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.
Class Level:
- Junior
Scholarship Deadline:
Expanded Scholarship Details:
The Truman Scholarship is a merit-based federal grant (up to $30,000) awarded to undergraduate students who to attend graduate or professional school in preparation for careers in government, the non-profit sector or elsewhere in public service. Truman Scholars are required to work in public service for three years of the seven following the completion of the graduate degree program. The Foundation seeks candidates who:
- Have extensive records of public and community service
- Are committed to careers in government or elsewhere in public service
- Have outstanding leadership potential and communication skills
The Truman Foundation Committee will not accept materials directly from the applicants; instead, the candidate’s undergraduate institution must make the nomination. Students should send an email the Scholarships Coordinator at scholarships@ltsc.ucsb.edu, indicating their interest in the scholarship. Our office works with closely with UCSB undergraduates, regardless of their colleges, who apply for national scholarships, and it is important that students consult with the coordinator well before the campus application deadline.
Conditions of Eligibility:
- US Citizens, US National residents of American Samoa, or expecting their citizenship by the date of the award;
- Currently enrolled at a US-based accredited institution;
- In their penultimate year of school (for candidates graduating in four years or more) or in their final year of school (for candidates graduating in three years or fewer);
- Nominated by either their current institution of study or their former institution of study for transfer or community college applicants; and,
- Planning to attend graduate school in pursuit of a career in public service.
Application materials are available on-line at the Truman Scholarship Website.
Campus Application Deadline: December 27, 2023
Application requirements:
- The online application, including the policy proposal, must be completed no later than the above campus deadline.
- Your three letters of recommendation must be sent by the recommenders as Word documents or PDFs to scholarships@ltsc.ucsb.edu. Note that the Truman Foundation has specific instructions covering the content & aims of each the three letters. You should choose your letter writers carefully to fulfill these aims, and share the instructions with them in order to ensure they can write effective letters!
- Official transcripts from all college work completed outside of UCSB, and official or unofficial UCSB transcripts. Please request any official non-UCSB transcripts well before the campus deadline. Please request all official digital transcripts be sent to: scholarships@ltsc.ucsb.edu. For non-UCSB institutions that provide only hard-copy official transcripts, please coordinate with our office before requesting delivery.