National and International Merit Scholarships (Prestigious Scholarships) are awards with numerous and wide-ranging benefits. In order to qualify for most of these scholarships, you must be nominated by a UCLA selection committee. Therefore, the UCLA deadline for nomination is typically ONE MONTH prior to the official scholarship deadline. Please see below for more detailed information about each scholarship, including important deadlines, as well as eligibility and application criteria.

Other prestigious scholarships, such as the Fulbright Grants for Graduate Study Abroad and Mellon Fellowships in the Humanities, are administered by UCLA’s Graduate Division.

Award Description
Beinecke Scholarship For juniors planning graduate study in the arts, humanities, or social sciences. Requires UCLA’s nomination. Campus deadline is March 1, 2025. The Beinecke Scholarship provides $5000 before beginning graduate school and up to $30,000 over the first two years of a graduate program. The committee looks for outstanding academic achievement and research potential. Candidates must demonstrate financial aid eligibility. To apply for institutional endorsement, submit your completed application via upload to Message Center(personal statement, CV, three letters of recommendation, unofficial transcripts, and application form) by March 1, 2025. Your recommenders should submit or email their letters separately to Rebecca Blustein. Please note that this scholarship is restricted to undergraduate juniors only (determined by date of graduation). If you are a current graduate student, you are not eligible to apply.
Charles B. Rangel International Affairs Program The Charles B. Rangel International Affairs Program provides generous scholarship funding along with internships and mentoring to launch students' careers in the Foreign Service of the US Department of State. This program encourages the application of members of minority groups historically underrepresented in the Foreign Service, women, and those with financial need. Fellows who successfully complete the program and Foreign Service entry requirements will receive appointments as Foreign Service Officers, in accordance with applicable law and State Department policy. Eligibility: US citizen, min 3.2 GPA, planning to enter an eligible graduate program (related to international affairs) the year of application. The fellowship provides up to $42,000 annually for a two-year graduate program, along with summer internships and mentoring. There is a service commitment to the US State Department upon completion.
Churchill Scholarship The Churchill Scholarship funds a year of graduate study in Engineering, Mathematics, or Science at Cambridge University. It is highly selective (16 students a year for the STEM award, plus two students selected for the Kanders Churchill Scholarship to pursue a masters in policy.) Open to US citizens who are in their senior year or within one calendar year after graduation. Candidates normally have strong GPAs and outstanding research records. UCLA can nominate two students each year. Our campus deadline is October 2, 2024. Applicants must apply concurrently to Churchill College, Cambridge. We suggest that you submit your admissions application by the Gates Cambridge deadline in October. To apply for our nomination, complete your application in the Churchill portal and ask your recommenders to send their letters to the CSSE.   
DAAD- German Academic Exchange Service Scholarships DAAD offers scholarships for graduate study, research, and internships in Germany. Our office is available to assist you with your application. Start here  for information about the available programs.
Donald A. Strauss Scholarship The Strauss Scholarship ($15,000-- including a $7,000 scholarship and an $8,000 project grant) is open to sophomores and juniors. Provides funding to create your own public service project. As of the 2025 application cycle, the Strauss Scholarship no longer requires institutional nomination. Apply by January 27, 2025 at straussfoundation.org. We strongly encourage students to meet with our staff to discuss applications prior to submission.
FAO Schwarz Fellowship The FAO Schwarz Fellowship is a 2-year paid social impact experience. Fellows are placed with nonprofits (see the fellowship website in November for a list of placements) and receive pay and benefits, along with other opportunities. The application is available Nov 1 and due Feb 1.
Fashion Scholarship Fund (FSF) The YMA Fashion Scholarship Fund (FSF) grants scholarships to talented students interested in fashion and facilitates internships, mentorships, and career programs in the fashion industry. Open to students in any major who have a demonstrated interest in fashion. The scholarship is a case study competition. Please contact the SRC to receive this year's case study prompt in your area of interest. By our campus deadline (June 1), we require a summary of your case study. This year's case study areas are: Design Merchandising Market Analytics Supply Chain
Foreign Affairs Information Technology Fellowship

