Fellowships

IS majors and minors have many opportunities to pursue fellowships and scholarships that can help to fund and facilitate research, travel, study, or teaching while a student or after graduation.听

Learn the Landscape

Jason Cavallari, director of BC's University Fellowships Committee, speaks to IS majors and minors about internal and external fellowships and scholarships.

2020 Fulbright Panel featuring BC Alumni who were awarded Fulbrights and current undergraduates who are either interested or applying.



External Fellowships

Below, you'll find an IS-focused set of resources about fellowships and scholarships, as well as lists of IS students who have won these fellowships. Most of these fellowships are very competitive, but IS students have been successful in earning them; on average, IS majors earn post-graduate fellowships at 4x the rate of other BC graduates.

Fulbright Scholarship (U.S. Student Program)

Funding for:听Teaching or research abroad

Who can apply:听 Seniors and graduates (U.S. citizens only)

Deadline:听听BC's deadline is in September; but contact Prof. Christensen early spring of your junior year for more details.

Description: The provides grants for individually designed study/research projects or for English Teaching Assistant Programs in over 90 countries. One of the nation's most prestigious fellowships, Fulbrights are awarded on the basis of applicants鈥� academic merit and leadership potential, and support a post-baccalaureate year abroad (in over 140 countries) to study, teach English, or conduct research.

Advisor: Prof. Paul Christensen听(Political Science/International Studies) is BC's Fulbright Director.

Thanks in part to Prof. Christensen's leadership, BC consistently produces a high number of Fulbright winners.听

Harry S. Truman Scholarship

Who can apply: Sophomores, Juniors (US Citizens only).听Candidates must first be nominated by the听Truman听Faculty Representative at their institution; a maximum of four non-transfer students per university may be nominated.

Deadline: early February

Description:听 are for students of any academic discipline who have a strong record of academic accomplishment, demonstrated leadership ability, and commitment to public service. A stated interest in pursuing graduate study and careers in public service are central to the Truman Foundation. The听Truman Scholarship is the premier graduate fellowship in the United States for those pursuing careers as public service leaders.听听

Advisor: Prof. Kenji Hayao, Political Science Dept.

IS alumni recipients:

Narintohn Luangrath 鈥�14
Lisa (Langdon) Koch 鈥�01

George C. Marshall Scholarship

Funding for: Graduate Study
Eligibility: Seniors (U.S. Citizens only)
Deadline: Late September/early October

Descripton: The provides tuition, fees, travel allowance, and a stipend to enable graduates of American colleges and universities to study for a degree at a university in the United Kingdom for a period of at least two years. These scholarships were initiated to encourage future intellectual and political leaders of the United States to study at any university in the United Kingdom (England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland) and thereby expand their understanding of British culture and policies.

Advisor: Prof. Rein Uritam, Chemistry Dept.

IS alumni recipients:听not known

Churchill Scholarship

Funding for: Graduate school at the Univ. of Cambridge
Who can apply: Seniors (U.S. Citizens only)
Deadline:听early November

Description: The provides funding to American students for a year of Master鈥檚 study in science, mathematics, and engineering at the University of Cambridge, based at Churchill College. Its selection critara are outstanding academic achievement in a STEM field;听proven talent in research; and outstanding personal qualities (what they call听"interesting jagged edges" rather than a "well-rounded" person).

Advisor: Dr. Jason Cavallari, University Fellowships Office

IS alumni recipients:听not known

Thomas R. Pickering Foreign Affairs Fellowship

Funding for: Graduate school
Who can apply?听 Seniors (U.S. Citizens only)

Description: The provides funding to participants as they are preparing academically and professionally to enter the United States Department of State Foreign Service. Women, members of minority groups historically under-represented in the Foreign Service, and students with financial need are especially encouraged to apply.

Advisor: Prof. Hiroshi Nakazato, International Studies

IS alumni winners:听
Nazifa Subah '17 (IS minor, CSOM major), 2023 Pickering award听
Jennifer Shin 鈥�13 (IS major), 2017 Pickering award
Rebecca Kinyon Lora '01 (IS major), 2002 Pickering award

Charles B. Rangel International Affairs Fellowship

Funding for:听Graduate School
Who can apply?听Seniors (U.S. Citizens only) who are members of minority groups historically under-represented in the Foreign Service and those with financial need

Description: The aims to attract and prepare outstanding young people for careers in the Foreign Service in which they can help formulate, represent, and implement U.S. foreign policy. This program encourages the application of members of minority groups historically under-represented in the Foreign Service and those with financial need.

