboration and innovation. Every year, up to 100 high-achieving students from around the world will receive full funding to pursue any graduate degree at Stanford, including the DMA, JD, MA, MBA, MD, MFA, MS, and PhD programs, as well as joint- and dual-degrees.
Website: https://knight-hennessy.stanford.edu/
Boren National Security Education Program Scholarship
This pays part-to-all fees associated with a study-abroad program for the summer, for one semester, or for an academic year. Applicants should intend a career international in scope, with some government service required. Preference will be given to applications for study in areas of the world deemed critical to national security.
Boren Scholarships, an initiative of the National Security Education Program, provide unique funding opportunities for U.S. undergraduate students to study less commonly taught languages in world regions critical to U.S. interests, and underrepresented in study abroad.
Boren Scholars represent a vital pool of highly motivated individuals who wish to work in the federal national security arena. In exchange for funding, Boren Scholars commit to working in the federal government for at least one year after graduation.
Maximum scholarship awards are:
- $8,000 for a summer program (special initiative for STEM students only; 8 weeks minimum)
- $10,000 for a semester
- $20,000 for a full academic year
Website: http://www.borenawards.org/
Rotary Scholarship
This provides for one year of study in any foreign country where a Rotary Club is located. Rotary Scholars are expected to be “ambassadors of good will” to the people of their host country. For a post-graduate grant, you must apply in your junior year.
Brief description: The Rotary Foundation offers scholarship funding through the Rotary Foundation Global Grant scholarships. The scholarship funds graduate-level coursework or research for one to four academic years.
Field(s) of Study: Rotary’s six areas of focus: Peace and conflict prevention/resolution, Disease prevention and treatment, Water and sanitation, Maternal and child health, Basic education and literacy, and Economic and community development.
Scholarship value/inclusions: The minimum budget for a global grant scholarship is $30,000 which can fund the following: Passport/visa, Inoculations, Travel expenses (as specified in the grant terms and conditions), School supplies, Tuition, Room and board, Household supplies, Language training courses (but not if university admission is contingent on improvement of language skills). Most personal and miscellaneous expenses are not covered by the scholarship funding.
Website: http://www.rotary.org/
Madison Fellowship
This provides $24,000 towards graduate study in history, political science, or social studies for people interested in pursuing a career in teaching in secondary school.
Website: http://www.jamesmadison.com/
Goldwater Fellowship
This pays $15,000 towards graduate study for students intending to pursue a career in mathematics, the natural sciences, or engineering.
Website: http://www.act.org/goldwater/
National Science Foundation Fellowship
The NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program recognizes and supports outstanding graduate students in NSF-supported science, technology, engineering, and mathematics disciplines who are pursuing research-based Master’s and doctoral degrees at accredited United States institutions.
Website: https://www.nsfgrfp.org/
DAAD Awards
German Academic Exchange Service. Study and research in Germany: undergraduate and graduate awards.
How high is the monthly scholarship payment?
The scholarship payment depends on the applicant’s academic qualifications. It is usually € 650 for students, € 750 for postgrads and around € 1,000 for doctoral candidates and postdocs.
About language requirement…
The required language skills generally depend on study plans and subject: In the arts, social sciences and in law, at least a good knowledge of German is usually expected. For the natural sciences and engineering, and if English can be spoken at the host institute or if the study program is taught in English, proof of good English language skills may also be accepted. Depending on the country of origin and scholarship program, however, certain language skills may be required. The “Application requirements” in the Call for Applications specifies what requirements these may be.
Website: http://www.daad.org
Gates Cambridge Scholarships
One year post-graduate work or 2nd Bachelor’s at the University of Cambridge. Covers: university and college fees at the applicable rates, a maintenance allowance sufficient for a single student, a further discretionary allowance and airfare.
You can apply for a Gates Cambridge Scholarship if you are applying to pursue one of the following full-time residential courses of study at the University of Cambridge:
- PhD (three year research-only degree)
- MSc or MLitt (two year research-only degree)
- One year postgraduate course (e.g. MPhil, LLM, MASt, Diploma, MBA, etc.)
Courses which are NOT eligible for Gates Cambridge Scholarships:
- BA (undergraduate)
- BA affiliated (a second BA)
- MBBChir Clinical Studies
- MD Doctor of Medicine degree (6 years, part-time)
- Part-time degrees
- Non-degree courses
- Courses at universities other than Cambridge
Website: https://www.gatescambridge.org/
Gilman Scholarships for Study Abroad
Only available for students receiving federal Pell Grant funding.
Award amounts will vary depending on the length of study and student need with the average award being approximately $4,000 for fall and spring programs, and $3,000 for summer programs.
Applicants who are studying a critical need language while abroad in a country in which the language is predominantly spoken will automatically be considered for the Critical Need Language Award, for a total award of $8,000.
Website: http://www.iie.org/Programs/Gilman-Scholarship-Program
George J. Mitchell Scholarships
The Mitchell Scholarship Program supports one academic year of post-graduate study in any discipline offered by an institution of higher learning in Ireland or Northern Ireland. The Mitchell Scholarship Program provides tuition, housing, a cash stipend for living expenses, and a travel stipend.
Website: http://www.us-irelandalliance.org
National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate Fellowship
The DoD will pay the fellow’s full tuition and required fees (not to include room and board). In addition, fellows receive a stipend for 12-month tenures. The stipend levels for each of the 12-month tenures are as follows:
| Period | First Year | Second Year | Third Year |
| Amount | $30,500 | $ 31,000 | $ 31,500 |
The NDSEG Fellowship Program will also pay for the medical insurance coverage offered through the institution, up to a total value of $1,000 per year (this excludes dental and vision insurance).
Website: http://www.asee.org/ndseg/
Paul and Daisy Soros Fellowship for New Americans
- Every year, The Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowships for New Americans supports thirty New Americans, immigrants or the children of immigrants, who are pursuing graduate school in the United States.
- Each Fellowship supports up to two years of graduate study – in any field and in any advanced degree-granting program – in the United States.
- Each award is for up to $25,000 in stipend support (not to exceed $35,000), as well as 50 percent of required tuition and fees, up to $20,000 per year, for two years.
Website: http://www.pdsoros.org
Morris K. Udall Scholarships
Awards Undergraduate scholarships for American juniors and seniors in fields related to the environment and to Native American and Alaska Natives in fields related to health care or tribal policy. Stipend: $5,000.
Website: http://www.udall.gov/