The FAIT Fellowship, a two-year Fellowship program funded by the U.S. Department of State and administered by TWC,  focuses on attracting top technology talent to the Foreign Service that reflects the diversity of the United States. The program is designed for highly talented individuals who want to pursue an IT-related undergraduate or graduate degree and a career in the Foreign Service. This two-year fellowship provides:

  • Up to $43,500 annually in academic funding for tuition, room and board, books, mandatory fees and some travel expense (see eligibility requirements).
  • Stipends, housing and travel allowances for the two summer internships: A domestic internship in Washington, D.C., at the U.S. Department of State and an overseas internship at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate abroad.
  • Personalized mentoring and professional development opportunities throughout the program.
  • The State Department increased the maximum academic funding this year to $43,500 annually for two years, from $37,500 annually.
Application will be open Sept through February. Eligibility:
  • Be a U.S. citizen.
  • Be enrolled full-time in an IT-related bachelor’s degree program OR seeking admission in an IT-related master’s degree program at a U.S.-based accredited institution
  • Be on a timeline to graduate with your bachelor’s or master’s in spring 2025 while enrolled full-time for spring and fall semesters*
  • Hold a minimum 3.2 GPA on a 4.0 scale at the time of the application, and maintain this GPA throughout the program
As a selected FAIT Fellow, you must:
Fulbright Program For research or study abroad. The Fulbright U.S. Student Program is for all graduating seniors and graduate students, and it is facilitated by the UCLA office of Fellowships and Financial Services.
Gates Cambridge Scholarship Gates Cambridge Scholarships are prestigious, highly competitive full-cost scholarships. They are awarded to outstanding applicants from countries outside the UK to pursue a full-time postgraduate degree in any subject available at the University of Cambridge. You must apply concurrently to your target graduate program at Cambridge. The deadline for US students is in October- check the Gates Cambridge website for the exact dates annually. UCLA's endorsement is not required.
Goldwater Scholarship The Goldwater Scholarship is the most prestigious undergraduate scholarship for STEM researchers. It is open to sophomores and juniors who plan graduate study leading to research careers in STEM fields. $7500. Requires UCLA's nomination. Eligibility: US citizen or Permanent Resident, minimum 3.0 GPA, intend to pursue a research career in a natural science, mathematics, or engineering. To get access to the application, you must complete a "pre-application" (a simple registration step) on the Goldwater portal. It opens in September each year. Please contact Rebecca Blustein via Message Center ("Institutional Endorsement Materials") with questions. To apply for our institutional nomination, submit your completed application (including unofficial transcripts, research essay, three letters of recommendation, and all parts of the online Goldwater application) to the SRC by the Tuesday before Thanksgiving. Your recommenders should email their letters to Dr. Blustein directly.
James C Gaither Junior Fellows Program/Carnegie Endowment The James C. Gaither Junior Fellows Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace is designed to provide a substantive work experience for students who have a serious career interest in the area of international affairs. Approximately 13 students will be hired to work as employees at Carnegie in Washington, DC on a full-time basis for a period of one year.   ASSIGNMENTS: Gaither Junior Fellows provide research assistance to scholars working within Carnegie’s programs, listed below. They have the opportunity to conduct research, contribute to op-eds, papers, reports, and books, edit documents, participate in meetings with high-level officials, contribute to congressional testimony and organize briefings attended by scholars, activists, journalists, and government officials The Carnegie Endowment for International Peace is a global network of policy research centers in Russia, China, Europe, the Middle East, India, and the United States. We are more than 150 thinkers and doers from diverse disciplines and perspectives spread across more than twenty countries and six global centers working together as one network to advance international peace. In an increasingly crowded, chaotic, and contested world and marketplace of ideas, the Carnegie Endowment offers decision-makers global, independent, and strategic insight and innovative ideas that advance international peace. QUALIFICATIONS: Applicants must be nominated by an official of their university or institution who has been designated for this purpose (usually the career placement officer, fellowship advisor or an academic department chairperson). UCLA's nominating