Center for Undergraduate Research & Fellowships

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 12, 2020

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 9, 2020 (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.

http://www.princetoninafrica.org/

Deadline: October 28, 2020

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 29, 2020, *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.

Davis Projects for Peace

The Kathryn Wasserman Davis 100 Projects for Peace program invites undergraduates (including graduating seniors) to design grassroots projects that they will implement during the summer, anywhere in the world. The projects judged to be the most promising and valuable will be funded at $10,000 each. The program aims to encourage student initiative, innovation, and entrepreneurship, focusing on conflict prevention, resolution, or reconciliation.

http://www.davisprojectsforpeace.org

Penn Deadline: January 19, 2021

Penn’s Application Process

The Davis Projects for Peace 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 January 19, 2021.

• To apply, a student (or group of students) must prepare a written statement (not to exceed two pages) that describes the project (who, what, where, how), as well as a budget (one separate page - a Budget Template and Instructions are available here).  You will find numerous examples of funded proposals on the Davis Projects for Peace website here. Proposals require a heading which includes the following information: name of the participating institution (University of Pennsylvania), name of all student participants, title of project, dates of the project, country where the project will be performed.
• Complete Penn’s Request for Nomination application form.  Here, you will upload a single PDF which combines your written statement and budget (save each document as a pdf, then create a single pdf by navigating to Acrobat's "File -> Create -> Combine Files into a Single PDF” feature).  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.
• Additionally, each application must be supported by two letters - one letter of support from a Penn mentor (faculty or staff), and one letter of support from a proposed project affiliate in the host community. Once you have arranged for these letters, fill out a CURF Recommendation Request Form for each so that they can be submitted directly to CURF. These letters must also be received by Penn's Deadline of January 19, 2021.
  • The letter of support from a Penn mentor (faculty or staff) should discuss the proposed project's feasibility and the adequacy of the applicant's/applicants' preparation to complete it. It should also outline ways in which the applicant (or team of applicants) would be mentored over the course of the project and beyond.
  • The letter of support from a proposed project affiliate in the host community should acknowledge that you have been in contact with local partners, that your project is welcome, and that you will have access to necessary support while on location. 
• Nominated students will receive further instructions.  

Check out this step-by-step guide to the Luce process for potential applicants!

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 11, 2020

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 of October 11, 2020

• 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 of October 11, 2020 in order to be considered for Penn's nomination.
• Nominated students will receive further instructions.  

Beinecke Scholarship

The Beinecke Scholarship provides scholarships for juniors planning to pursue graduate study in the humanities, social sciences, or the arts.  Each scholar receives $4,000 upon completion of their undergraduate studies, and a total additional $30,000 for support of graduate study.  Applicants must have a history of being eligible for need-based financial aid.

http://fdnweb.org/beinecke/

Penn Deadline: December 1, 2020, 11:59pm

Penn’s Application Process

The Beinecke Scholarship accepts nominations from institutions – students may not apply independently. To apply to Penn’s nominee, you must complete the following steps by Penn’s Internal Deadline of December 1, 2020, 11:59pm.

• As soon as you have arranged for letters of recommendation from at least three Penn faculty members, fill out a CURF Recommendation Request Form for each referee. Recommendation letters for the Beinecke Scholarship must be written by faculty in the applicant's field (or a closely allied field) who have taught you and/or supervised your research. Letters should focus primarily on the nominee’s academic strength, intellectual curiosity, and potential for advanced graduate study in their field. In particular, Beinecke recommendation letters should address:
  • How does the candidate’s academic ability in their field compare to their peers?
  • Why is the candidate’s specific focus of research unique or important?
  • How is the candidate particularly well-suited to pursue their specific research (academic strength, research experience, other factors)?
  • Why are the graduate schools identified by the candidate a good fit for the candidate and their research interests?
• Complete Penn’s Request for Nomination application form.  Here, you will upload a single PDF which combines your Beinecke application form, resume, unofficial transcript from Penn InTouch (and other institutions, if relevant), and personal statement.  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.  

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.

http://yenchingacademy.org/

Penn Deadline for currently enrolled Penn students: November 15, 2020

NOTE:  Alumni who are citizens of nations other than the US or Canada must also apply for Penn endorsement by November 15, 2020, 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, 2020.

• 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 a CURF Recommendation Request Form for each recommender. Applicants must also 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 Request for Nomination application form.  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 2020 applicants must have completed their most recent degree from Penn (or be in the process of completing their Penn degree) no earlier than Spring 2018.

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

Penn Deadline: October 15, 2020

Penn’s Application Process

• Submit your application materials and register your recommenders directly through the Thouron Award website by October 15, 2020.
• 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. 

Michel David Weill Scholarship

This scholarship funds tuition and living expenses for a two-year master’s program at Sciences Po in Paris for one American student who exemplifies academic excellence, leadership, multiculturalism, tolerance, and high achievement. A minimum GPA of 3.70 is required to apply for the Michel David Weill Scholarship.

http://www.americas.sciences-po.fr/en/content/michel-david-weill-scholarship

Penn Deadline: October 31, 2020, 11:59pm

Penn’s Application Process

The Michel David Weill Scholarship 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 October 31, 2020, 11:59pm.

• As soon as you have arranged for letters of recommendation, fill out a CURF Recommendation Request Form for each recommender. 
• Complete Penn’s Request for Nomination application form.  Here, you will upload a single PDF which combines the Michel David Weill Candidate Information Form, personal statement, recent graded research paper (8-10 pages with professor comments), and your unofficial transcript from Penn InTouch (and other institutions, if relevant). Please also include in this pdf a copy of your CV or resume. 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.
• Candidates must also apply directly to a master’s program at Sciences Po by the relevant institutional application deadline, which in 2020 is November 30 (TENTATIVE). 
• Nominated students will receive further instructions.