Center for Undergraduate Research & Fellowships

Please review our updated step-by-step guide to applying for the Knight-Hennessy Scholarship

Applicants are strongly encouraged to attend an upcoming Knight-Hennessy information session (including targeted sessions for applicants pursuing specific degree types of graduate degrees).

See this Knight-Hennessy Tip Sheet

Knight-Hennessy Scholars Program

Knight-Hennessy fully funds up to three years of a graduate program at Stanford. Scholars will be part of a cross-disciplinary community of Stanford graduate students dedicated to finding creative solutions to the world's greatest challenges. Knight-Hennessy Scholars may pursue their graduate education in any of Stanford’s graduate programs (and must be admitted to that graduate program in a separate but parallel application process).

https://knight-hennessy.stanford.edu/

Deadline: October 12, 2022, no later than 1:00pm, Pacific US Time

Additionally, applicants must apply to your Stanford graduate program of choice by that department’s deadline (departmental deadlines may vary).

Note: The Knight-Hennessy Scholars program has specific guidelines about recommendations, which you can view on their website as well as here.

Penn’s Application Process

• While the Knight-Hennessy Scholars Program does not require Penn’s nomination, CURF will be happy to provide advice, guidance, and application assistance to Penn students and alumni.

Application Link: Sobti Family Fellowship Application

The Sobti Family Fellowship will provide up to two Penn doctoral students with $12,500 each to develop independent research interests broadly related to CASI’s agenda. The Fellowship award will include an unrestricted $10,000* grant with the addition of up to $2,500 in reimbursed domestic travel expenses, conference attendance fees, and research materials. The award can be received in conjunction with existing graduate funding.

Deadline: April 3, 2023, 11:59pm EST (TENTATIVE)

AIF Banyan Impact Fellowship (formerly AIF Clinton Fellowship for Service in India)

The Fellowship pairs a select number of highly skilled young professionals with leading NGOs and social enterprises in India in order to accelerate impact and create effective projects that are replicable, scalable, and sustainable. Through ten months of service and fieldwork, Fellows gain knowledge of development on the ground in the fields of education, livelihoods, public health, and social enterprise, honing and harnessing their growing skills as change agents capable of effecting lasting change.

https://aif.org/fellowship/

Deadline: February 15, 2023, 11:59 pm EST (Tentative Deadline)

Penn’s Application Process

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

The Science, Mathematics And Research for Transformation (SMART) Scholarship for Service Program

The SMART scholarship program was established by the Department of Defense (DoD) and provides tuition support to undergraduate and graduate students pursuing degrees in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) disciplines. Awardees are assigned to a DoD laboratory where he/she will be expected to serve as a summer intern and complete a period of post-graduation employment service as a DoD civilian.

SMART Scholarship Information and Eligibility 

Deadline: December 1, 2022, 5:00pm Eastern US Time (Tentative Deadline) - Application opens in August 2022

Penn’s Application Process

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

DOE Computational Science Graduate Fellowship

The Department of Energy Computational Science Graduate Fellowship provides outstanding benefits and opportunities to students pursuing doctoral degrees in fields that use high-performance computing to solve complex science and engineering problems.

http://www.krellinst.org/csgf/  

Deadline: January 11, 2023 (Tentative Deadline)

Penn’s Application Process

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

National Defense Science & Engineering Graduate Fellowship (NDSEG)

The National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate (NDSEG) Fellowship is a highly competitive, portable fellowship that is awarded to U.S. citizens and nationals who intend to pursue a doctoral degree in one of fifteen supported disciplines.

https://ndseg.org/

Deadline: November 18, 2022 (Tentative Deadline)

Penn’s Application Process

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

Coro Fellowship

The rigorous, nine-month program uses the city as a classroom, and includes placements in business, government, non-profit, labor and campaign sectors, with hands-on experience and opportunities to learn from key influencers and thought leaders shaping future agendas. At each project, Fellows do valuable work with concrete deliverables that supports the organization’s mission. Additionally, Fellows participate in group interviews with prominent city leaders and leadership seminars to learn how to critically examine and collaborate to address complex issues. Coro locations are Los Angeles, New York, Pittsburgh, San Francisco, and St. Louis.