Advisor: Prof. Hiroshi Nakazato, International Studies Program

IS Alumni winners: not known

David L. Boren NSEP Scholarship Study Abroad

Funding for: undergraduate study
Who can apply: Freshmen, Sophomores, Juniors (U.S. Citizens only)
Deadline:听Awards for undergraduate study abroad are due February 2, 2022 and provide up to $25,000. Awards for graduate study are due January 26, 2022 and provide up to $30,000.听听

Description: The David Boren听 offers more than 300 merit-based scholarships each year for the study of languages, cultures, and world regions not commonly represented in American international education, specifically those outside of Western Europe, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.

Advisor: Ms. Christina Hatzipetros, Office of International Programs

IS Alumni winners:听
David Kim '23
James Sauro 鈥�16

Rhodes Scholarship

Funding for: Graduate school at Oxford University
Who can apply? Seniors (U.S. Citizens only)
Deadline:

Description:听 is among the most elite and distinguished academic scholarships in the world. It was established through a bequest of the Cecil Rhodes to give promising young leaders and scholars the opportunity to study for two to three years at Oxford University, UK in any academic field. BC students interested in applying for a Rhodes Scholarship shoulld be in touch with the Rhodes Fellowship advisor as soon as possible, even in freshman year, in order to understand the course of study, research opportunites, and service needed to be a viable candidate. (Athletic achievement is no longer a component of the Rhodes Scholarship program.)

Advisor: Prof. Jason Cavallari

IS alumni winners: none yet!

Other fellowships of note:

Beinecke Memorial Scholarship

Funding for: Graduate school
Who can apply:听 Juniors
Deadline:听 Second Wednesday of February

Description: Awarded to students wishing to pursue a graduate degree in the arts, humanities, or social sciences. Financial need is a considerable factor in evaluation of applications.

Advisor: Prof. Zachary Matus, History Dept.
IS alumni recipients: not known

听

Michel David-Weill Scholarship

Funding for:听 Graduate School
Who can apply:听 Seniors (U.S. citizens only)
Deadline:听 Early October

Description: The Michel David-Weill Scholarship covers tuition and living expenses for a two-year Master's program at Sciences Po in Paris, France.

Advisor:听听Dr. Jason Cavallari, University Fellowships
IS alumni recipients:听not known

听

Ford Foundation Fellowships

Funding for:听 Graduate School
Who can apply:听 Seniors (U.S. Citizens only)
Deadline:听 Early December

Description: The Ford Foundation Fellowships seek to increase the diversity of the nation鈥檚 college and university faculties by increasing their ethnic and racial diversity, to maximize the educational benefits of diversity, and to increase the number of professors who can and will use diversity as a resource for enriching the education of all students.

Advisor:听 Prof. Karen Miller, History Dept.
IS alumni recipients:听not known

听

James C. Gaither Junior Fellows Program

Funding for:听 Postgraduate Research Fellowship
Who can apply:听 Seniors (U.S. Citizens only)
Deadline:听 Deadline varies; contact faculty rep for more information

Description: The Junior Fellows program at the Carnegie Endowment is designed to provide a substantive work experience for students who have a serious career interest in the area of international affairs. Ten Fellows are appointed each year to work at the Endowment on a full-time basis for a period of one year.听

Advisor:听听Dr. Jason Cavallari, University Fellowships
IS alumni recipients:听not known

听

German Chancellor Fellowship

Funding for:听 Postgraduate Research/Professional Development
Who can apply:听 Seniors (U.S., Brazil, China, Russia, India Citizens only)
Deadline:听 September 15

Description: The Alexander von Humboldt Foundation awards up to ten German Chancellor Scholarships each year to young U.S. citizens from any profession or field of study who show outstanding potential for future leadership. Selected scholars represent the private, public, not-for-profit, cultural, and academic sectors. The program, designed to strengthen U.S.鈥揋erman ties, provides for a stay of one year in Germany for professional development, study, or research.

Advisor:听听Dr. Jason Cavallari, University Fellowships
IS alumni recipients:听not known

听

Benjamin A. Gilman Scholarship听

Funding for:听Study Abroad
Who can apply:听Freshmen, Sophomores, Juniors (U.S. Citizens only)
Deadline:听October or March, depending on study abroad time frame

Description: The Gilman Scholarship Program awards funds to U.S. citizen undergraduate students who are receiving Federal Pell Grant funding at a two-year or four-year college or university to participate in study and intern abroad programs worldwide.

