National Scholarships

The nationally and internationally competitive scholarships and fellowships outlined below have rigorous and highly competitive application processes. These opportunities are worth more than financial support, and can open up doors to a variety of academic, career, and research opportunities. Most require UCSB campus endorsement, a process which is coordinated by Undergraduate Education at UCSB.

See the individual fellowship and scholarship pages below for details. Students may contact scholarships@ltsc.ucsb.edu with questions or to make an appointment to discuss their interest in a specific opportunity.

Note: questions regarding general financial need based scholarships and support should be directed to the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships.

Recent UCSB National Scholarship Recipients

Campus Deadline:
Thursday, December 14, 2023

Estimated annual campus deadline: Mid-December

The Goldwater Scholarship supports developing science, mathematics, and engineering students who demonstrate outstanding academic performance and potential in research.

Eligibility: Sophmores or Juniors; U.S. citizens or permanent residents; GPA 3.8 or higher; mathematics, natural sciences, or engineering

Award amount: $7,500 annually

Campus nomination: required for all UCSB applicants.

UCSB campus application information

  • Sophomore
  • Junior
Campus Deadline:
Friday, February 16, 2024

Estimated annual campus deadline: Early-January

The Beinecke Scholarship is awarded to outstanding undergraduate students with a demonstrated history of financial need-based support who plan to pursue graduate school opportunities in the arts, humanities, or social sciences.

Eligibility: Juniors; U.S. citizens; plan to enter a master's or doctoral program in the arts, humanties, or social sciences; documented history of receiving need-based financial aid; GPA of 3.7 or higher

Award amount: $4,000 immediately and additional $30,000 for attending graduate school

Campus nomination: required for all UCSB applicants.

UCSB campus application information

  • Junior
Campus Deadline:
Tuesday, December 19, 2023

Estimated annual campus deadline: Mid-December

The Boren Scholarship provides funding for U.S. undergraduates with an interest in national security careers to study less commonly taught languages abroad in world regions critical to U.S. interests. Boren Scholars study all over the world and commit to working in the federal government for one year after graduation.

Eligibility: Freshmen, Sophomore, Junior, Senior; U.S. citizens; all majors; plan to study abroad in world regions critical to U.S. national security; interest in national security career

Award amount: up to $20,000 depending on duration of study abroad program

Campus nomination: optional campus endorsement process for UCSB applicants if submitted by campus deadline.

UCSB campus application information

  • Freshman
  • Sophomore
  • Junior
  • Senior
Campus Deadline:
Wednesday, December 13, 2023

Estimated annual campus deadline: Early December

The Carnegie Endowment's James C. Gaither Junior Fellows Program provides a substantive work experience in the form of one-year fellowships for uniquely qualified seniors or recent graduates with a strong academic and career interest in international affairs. Fellows work as research assistants to the Endowment's senior associates, focusing on a specific annual project in connection with the Endowment's ongoing international affairs and diplomacy research.

Eligibility: Seniors or students who have graduated within the past academic year; serious career interest in international affairs; significant amount of course work completed related to the student's disciplines of interest; permission to work in the United States for a full 10 months from September 1 through June 30 in the year following an application.  

Award: Up to $40,000 and benefits.

Campus nomination: required for all UCSB applicants.

UCSB campus application information

  • Senior
Campus Deadline:
Tuesday, September 19, 2023

Estimated annual campus deadline: Late September

The Churchill Scholarships offers outstanding American students the opportunity to pursue graduate studies in engineering, mathematics, or science at Churchill College, University of Cambridge.

Eligibility: Seniors or students who have graduated within the past academic year in mathematics, engineering, or sciences; U.S. citizens and nationals; GPA 3.7 or higher; must have attained a BA upon taking up the scholarship, and not have received a doctorate

Award: Up to $50,000 to pursue graduate study at University of Cambridge.

Campus nomination: required for all UCSB applicants.

UCSB campus application information

  • Senior
Campus Deadline:
Wednesday, November 15, 2023

Estimated annual campus deadline: No campus deadline for Undergraduates. National deadline in November each year.

The Critical Language Scholarship is an intensive overseas language and cultural immersion program for American students enrolled at U.S. colleges and universities, supporting study of languages of critical need to U.S. interests.

Eligibility: Freshmen, Sophomore, Junior, Senior; U.S. citizens; enrolled and pursuing a degree at an accredited US institution during fall of application year; all majors; desire to study a language critical to US interests.