department is Political Science: contact Alex Luong, aluong@polisci.ucla.edu. Applications are accepted only from graduating college seniors or individuals who have graduated within the past academic year. No one will be considered who has started graduate studies (except those who have recently completed a joint bachelor’s/master’s degree program). Applicants should have completed a significant amount of coursework related to their discipline of interest. Language and other skills may also be required for certain assignments. The selection process for the program is very competitive. Accordingly, applicants should be of high academic quality. Qualifications for Gaither Junior Fellows may vary by program. Please review the bulletin for program requirements and more information on what each program is looking for. APPLICATION PROCESS: UCLA can nominate three students each year. Please submit your application materials to our institutional representative by our campus deadline, mid-December annually. Required materials:
  • The application form.
  • An essay (personal statement) of one page or less, double-spaced on why the student would like to become a junior fellow.
  • Resume/C.V. (preferably 1-2 pages)
  • Two letters of recommendation. These recommendations can come from anyone the student feels can best speak to their abilities as a potential Gaither Junior Fellow.
  •  Transcript of undergraduate records. The transcript may be unofficial. (We prefer unofficial)
  • An essay of no more than three (3) typewritten, double-spaced pages on one of the following topics. These topics are intended to test skills in analysis, logic, and written expression. The essays should be analytical thought pieces, not research papers. Students should submit an essay related to their primary research program interests, although the James C. Gaither Junior Fellows Program may ultimately select an applicant for a program outside of his/her designated primary interest or make an assignment to more than one program. Please see full application to learn more about which topics and programs you can write about.
  Please combine all the materials for each application into a single PDF file.   Link to full application   Please submit all materials to UCLA Political Science Undergraduate Advisor, Alex Luong (aluong@polisci.ucla.edu) by December 16th, 2022 11:59 PST.    
James Madison Memorial Fellowship The James Madison Memorial Fellowship provides funding for Seniors or Recent Graduates who desire to become outstanding teachers of the American Constitution at the secondary school level. Award is to complete an MA, MAT, or M.Ed in American history, political science, government, or related studies. Provides up to $24,000 over two years. Fellows must be committed to teaching American history, American government, or civics courses. Institutional endorsement not required.
Knight-Hennessy Scholars- Stanford University The Knight-Hennessy Scholars program will annually identify a group of 100 high-achieving students from around the world with demonstrated leadership and civic commitment to receive full funding to pursue a wide-ranging graduate education at Stanford, with the goal of developing a new generation of global leaders. Contact us for assistance.
Luce Scholars The Luce Scholars Program is a nationally competitive fellowship program. It was launched by the Henry Luce Foundation in 1974 to enhance the understanding of Asia among potential leaders in American society. The program provides stipends, language training, and individualized professional placement in Asia for 15-18 Luce Scholars each year, and welcomes applications from college seniors, graduate students, and young professionals in a variety of fields who have had limited exposure to Asia. Students apply directly to Luce Scholars. The CSSE is available to advise. Eligibility: US Citizen or Permanent Resident Graduating seniors, recent graduates, or young professionals under the age of 32, or no more than three years out from receiving bachelor's degree As of 2022, candidates who majored in Asian Studies are now eligible to apply (a change from previous years!) Candidates who have spent 18 weeks or more (since beginning college) in one of the Luce-placement countries are eligible to apply to be placed in a country where they do not have significant experience Deadline: October 1, 2024 5pm ET
Marshall Scholarship The Marshall Scholarship is awarded to outstanding Seniors or Recent Graduates to study for a graduate degree in any discipline at any university in the United Kingdom. UCLA's endorsement is required. Campus deadline is Aug 12, 2024. The committee values academic merit, leadership, and ambassadorial potential. Eligibility: US citizen, hold an undergraduate degree by the time they take up the scholarship, minimum 3.7 GPA. Applicants for the 2025 Marshall must have earned their first undergraduate degree after April 2022. Applicants must not have studied for (or hold) a degree from a British university. To apply for our institutional endorsement, please do the following by Aug 12, 2024: Complete the campus application Upload your supporting documents (personal statement draft, resume, and unofficial transcript) to Message Center- Institutional Endorsement Materials Request two letters of rec (submitted to Rebecca Blustein by email)