Advisor:听 Christina Hatzipetros, Office of International Programs
IS alumni recipients:听
Liam Madden 鈥�19

听

Pamela Harriman Foreign Service Fellowship

Funding for:听Internships
Who can apply:听Sophomores, Juniors, Seniors (U.S. Citizens only)
Deadline: September / March

Description: The Pamela Harriman Foreign Service Fellowship was established by the College of William and Mary to inspire the best of a new generation to pursue careers in public service. The Awards are offered annually to three outstanding undergraduates from across the nation. Each Fellowship winner will spend a summer in an internship position with the U.S. Department of State in London, Paris, or Washington, DC.听

Advisor:听 Prof. Hiroshi Nakazato, International Studies
IS alumni recipients:听not known

听

Global Korea Scholarship听

Funding for:听 Graduate School Funding
Who can apply:听 Seniors听
Deadline:听听Early November
Description: The听 (GKS) for Graduate Program听is
one of the most prestigious scholarships run by the government of the
Republic of Korea. This fully funded program provides international
students with the opportunity to conduct advanced studies at higher
educational institutions in the Republic of Korea.听

Advisor:听听Prof. Ingu Hwang, International Studies Program
IS alumni recipients:听not known

听

Lilly Graduate Fellowship

Funding for:听Graduate School Funding
Who can apply:听Seniors (U.S. Citizens only)
Deadline:听Early November

Description: The Lilly Graduate Fellows Program supports, during the course of their graduate education, exceptionally well qualified young men and women who have bachelor degrees from LFP Network schools (of which BC is one) and who are interested in becoming teacher-scholars at church-related colleges and universities in the United States.

Advisor:听 Prof. Patrick Byrne, Philosophy Dept.
IS alumni recipients:听not known

听

George J. Mitchell Scholarship

Funding for:听Graduate School
Who can apply:听Seniors (U.S. Citizens only)
Deadline:听September

Description: Mitchell Scholars are eligible to attend institutions of higher learning in Ireland, including the seven universities in the Republic of Ireland and the two universities in Northern Ireland, for one academic year of graduate study.

Advisor:听 Prof. Robert Savage, Irish Studies/History Dept.
IS alumni recipients:听not known

听

Schwarzman Scholarship

Funding for:听Graduate School
Who can apply:听Seniors
Deadline:听U.S. and Global Students: September; Students with Chinese Passports: May 2021

Description: A fully-funded one-year Master's program at Tsinghua University in Beijing, China. Designed for students with a particular interest in leadership and recognition of China's place in geopolitical affairs.

Advisor:听听Dr. Jason Cavallari, University Fellowships
IS alumni recipients:听not known

听

Herbert Scoville Jr. Peace Fellowship

Funding for:听Postgraduate Research/Professional Development
Who can apply:听Seniors (U.S. Citizens preferred)
Deadline:听For Fall 2021 Fellowship: January 19, 2021 (begin between July 15 and October 1, 2021); For Spring 2022 Fellowship: October 1, 2021 (begin between January 15 and April 1, 2022)

Description: The Herbert Scoville, Jr. Peace Fellowship was established in 1987 to provide college graduates with the opportunity to gain a Washington perspective on key issues of peace and security. Scoville Fellows serve as full-time project assistants at the participating organization of their choice.

Advisor:听 MCAS Associate Dean Candace Hetzner
IS alumni recipients:听not known

听

Morris K. & Stewart L. Udall Scholarship

Funding for:听Undergraduate study
Who can apply: Sophomores, Juniors (U.S. Citizens or permanent residents only)
Deadline:听March 2, 2021

Description: The scholarships are for undergraduates who intend to pursue careers related to environmental public policy, and for Native American and Alaskan Native students who intend to pursue careers in health care and tribal public policy.

Advisor:听 Prof. Noah Snyder, Earth Sciences Dept./Environmental Studies Program
IS alumni recipients:听not known

听

Gates Cambridge Scholarship

Funding for:听Graduate School
Who can apply:听Seniors
Deadline:听Early October

Description:听Scholarships 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.

