Center for Undergraduate Research & Fellowships

Pickering Graduate Fellowship

The Thomas R. Pickering Foreign Affairs Graduate Fellowship Program provides financial support, mentoring and professional development to prepare students academically and professionally for a career in the US Department of State Foreign Service.  Graduate Fellows receive up to $42,000 annually for tuition, room and board, books, mandatory fees and some travel expenses for a two-year master’s degree in fields related to the Foreign Service such as business administration, economics, public policy, international affairs, and other relevant fields. This program encourages the application of members of minority groups historically underrepresented in the Foreign Service and those with financial need.

https://pickeringfellowship.org/

Deadline: September 22, 2021 

Penn’s Application Process

• While the Pickering Graduate Fellowship does not require Penn’s nomination, CURF will be happy to provide advice, guidance, and application assistance to you.

Rangel International Affairs Graduate Fellowship

The Charles B. Rangel International Affairs Graduate Fellowship supports Fellows through two years of graduate study (in subjects relevant to the work of the Foreign Service) along with internships and professional development activities, and entry into the Foreign Service.  This program encourages the application of members of minority groups historically underrepresented in the Foreign Service and those with financial need.  Fellows who successfully complete the program and Foreign Service entry requirements will receive appointments as Foreign Service Officers.

http://www.rangelprogram.org

Deadline: September 29, 2021

Penn’s Application Process

• While the Rangel Graduate Fellowship does not require Penn’s nomination, CURF will be happy to provide advice, guidance, and application assistance to you.

Trudeau Scholarship

The Trudeau Scholarship provides three years full funding for a doctoral degree on one of four program themes: Human Rights and Dignity, Responsible Citizenship, Canada and the World, and People and their Natural Environment for either:

• Canadians to earn a doctorate at a foreign (i.e., non-Canadian) university
• Non-Canadians to earn a doctorate at a Canadian university

http://www.trudeaufoundation.ca/en/programs/scholarships

The Trudeau Foundation is currently reviewing the Scholarship with a focus on Inclusive Excellence and Engaged Leadership. Information on this year's competition is now posted.

Application Deadline: December 21, 2021, 5:00pm Eastern Standard Time

Penn’s Application Process

• While the Trudeau Scholarship does not require Penn’s nomination, CURF will be happy to provide advice, guidance, and application assistance to you.

Princeton in Latin America Fellowship

Princeton in Latin America (PiLA) partners with NGOs and multilateral organizations and places highly qualified recent college graduates in one-year service fellowships with nonprofit, public service, humanitarian, and government organizations with a social mission in Latin American and Caribbean.  PiLA enhances the mission of its partners by building their capacity to impact constructively the communities they serve, addressing the social, economic, and political barriers to egalitarian community development.

https://pila-princeton.org/

Deadline: November 11, 2021 (TENTATIVE)

Penn’s Application Process

• While the Princeton in Latin America Fellowship does not require Penn’s nomination, CURF will be happy to provide advice, guidance, and application assistance to you.

Princeton in Asia Fellowship

Princeton in Asia (PiA) has long been driven by a mission to foster cross-cultural understanding between East and West by giving young people opportunities to live and work in Asia.  PiA matches talented and passionate college graduates with organizations working across Asia for one-year service placements. As employees of a variety of Asian institutions, PiA fellows gain work and life experience while providing valuable services to their Asian hosts. PiA offers service-oriented posts in the fields of education, international development (NGOs), journalism, and business, with a majority of fellows working as English teachers at universities and high schools.

http://piaweb.princeton.edu/

Deadline: November 1, 2021, 3pm EST

Penn’s Application Process

• While the Princeton in Asia Fellowship does not require Penn’s nomination, CURF will be happy to provide advice, guidance, and application assistance to you.

Princeton in Africa Fellowship

Princeton in Africa matches talented and passionate college graduates with organizations working across Africa for one-year service placements. Fellows have helped improve education and public health, source fresh water and alternative energy, increase family incomes, and more.

https://www.princetoninafrica.org/applicants/how-to-apply/

Deadline: October 27, 2021, 11:59pm Eastern US Time

Penn’s Application Process

• While the Princeton in Africa Fellowship does not require Penn’s nomination, CURF will be happy to provide advice, guidance, and application assistance to you.

Soros Fellowship

The Paul and Daisy Soros Fellowship supports New Americans (immigrants or the children of immigrants), who are pursuing a graduate degree in any field in the United States.  The Fellowship provides up to $25,000 in stipend support, as well as 50 percent of required tuition and fees, up to $20,000 per year, for two years, for a total of up to $90,000 in student support.

https://www.pdsoros.org/

Deadline: October 28, 2021, *2:00pm Eastern US Time*

Penn’s Application Process

• While the Soros Fellowship does not require Penn’s nomination, CURF will be happy to provide advice, guidance, and application assistance to you.
• Applicants will submit the application and supporting materials electronically here.