McCall MacBain Scholarships The McCall MacBain Scholarships at McGill University The McCall MacBain Scholarship is a full scholarship for your master’s or professional studies.  Students and graduates of Canadian and U.S. universities, as well as Canadians abroad, must apply by September 25, 2024. The program recruits a diverse cohort (20 Canadian and 10 international students) of young leaders from all fields of study. Students must apply concurrently for admission to an eligible graduate program at McGill. Current UCLA undergraduates and recent graduates must be nominated by UCLA.  Please contact the CSSE for assistance. Our campus deadline for nomination is August 16, 2024.
Michel David-Weill Scholarship The Michel David-Weill Scholarship provides funding (including living expenses) for outstanding UCLA Seniors to study for two years for a Master’s degree at Sciences-Po in Paris. Candidates must:
  • Be a US citizen currently enrolled as an undergraduate senior at an eligible Sciences Po partner institution
  • Have a 3.7 or higher GPA and be aged19-25 without a doctoral degree
  • Be accepted to an eligible Sciences Po master’s program
Prior knowledge of French is not required, as the majority of programs offered at Sciences Po are taught in English, with French tracks or bilingual tracks offered for some programs. Candidates are selected on the basis of their academic accomplishments and capacity for critical analysis as well as demonstrated history of leadership and a proven commitment to community. UCLA can nominate one student each year. You must apply concurrently to the MA program at Sciences-Po by late October.  UCLA's campus deadline is October 1, 2024. To apply for our campus nomination, submit your CV, transcript, personal statement, and writing sample to the CSSE by October 1.  
Mitchell Scholarship UPDATE March 2024: The Mitchell Scholarship announced a hiatus due to funding challenges and will not have a selection process in Fall '24. We will update this page when we receive new information.  The George Mitchell Scholarship funds 1 year of graduate study in Ireland or Northern Ireland (in any field). Current undergraduates require UCLA’s endorsement. The committee highly values scholarship, leadership, and a sustained commitment to community and public service. Eligibility: US citizen. Must be at least 18 years old but not yet 30 on Sept 26 of the year of application. Must have a bachelor's degree before beginning as a Mitchell Scholar.  
Obama Voyager Scholarship The Obama Voyager Scholarship (Obama-Chesky Scholarship for Public Service) is open to 2nd year students who demonstrate strong leadership and a commitment to service. It is a two-year leadership development and scholarship program. Through a transformational combination of barrier-reducing financial aid, an immersive work-travel experience, and a robust network of leaders and mentors, the Voyager Scholarship is designed to inspire, empower, and connect the next generation of leaders and equip them with the tools and resources they need to launch their careers in public service. The program provides: -up to $50,000 in last dollar financial aid - a funded summer "voyage" between the junior and senior year -ten years of travel benefits from AirBnB -leadership development and mentoring opportunities The application normally opens in early Feb with a deadline in March.
Paul and Daisy Soros Fellowships for New Americans Paul and Daisy Soros Fellowships for New Americans honor and support the graduate educations of 30 New Americans (including permanent residents or naturalized citizens; adoptees who were born abroad; asylees or refugees; current or past DACA status; and children of naturalized citizen parents) each year. Fellows can study in any degree-granting program in any field at any university in the United States. Selection is based on creativity, originality, initiative, and sustained accomplishment. The fellowship provides up to $90,000 over two years - divided between tuition and living expenses. Institutional endorsement is not required. Deadline is Oct 31, 2024.
Phi Beta Kappa Key Into Public Service Scholarship Open to 2nd and 3rd year students who have a strong liberal arts background and are committed to public service. Provides $5000, a conference in DC, grad school and job mentoring, and other opportunities. Students do not need to be members of Phi Beta Kappa. Deadline is in early winter; see PBK for details.
Quad Fellowship The Quad Fellowship will fund exceptional master’s and doctoral students in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) to study in the United States $40,000 one-time stipend for academic expenses

