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:

• Full-time students who have either A.) junior –level academic standing, B) senior-level academic standing in the third year of college enrollment, or C) senior-level standing and residency status in Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, or a Pacific Island;
• Students with academic performance in the upper quarter of their class (a cumulative UCSB GPA of 3.50 or higher is required);
• United States citizens or United States nationals from a Pacific Island or who expect to receive U.S. citizenship by the date the Scholarship will be awarded;
• Students must also be nominated by the Truman Scholarship Faculty Representative at his or her institution.

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.