Luce Scholars

In spite of its name, the Luce Scholars Program is experiential rather than academic in nature. At the heart of the enterprise are the internships that are arranged for each Scholar on the basis of his or her specific professional interests, background, qualifications, and experience. Placements can be made in the following countries: Cambodia, China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, Malaysia, Mongolia, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam

Aimed at a very select group of young Americans from a wide range of academic and professional backgrounds, the Luce Scholars Program is unique in placing emphasis on leaders who have had limited (or no) prior exposure to the region.  A monthly stipend and certain other allowances are provided by the Luce Foundation.

http://www.hluce.org/lsprogram.aspx  

Penn Deadline: October 9, 2022 (TENTATIVE) [unfortunately, the Luce Scholars program will not be accepting applications in 2021]

Penn’s Application Process

The Luce Scholars program accepts nominations from institutions – students may not apply independently. To apply to be one of Penn’s three nominees, you must complete the following steps by Penn’s Internal Deadline

• Access the Luce online application system (and register your recommenders) here: http://www.hluce.org/lsapply.aspx
• Complete applications (including letters of recommendation) must be submitted by Penn's Internal Deadline in order to be considered for Penn's nomination.
• Nominated students will receive further instructions.  

Yenching Academy

Functioning as an independent college at Peking University, Beijing, the Academy offers students a Master of Arts in China Studies with a curriculum that covers six broad categories: Literature and Culture; History and Archaeology; Philosophy and Religion; Politics and International Relations; Economics and Management; and Law and Society.  Academy courses will be available in both English and Chinese.

Fellowships for international Yenching Scholars are for twelve months, during the course of which they complete their coursework and may complete the thesis.  A limited number of financial aid packages are available for those who wish to remain on campus for a second year.  Degrees are granted upon the completion of all coursework and satisfactory defense of the thesis, and are awarded in January and July of each year.

Yenching Academy of Peking University is hosting a series of virtual open sessions for prospective students on Yenching's strongest research areas from mid-October through late November. Current and past students of the Academy and Yenching Associate Dean, Dr. Brent Haas, will host. View Yenching's research areas and register here.

http://yenchingacademy.org/

Penn Deadline for currently enrolled Penn students: November 15, 2021

NOTE:  Alumni who are citizens of nations other than the US or Canada must also apply for Penn endorsement by November 15, 2021, in order to meet Yenching's non-US and Canada application deadline.  If you are uncertain whether you fall under the non-US and Canada deadline, please contact Yenching Academy's Admissions Team at yca-admissions@pku.edu.cn

Penn’s Application Process

The Yenching Academy program accepts nominations from institutions – students may not apply independently. To apply to be one of Penn’s nominees, you must complete the following steps by Penn’s Internal Deadline of November 15, 2021.

• Applicants must complete and submit this Yenching application form and submit it as part of your application to Penn.
• This year, Yenching Academy has announced that Peking University will only accept recommendation letters written by full professors or associate professors. Please check each potential recommender's webpage to ascertain their academic rank. If you are uncertain about their rank, please email Dr. Genser at genser@upenn.edu.
• As soon as you have arranged for letters of recommendation, complete and submit this Yenching recommendation form, which you must send to each of your recommenders and which must be submitted by recommenders to CURF along with their Yenching recommendation letter for you.
• Complete Penn’s CURF Fellowships Nomination Request for the Yenching Academy.  Here, you will upload a single PDF which combines your completed Yenching application form, your personal statement, CV/resume, and unofficial transcript from Penn InTouch (and other institutions, if relevant).  If you do not receive an email confirming your submission within 4 hours, please IMMEDIATELY email aolson@upenn.edu to make sure CURF has received your submission.
• Nominated students will receive further instructions. 
• After being nominated by Penn, applicants must also complete and submit the Yenching application. Applicants should NOT complete the “Recommenders” section of the online application. Since Penn submits each candidate’s two letters of recommendation by email, nominees should simply enter their recommenders’ information (name, title, etc.) in the Yenching application system, but enter yca-submissions@pku.edu.cn and noreply-yca-admissions@pku.edu.cn instead of the recommenders’ email addresses, then click “send request.” This will prevent unnecessary work for recommenders.

Thouron Award

The Thouron Award is tenable at any university in the United Kingdom, and covers tuition and fees for a single one- or two-year graduate degree program, plus a living allowance and generous travel stipend.  Applicants will be selected on the basis of scholarship, as well as clarity of purpose, contribution to community, and other intangible aspects of person.

The Thouron-University of Pennsylvania Fund for British-American Student Exchange exists for the promotion of better understanding and closer friendship between the people of the United Kingdom and the United States of America. This academic exchange and experience in international friendship was conceived by and is supported by gifts from Sir John Thouron and the late Esther du Pont, Lady Thouron, of Unionville, Pennsylvania.

Fall 2021 applicants must have completed their most recent degree from Penn (or be in the process of completing their Penn degree) no earlier than Spring 2019.

Potential applicants should view this video to learn more about the Thouron Award: 2021 Thouron Award Information session with Thouron Award staff and 2021 recipient

https://www.thouronaward.org/apply-from-penn/

Penn Deadline: October 15, 2021

Penn’s Application Process

• Submit your application materials and register your recommenders directly through the Thouron Award website by October 15, 2021.
• Candidates are also expected to be in touch with at least one faculty member at their first choice UK institution. These individuals need not ultimately supervise candidates' dissertation work, but should serve as a contact for applicants to become familiar with their intended departments.
• After applications are received, the Thouron faculty committee will screen the applications. A set of finalists will then be invited in December to attend interviews, almost always held in late January or early February in Philadelphia.