Applicants must:

  • Be at least 18 years of age at the time of application

  • Be citizens or legal permanent residents of Australia, India, Japan, or the United States, or any of the 10 ASEAN countries – Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, or Vietnam

  • Have a bachelor’s degree or its equivalent in a STEM field

  • Have a demonstrated record of superior academic achievement at the undergraduate level

  • If applicants are currently enrolled in a Master's or PhD program in the United States, they may apply if they will be enrolled in a qualified academic program during their time as a Fellow

  • Eligible fields: STEM MS and PhD programs (clinical medicine programs are not eligible)
Contact the Quad Fellowship for application timeline and updates.
Rhodes Scholarship The Rhodes Scholarship funds graduate study at the University of Oxford. Eligibility: at least 18 but not yet 24 by October 1, 2024 minimum 3.7 GPA US citizen, permanent resident, or DACA status Requires UCLA's endorsement. To apply for our institutional endorsement, please do the following by Aug 12, 2024: Complete the campus application Upload your supporting documents (personal statement draft, resume, and unofficial transcript) to Message Center- Institutional Endorsement Materials Request two letters of rec submitted to Rebecca Blustein by email If you are applying in a non-US jurisdiction, please contact us for assistance.
Samvid Scholars Samvid Scholars is a 2-year graduate scholarship for future leaders and change makers. The scholarship provides up to $50,000/yr for two years, plus leadership development programming. Eligibility: At time of application, preparing to enter a graduate program of at least 2 years in one of the following: MD, MBA, JD, MPP/MPA, EdD, MS/MA in the Social Sciences or STEM. US Citizen or DACA recipient min. 3.5 undergraduate GPA   Selection criteria include academic excellence, leadership, service focus, bias towards action, and grit. Application opens in mid-Feb and is due in April. Apply the spring immediately prior to entering an eligible graduate or professional school program.
Schwarzman Scholars Program For Seniors or Recent Graduates interested in a one year MA program at Tsinghua University in Beijing. Schwarzman Scholars study for a masters degree in Global Affairs. However, students with any undergraduate major are invited to apply. Alumni are eligible until age 28 (at time of application). Institutional endorsement is not required, but the CSSE is available to assist with applications. This is a global program that is open to students from around the world. There are two application timelines: students who hold Chinese passports have a deadline in May, and US/global applicants apply with a deadline in late September. Eligibility: candidates must hold an undergraduate degree by the time the program starts (you can apply at the beginning of your final year of undergrad); must be between 18-28 years of age; must be proficient in English. The program is looking for students with outstanding leadership abilities, exemplary character & integrity, academic aptitude, intercultural competency, open mindedness, and an entrepreneurial spirit.
The Thomas R. Pickering Foreign Affairs Fellowship The Thomas R. Pickering Foreign Affairs Fellowship is designed to attract outstanding individuals from all ethnic, racial, and social backgrounds who have an interest in pursuing a Foreign Service career with the U.S. Department of State. It provides support (up to $42,000/year for two years) for a graduate program related to international affairs. Recipients commit to a minimum 5-year service commitment in the US Department of State's Foreign Service. Deadline is in Sept, does not require UCLA's endorsement. Eligibility: 3.2 minimum GPA, US citizen, seek admission to an eligible graduate program.
Truman Scholarship Truman Scholarship ($30,000) For juniors planning graduate study leading to a career in public service. Requires UCLA’s nomination. The committee's focus is on leadership and public service. Eligibility: open to both continuing and transfer juniors, but you must be a 3rd year undergraduate when you apply (third year undergrads with senior standing are eligible. Grad students are not). US citizen (or US national), or expect to receive citizenship by the time the scholarship is awarded. Committed to a career in public service. Strong record of leadership and service. To apply for UCLA's nomination, submit your completed application to the CSSE by Wednesday of Week 1 of Winter Quarter. You must contact CSSE Assistant Director Rebecca Blustein to obtain access to the Truman application portal. The application opens in the summer.