Award amount: N/A; fully funded intensive language program abroad

Campus nomination: Campus nomination is not required for applicants to CLS. Students should apply directly by the national deadline provided by CLS.

UCSB campus application information

  • Freshman
  • Sophomore
  • Junior
  • Senior
Campus Deadline:
Wednesday, February 7, 2024

Estimated annual campus deadline: Mid-February

The Strauss Scholarship supports college students interested in public service, providing both a stipend to the student and funds to use toward expenses for a public service project. Almost any type of project can be proposed, from local to international, as long as the applicant can demonstrate how the funds will be used to benefit the common good.

Eligibility: Sophmores or Juniors with 1 or 2 full years before graduating; strong commitment to public service; GPA in the upper 1/3 of the class 

Award: $15,000 award for both project expenses ($8,000) and educational support ($7,000)

Campus nomination: required for all UCSB applicants.

UCSB campus application information

  • Sophomore
  • Junior
Campus Deadline:
Tuesday, October 10, 2023

Estimated annual campus deadline: No mandatory campus deadline for Undergraduates. National deadline in October each year.

Graduate Division coordinates submission for all UCSB Fulbright applicants, but does not provide feedback on application materials. Students seeking Fulbright application feedback from our office should share their application with us at least one month before the national deadline.

Fulbright supports up to one year of international funding for recent undergraduates, masters recipients, and current graduates students. The Fulbright may be utilized to explore research interests, graduate or independent study projects, and/or English teaching opportunities in participating countries. The program purpose is to increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and other countries through the exchange of persons, knowledge, and skills. Selection is based on the applicant’s academic or professional record, language preparation, the feasibility of the proposed study project, and personal qualifications.

Eligibility: U.S. citizens; seniors or recent graduates; in good health as certified by a satisfactory Medical Certificate; sufficient proficiency in the written and spoken language of the host country

Award amount: varies by program and country; for all programs, covers round-trip transportation to the host country, room, board, incidental costs, and accident & sickness health benefits. See the Fulbright Website Award Benefits page for additional details.

Campus nomination: Campus nomination is not required for undergraduate Fulbright applicants at UCSB. Students should apply directly by the national deadline as posted on the Fulbright Website Application Timeline page.

UCSB campus application information
 

Campus Deadline:
Monday, August 21, 2023

ANNOUNCEMENT: The Mitchell Scholarship has paused selection for the class of 2026, and will not be open to application in Summer 2024. Applications may open again in a future year. See the announcement from the US-Ireland Alliance.

Estimated annual campus deadline: Mid-August

The Mitchell Scholarship Program selects exceptional undergraduates for one academic year of postgraduate study in any discipline offered by institutions of higher learning in Ireland and Northern Ireland.

Eligibility: Seniors or recent graduates; U.S. citizens between the age of 18 and 30; must be interested in graduate-level studies in Ireland.

Award amount: $11,000 plus tuition and room

Campus nomination: required for all UCSB applicants who are currently enrolled. No campus nomination requirement if applying after graduation.

UCSB campus application information

  • Senior
Campus Deadline:
Wednesday, December 27, 2023

Estimated annual campus deadline: Mid-December

The Truman Scholarship supports exceptional junior students who plan to attend graduate or professional school in preparation for a career in public service, providing funding at both the undergraduate and graduate level and access to the Truman network. Truman seeks students with a track record of leadership and service, an academic record that supports success at the graduate level, and an understanding of what it takes to positively impact society through systemic policy change.

Eligibility: Juniors; U.S. citizens or nationals; GPA 3.5 or higher; committed to public service careers in government, the nonprofit or advocacy sectors

Award amount: up to $30,000 for graduate study

Campus nomination: required for all UCSB applicants.

UCSB campus application information

  • Junior
Campus Deadline:
Wednesday, October 11, 2023

The Knight-Hennessey Scholarship is an opportunity to become part of a unique community of future global leaders pursuing graduate studies at Stanford University.

Eligibility: Seniors or students who have graduated within the last five years; potential for admission to specific Stanford graduate program of interest.

Award amount: full cost of attendance including tuition, room and board, program related travel and expenses

Campus nomination: Campus nomination is not required for undergraduate Knight-Hennessy applicants at UCSB. Students should apply directly by the national deadline visible in the online application system.