Advisor:听听Dr. Jason Cavallari, University Fellowships
IS alumni recipients:听not known

听

Knight-Hennessy Scholars Program

Funding for:听Graduate study at Stanford University (any program)
Who can apply:听Anyone who has graduated from college in the past 7 years. (.)
Deadline:听mid-October (separate application from the Stanford graudate program to which you also apply)

Description: Considered one of the world鈥檚 most coveted and prestigious graduate scholarships, the 听invites exceptional students and promising young leaders from around the globe to study in the discipline of their choice at any of Stanford鈥檚 graduate programs. The scholarship was established in 2016 through a gift from Stanford alumnus Phil Knight, co-founder of Nike, Inc., and other benefactors, and is named for Knight and former Stanford President John Hennessy. It is the largest fully endowed graduate fellowship in the world, and provides full tuition, room and board, books and supplies, and a stipend for听approximately听100 scholars each year.

Advisor:听 Dr. Jason Cavallari, University Fellowships
ISP alumni winners:
Lucas Levine '15 (to Stanford Graduate School of Busniess, in 2020)

听

BC Fellowships

Advanced Study Grants

Funding for: Summer research听听听听

Who can apply?听听听BC Freshmen, Sophomores, Juniors as nominated by faculty
听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 [** All IS majors are nominated and can apply for this award **]听 听听

Deadline:听 听 听 听mid-March for summer funding听听听听听听听听

These are awarded for summer research or projects that promise to accelerate dramatically the applicant's academic progress. The intent of this program is to encourage undergraduates to acquire skills that will make more sophisticated research and study possible during their junior and senior years. Proposed projects must be independent, student-designed projects.

Advisor:听 听 听 听 听 Prof. Alice Behnegar, Political Science Dept.

ISP majors/minors receiving fellowship:

  • Numerous; speak with Prof. Nakazato for more info.

听

McGillycuddy-Logue Travel Grant

The McGillycuddy-Logue Travel Grant is available to BC undergraduate students who plan to study on BC summer or semester and year programs abroad, and are also recipients of BC institutional financial aid at the time of application, as well as for the period they are abroad

Funding for: 听听听听听听 听 听Travel

Who can apply?听 听 BC study abroad applicants

Deadline: 听听听听听听听 听 听 听 Spring funding: Nov 1
听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 Summer funding: Feb 5
听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 Fall/Year-long funding: March 25

Advisor:听 听听 听听听听听听 听 听 听 Christina Hatzipetros, Office of Global Education

ISP majors/minors receiving fellowship:听numerous; speak with OGE for more info听

Mizna Fellowship

Funding for: 听听听听听听 听 听Travel

Who can apply?听听听听听听听BC study abroad applicants

Deadline: 听听听听听听听 听 听 听 Spring funding: Nov 1
听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 Summer funding: Feb 5
听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 Fall/Year-long funding: March 25


Mizna Fellowships are awarded on a competitive basis to Boston College students including freshmen, for whom travel may be an introduction to the world of Islamic scholarship and to seniors who seek to expand their understandings of Islamic cultures, history, language and societies in order to author a distinguished senior thesis.

Advisor:听 听听 听听听听听听 听 听 听 Christina Hatzipetros, Office of Global Education

ISP majors/minors receiving fellowship:听numerous; talk with OGE for details

听

Omar A. Aggad Travel & Research Fellowship

Funding for: 听听听听Travel and Research

Who can apply?听听BC Undergraduates

Deadline: 听 听 听 听 听 听For 2021: March 15

The Omar A. Aggad Travel and Research Fellowship was established through the generous gift of a Boston College family to inspire BC graduate and undergraduate students to expand their understandings of the Arab world, and of the relationships between Arab societies and the West.听

Advisor: 听听听听听听听听听听听听Prof. Kathy Bailey, Political Science and Islamic Civilization & Societies Program

ISP majors/minors receiving fellowship:听not known听

Amanda V. Houston Traveling Fellowship

Funding for: 听听听听Travel

Who can apply?听听BC Sophomores and Juniors

Deadline:听听听听听听听听听听March 25

The Amanda V. Houston Traveling Fellowship provides up to $3,000 toward domestic or international travel for either an Independent Research Project under the supervision of a faculty member or a Research Paper attached to an approved course in a BC recognized study abroad program.听 Projects must significantly focus on African or African Diaspora communities.

Advisor: 听听听听听听听听Richard Paul, Assistant Director, AADS Progam

ISP majors/minors receiving fellowship: not known听

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