Udall Scholarship For Sophomores and Juniors in one of two categories: students planning careers related to the environment or Native American or Alaska Native students interested in Native American Healthcare or Tribal Public Policy. The Udall Scholarship requires UCLA’s nomination. The committee looks for strong leadership and public service commitments. The scholarship is $7000. Contact UCLA's faculty rep Rebecca Blustein to get access to the application portal. To apply for our campus nomination, submit your completed application (your long essay may still be a draft) to the SRC by Feb 1, 2023. You may submit unofficial transcripts.
Yenching Academy UCLA is a partner university for the Yenching Academy of Peking University. Supported by the Center for Scholarships & Scholar Enrichment. The Yenching Academy of Peking University aims to build bridges between China and the rest of the world through an interdisciplinary master’s program in China Studies. This initiative brings together young people who have demonstrated a talent for leadership and innovation. At Yenching, they are immersed in an intensive learning environment where they can explore China and its past, present and future roles in the world. The Academy’s goal is to shape new generations of global citizens with a nuanced understanding of China. The Yenching Academy provides full fellowships to its scholars, and offers them a wide array of interdisciplinary courses on China within broadly defined fields of the Humanities and Social Sciences. Working closely with their academic mentors, the Yenching scholars create their own study paths by choosing courses from six research areas. They also participate in a variety of extracurricular activities organized by the Yenching Academy and designed by scholars themselves. Studying at the Academy is an exceptional opportunity to take part in intercultural exchanges and interdisciplinary learning, and to develop personally and professionally. The Yenching Academy provides a generous fellowship that includes tuition fees, round-trip travel between scholars' home countries and Beijing, accommodation on campus, and a monthly stipend. The Academy’s residential program aims to create a community of enthusiastic, globally oriented young innovators in the heart of Peking University, and encourages them to take fully advantage of this unique opportunity by participating and engaging in campus life YENCHING ACADEMY FAQ’s The campus deadline each year will be set for November 1st. Qualifications: • Minimum of a Bachelor's degree in any field, or currently enrolled on a degree program awarded no later than August 31 of the year in which they wish to enroll; • An outstanding academic record; • Strong interest in interdisciplinary study of China; • A record of extracurricular achievement, community engagement, social responsibility, and leadership potential; • English proficiency. We do not have a strict age cut-off for applicants, but to date, no person over the age of 28 has been admitted to the program. The average age of students entering the program is 23. Application Process: UCLA has the privilege of nominating selected students, applicants should submit the following to CSSE Institutional Endorsement Portal:  1. Application Form: Yenching and UCLA Application Form 2. Certificate of English proficiency (IELTS 7 /TOEFL 100 / Cambridge C1 / CEFR 180 or C1) for students whose native language is not English or who are not enrolled in an English course of study 3. Official Transcript from bachelor’s degree program and other currently-enrolled program (if any) 4. Personal statement (maximum 750 words) 5. Statement of Research Interest (maximum 1500 words, excluding citations) o Should include key research question(s), background to study and/or summary of literature, and study design that could reflect the applicant’s academic training. Please note that applicants are not committed to making this proposed project their Master’s thesis topic. The Admissions Committee wants to judge how they formulate and write about academic topics 6. Resume / curriculum vitae (2 pages maximum) 7. Two letters of recommendation, please have recommenders send letters directly to the CSSE with partner university recommender form. Note: Please combine all materials to a single pdf and If you are selected by the UCLA committee to have your application forwarded to the Yenching Academy, you will have to apply directly online to the Yenching Application Portal, and UCLA will assist in sending in your letters of recommendation and transcripts. For any additional questions contact us.