Find a Fellowship

The Office of Fellowships helps currently enrolled Mason students, and recent alumni, apply to nationally competitive awards that provide a variety of funding opportunities and experiences.

Explore the fellowship categories below to find an award that interests you. Pay special attention to the eligibility requirements and note that some awards have an internal (Mason) deadline.  

Contact the Office of Fellowships for more information.

 

Explore Fellowships by Category

Study Abroad

Fellowship Name Description
Gilman Scholarship

Who: Undergraduate students currently receiving a Pell Grant; U.S. citizens

What: Funding to study abroad; program must be approved by study abroad office

When: Applications are due in October or March (depending on dates of study abroad program)

Fulbright US Student Program

Who: Students with a bachelor’s degree (you can apply as an undergrad senior); U.S. citizens

What: Funding to study, research, or teach English in 140+ countries

When: Mason applicants must contact Office of Fellowships by June 1

Boren Awards

Who: Undergraduate and graduate students; U.S. citizens

What: Funding to learn a language critical to U.S. security overseas (grad students may also do research); federal employment upon return to U.S.

When: Mason applicants must contact Office of Fellowships by November 30

Critical Language Scholarship

Who: Currently enrolled undergraduate and graduate students; U.S. citizens

What: Funding to learn ‘critical need’ language overseas during summer

When: Applications due in October

 

Research Experiences

Fellowship Name Description
NSF Research Experience for Undergrads

Who: Freshman-Junior undergraduates

What: Paid summer research experience in lab at university or research center (locations across U.S.); U.S. citizens or permanent residents

When: Rolling deadlines

Smithsonian Fellowships and Internships

Who: Undergraduate and graduate students (varies depending on specific position)

What: Paid research opportunity at Smithsonian museum or research institute

When: Application deadlines vary

 

Graduate School

Fellowship Name  Description
Pickering Fellowship and Rangel Fellowship

Who: Prospective grad students in international affairs or related field; U.S. citizens

What: Funding for 2-year MA program, domestic and international internship; federal employment upon graduation

When: Mason applicants must contact Office of Fellowships by September 1

NSF GRFP

Who: Undergraduate seniors and first-year graduate students (that have not earned a MA or PhD previously); U.S. citizens, nationals, or permanent residents.

What: Funding for 3 years of STEM graduate program

When: Mason applicants must contact Office of Fellowships by June 1

DoD SMART

Who: Undergraduate senior or currently enrolled graduate student in STEM program; U.S. citizens

What: Full funding for 1 year of graduate STEM program, summer internships with DoD facility, DoD employment upon graduation

When: Applications due in December

Beinecke Scholars

Who: Junior undergraduates planning to do graduate study in the arts, humanities, or social sciences; U.S. citizens

What: Funding for graduate school

When: Mason applicants must contact Office of Fellowships by December 1

 

Leadership and Service

Fellowship Name Description
Truman Scholars

Who: Undergraduate juniors dedicated to civic leadership; U.S. citizens

What: Funding for 2-year graduate program in public policy or related field

When: Mason applicants must contact Office of Fellowships by December 1

Humanity in Action Fellowship

Who: Undergraduate, graduate students, and recent alumni

What: Funding for immersive study and humanitarian community-based project

When: Applications due in February

Point Foundation Flagship Scholarship

Who: Undergraduate and graduate students that are “out” as members of the LGBTQ+ community

What: Financial aid, mentorship, and leadership development

When: Applications due in December

 

International Students

Fellowship Name  Description
AAUW International Fellowship

Who: International graduate students that identify as women

What: Funding for graduate school

When: Applications due in November

Google Scholarship (North America)

Who: Undergraduate and graduate students in computer science/engineering

What: 1 year of funding for school

When: Applications due in December

Margaret McNamara Grant (US-America Program)

Who: Currently enrolled students that identify as women and are 25+ years old; home country must be on eligibility list

What: Funding for 1 year of school

When: Applications due in January

Fulbright Foreign Student Program

Who: Graduate students

What: Funding for graduate school

When: Deadlines vary by country; apply through individual country Fulbright Office