UCSB campus application information

Campus Deadline:
Friday, August 18, 2023

Estimated annual campus deadline: Mid-August

The Marshall Scholarship offers intellectually distinguished young Americans the opportunity to attend graduate school for two years in any discipline in the United Kingdom, while being introduced to the British way of life and British social and academic values.

Eligibility: Seniors or students who have recently graduated; U.S. citizens; GPA 3.7 or higher; have not studied for or earned a degree or qualification from a British University, GCSE, or A-Levels taken at a school in the UK.

Award: University fees, cost of living expenses, annual book grant, thesis grant, research and daily travel grants, fares to and from the United States

Campus nomination: required for all UCSB applicants.

UCSB campus application information

  • Senior
Campus Deadline:
Wednesday, February 7, 2024

Estimated annual campus deadline: Early February

The Udall Scholarship provides financial support and access to the Udall leadership network to sophomores and juniors who are either committed to pursuing an environmentally related career, or who are Native Americans or Alaska Natives interested in fields related to Native health care or tribal public policy. Ideal scholars will demonstrate the core Udall principles of civility, integrity, and consensus through their area of study and public service activities, and show the potential to make significant contributions in their chosen field.

Eligibility: Sophomores and Juniors who either 1) have demonstrated commitment to careers related to the environment; or 2) who are Native Americans or Alaska Natives in fields related to Native health care or tribal public policy; GPA of 3.0 or above.

Award amount: up to $7,000 for educational expenses

Campus nomination: required for all UCSB applicants.

UCSB campus application information

Campus Deadline:
Wednesday, August 23, 2023

Estimated annual campus deadline: Mid-August

The Rhodes Scholarship funds two-or-three years of post-bachelor study at Oxford University in England, and seeks students who can demonstrate outstanding scholarly achievement, a commitment to others and to the common good, and the potential to be leaders in their chosen field.

Eligibily: Seniors or recent graduates under age 24; U.S. citizen OR admitted to the United States as a lawful permanent resident; GPA 3.9 or higher; all majors

Award amount: all costs for one, two, or three years of study at the University of Oxford; maintenance allowance; travel and research grants

Campus nomination: required for all UCSB applicants.

UCSB campus application information

  • Senior
Campus Deadline:
Tuesday, September 19, 2023

Estimated annual campus deadline: No mandatory campus deadline for Undergraduates. National deadline in September each year.

The Schwarzman Scholarship gives the world’s best and brightest students the opportunity to develop their leadership skills and professional networks through a one-year Master’s Degree at Schwarzman College, Tsinghua University, in Beijing, China.  Schwarzman Scholars will develop a greater understanding of China’s role in global trends while pursuing either an individualized academic plan or one focused in one of the major themes: public policy, economics and business, or international studies.

Eligibility: Seniors or recently graduated students; 18 to 29 years of age; bachelor's degree either completed or to be completed by start of Schwarzman program; English language proficiency; for institutional endorsement, have demonstrated academic excellence (3.80 GPA or above).

Award amount: tuition fees, room and board, program related travel and expenses

Campus nomination: Campus nomination is not required for undergraduate Schwarzman applicants at UCSB. Students should apply directly by the national deadline visible in the Schwarzman Scholarship online application system.

UCSB campus application information

  • Senior
Campus Deadline:
Monday, October 30, 2023

Estimated annual campus deadline: Early November

The Yenching Academy enrolls students from both China and abroad, to study, live, and learn together at one of China’s top universities.  The scholarship supports a 12 month residential program for international students, and is aimed at creating a community of enthusiastic, globally oriented young innovators.

Eligibility: Seniors or students who will have their degree by the start of the program, who demonstrate an outstanding academic record (3.80 GPA or above for UCSB nomination), extracurricular achievement, and leadership potential, and who wish to study in China and explore the country and its surrounding cultures.

Award amount: tuition, accommodation, a round trip to and from home, medical insurance, living stipend to cover expenses at Peking University, costs related to field studies.

Campus nomination: required for all UCSB applicants, both current and former students.

UCSB campus application information

  • Senior

National Scholarship Advising

Contact us by email at scholarships@ltsc.ucsb.edu with any questions or to make an appointment. An appointment is recommended for consultation on candidacy for a specific nationally competitive scholarship or fellowship.

Annual Campus Deadlines

August

September

October

November

December

January

February