Center for Undergraduate Research & Fellowships

Josephine de Karman Fellowship

The Josephine de Karman Fellowship Trust awards $25,000 for PhD students’ final year in school.  All disciplines are eligible. Special consideration is given to applicants in the humanities. Only PhD candidates who will defend their dissertation in or about June 2024 are eligible for consideration for a 2023-2024 fellowship.

NOTE: Only PhD students enrolled at a university in California listed at http://www.dekarman.org/qualifications/ are eligible to apply for the 2022-2023 fellowship.

Additional details and application materials at http://www.dekarman.org/qualifications/

Recent recipients are listed at http://www.dekarman.org/fellowship-recipients/

Deadline: January 31, 2023 (TENTATIVE)

Penn’s Application Process

• While the Josephine de Karman Fellowship Trust does not require Penn’s nomination, CURF will be happy to provide advice, guidance, and application assistance to PhD students enrolled at the University of Pennsylvania.
• Applicants will mail the application and supporting materials directly to the Trust by January 31, 2023 (TENTATIVE)  

Queen Elizabeth Scholarship

The Queen Elizabeth Scholarship, made possible by the generosity of Sir Walter Annenberg, is awarded to outstanding students of the University of Pennsylvania and the University of Oxford. Penn PhD candidates are invited to apply during the 2023-2024 academic year. Penn will send a PhD student to Oxford as a non-degree visiting student every other year and Oxford will send a DPhil student to Penn. The next Penn student will be sent to Oxford for the 2024-2025 academic year.  The Scholarship covers all fees and provides a stipend of £14,000 (see current US/UK exchange rate for amount in US dollars).

Applicants must be at the dissertation stage or in the final stages of course work in pursuit of a PhD in any subject taught at Oxford University. Preference will be given to American citizens.

Penn Deadline: January 30, 2024, 4:00pm Eastern US Time

Penn Application Process

The Penn liaison for the Queen Elizabeth Scholarship accepts applications from individual students, and the Queen Elizabeth Scholar is selected by a committee of Penn faculty. To apply to be one of Penn’s nominees, you must complete the following steps by Penn’s Internal Deadline of January 30, 2024.

• In order to apply, applicants must obtain approval from their Penn graduate department to be a visiting student at Oxford during the 2024-2025 academic year.
• Two recommendation letters are required. As soon as you have arranged for two letters of recommendation, begin a CURF Fellowships Nomination Request for the Queen Elizabeth Scholarship.  One letter should be from your current or proposed Penn dissertation supervisor, who should identify her/himself as such in their letter, and the other should come from another Penn faculty member with whom you have studied.
• Additionally you will upload a single PDF which combines
  • your CV
  • a document listing the department(s) in which you plan to study or conduct research at Oxford
  • a description of work you’re planning at Oxford (including resources you’ll utilize) [500-words maximum]
  • the name(s), department(s), and email address(es) of faculty member(s) at Oxford you have been in contact with who have indicated a willingness to work with you while you are at Oxford
  • copies of email confirmation from each faculty member who has indicated a willingness to work with you at Oxford
  • official undergraduate and graduate transcript (please scan these from official transcripts)
  • a document noting your intended future occupation
  • if you have ever visited the United Kingdom, a document that briefly states the purpose of your visit(s) (e.g., holiday, study abroad, research, etc.). 

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. 

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 10, 2022 (TENTATIVE) [Unfortunately, Princeton in Latin America will not hold an application cycle for Fall 2021.]

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: October 31, 2022, 3:00 pm EST (Tentative deadline)

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 26, 2022 (Tentative deadline)

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 27, 2021, *2:00pm Eastern US Time* (Tentative Deadline)

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

Application is open for the 2023-2024 cycle

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 their specific professional interests, background, qualifications, and experience. Luce is open to US citizens and permanent residents, and placements can be made in the following countries: Cambodia, China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, Malaysia, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam.

Aimed at a very select group of young professionals 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.  Luce welcomes applications from college seniors, graduate students, and young professionals in a variety of fields. A monthly stipend and certain other allowances are provided by the Luce Foundation.

The Luce Scholars program no longer requires university nomination. Luce now accepts applications directly from students and alumni.

https://www.hluce.org/

Deadline: October 1, 2022

Penn’s Application Process

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

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, 2022, 4:00pm

NOTE:  Alumni who are citizens of nations other than the US or Canada must also apply for Penn endorsement by November 15, 2022, 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, 2022, 4:00pm.

• 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 2022 applicants must have completed their most recent degree from Penn (or be in the process of completing their Penn degree) no earlier than Spring 2020.

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, 2022 (Tentative Deadline)

Penn’s Application Process

• Submit your application materials and register your recommenders directly through the Thouron Award website by October 15, 2022 (Tentative Deadline).
• 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. 

Churchill Scholarship

The purpose of this scholarship is to enable outstanding American students (generally with a GPA of 3.90 or higher) to complete one year of graduate study in engineering, mathematics, and science at Churchill College, University of Cambridge.  The Scholarship covers all fees and provides a living stipend, a transportation allowance for travel to the UK, and travel and research grants.

https://www.churchillscholarship.org/

Penn Deadline:  October 4, 2022

• Churchill applicants must also separately apply to Cambridge no later than the US Gates Cambridge Deadline, which is October 12, 2022 (TENTATIVE)

Churchill applicants must list Churchill College as their first choice college on their Cambridge application in order to be considered for the Churchill)

Penn’s Application Process

The Churchill Scholarship accepts nominations from institutions – students may not apply independently. To apply to be one of Penn’s nominees (Penn may nominate up to 2 candidates each year), you must complete the following steps by Penn’s Internal Deadline of October 4, 2022.

• Carefully review the instructions at https://churchillscholarship.org/apply.html, then register and login to the Churchill application at https://webportalapp.com/sp/login/churchillscholarship. Complete the application, and submit it through the Churchill application system by Penn’s Internal Deadline of October 4, 2022.
• Recommendations must be requested and submitted through the Churchill application system no later than Penn’s Internal Deadline of October 4, 2022.
• Nominated students will receive further instructions.