http://www.corofellowship.org/ 

Deadline: January 10, 2023 (Tentative Deadline)

Penn’s Application Process

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

NIH Oxford-Cambridge Scholars Program

The NIH Oxford-Cambridge Scholars Program is an accelerated, individualized doctoral training program for outstanding science students committed to biomedical research careers. Successful applicants will spend half their time at the National Institutes of Health and the remainder at either Oxford or Cambridge in an intensive, research-driven, dual-mentored degree program. Students begin work to develop a dual-mentored thesis that meets their academic and research goals immediately upon acceptance. The scholar’s doctorate, usually completed in four years, is conferred by either Oxford or Cambridge, depending on where their research is done; hence applicants must meet requirements for acceptance into the graduate program of the relevant University.

https://oxcam.gpp.nih.gov/prospective-students/advice-new-applicants

Deadline: December 1, 2022 (Tentative Deadline) - Application opens August 1, 2022

Penn’s Application Process

• While the NIH Oxford-Cambridge Scholars Program does not require Penn’s nomination, CURF will be happy to provide advice, guidance, and application assistance to you.

DAAD German Academic Exchange Service

Funds one full year of study in any subject for a master’s degree or an independent research project at an institution in Germany. German language proficiency expected for social science and humanities degrees or projects, but not for STEM or arts fields.  

https://www.daad.org/en/find-funding/graduate-opportunities/study-scholarship/

Penn Deadline: October 11, 2022 (Tentative Deadline)

Penn’s Application Process

The DAAD Scholarship accepts applications from institutions – students and alumni may not apply independently. To apply through Penn, you must complete the following steps by Penn’s Internal Deadline of October 11, 2022 (Tentative Deadline)

• Applications consist of the application form, supplementary materials (if relevant), CV/resume, study proposal, 1 letter of recommendation, evidence of contact with German institution, German language form, and transcripts which should be submitted to the DAAD Online Portal (https://portal.daad.de/irj/portal)
• Beginning this year, DAAD will no longer require paper copies of the application, EXCEPT the signed reference form. A copy of this form must be submitted to Penn’s DAAD coordinator (Ms. Bridget Rothera, brothera@sas.upenn.edu) in the Graduate Division of Arts and Sciences.
• Additional advising is available from CURF.

Saint Andrew's Society Graduate Scholarship

Beginning in 1960 the Saint Andrew’s Society of New York has provided over 185 graduate scholarships to promote cultural interchange and goodwill between Scotland and the US. Each year a scholarship for one year of graduate study in Scotland is given to three students of some Scottish descent who can demonstrate a need for financial assistance to continue their education in Scotland. The scholarship offers the recipient funding for up to $35,000 to be used initially against tuition, then board, transportation, and other expenses.

Candidates should possess qualifications which will enable them to be good ambassadors for the United States while in Scotland. The basis for selection shall include the student’s: (1) academic achievement; (2) extracurricular activities; (3) financial need; (4) clarity of career purpose in pursuing the graduate studies; (5) a statement that sets forth why the applicant wishes to continue your education, with clarity around the graduate study objective(s) to be achieved and why he/she wishes to study in Scotland; (6) some Scottish descent; and (7) proof of US Citizenship. Proof of application to their selected school will be required for finalists.

https://standrewsny.org/page/Scholarship

Penn Deadline: November 1, 2022

Penn’s Application Process

The Saint Andrew’s Scholarship program accepts nominations from institutions – students may not apply independently. To apply to be Penn’s nominee, you must complete the following steps by Penn’s Internal Deadline of November 1, 2022.

• Arrange for two letters of recommendation from faculty.
• Complete Penn’s Internal Fellowships application form. Here, you will officially request letters of recommendation, and upload a single PDF which combines your St. Andrew’s Application form, resume, unofficial transcript from Penn InTouch (and other institutions, if relevant), personal statement, and all required essays.  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.
• Penn’s nominee will be required to allow Penn’s Student Financial Services office to release information demonstrating your financial need. 
• CURF will forward the application for Penn’s nominated student to the Saint Andrew’s Society of New York for consideration by their deadline of December 15. Six finalists will be invited to a lunch in February or March, and two recipients selected.