National Fellowships

Prestigious Fellowships and Scholarships

Apply Your Sophomore Year

Luard Morse Scholarship. Sponsored by the English-Speaking Union, the Luard Morse Scholarship provides up to $25,000 for study at an English University (including, but not limited to, Oxford, Cambridge, and the London School of Economics). The application is open to all sophomores, regardless of major; applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents. For more information visit http://www.esuus.org/esu/programs/luardmorsescholarships/

  • Fisk campus contact: Dr. LaTanya Rogers
  • Deadline: Late Fall. Interested students should contact Dr. Rogers before November 1.

Goldwater Scholarship for students in math and the sciences. The Barry Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Program awards up to 260 scholarships of $7500 towards undergraduate tuition, fees, books, and room and board. You may apply in your sophomore and/or junior year, but may receive the award only once. Applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents, and must be nominated (Fisk can nominate up to four students each year). For more information visit http://goldwater.scholarsapply.org/

  • Fisk campus contacts: Dr. Saumya Ramanathan, Dr. Steven Damo, and Dr. Brian Nelms
  • Deadline: Early Spring

UNCF/Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellowship for students in the humanities who are considering careers as a faculty member. For more information contact Dr. Bracks and/or visit http://www.uncfmellon.org/apply/

  • Fisk campus contact: Dr. Katharine Burnett
  • Deadline: Early Spring

The Frederick Douglass Global Fellowship provides 100 percent of program fees and travel costs for 10 students per year. Each cohort of 10 students will take part in a summer study abroad program designed to enhance their leadership and intercultural skills in one of two locations: London, England and Cape Town, South Africa. For more information visit http://cmsi.gse.upenn.edu/opportunities/frederick-douglass-global-fellowship

  • Fisk campus contact: Duwon Clark, Dean of Global Initiatives
  • Deadline: Early Spring

Apply your Junior Year

Udall Undergraduate Scholarship. The Udall Foundation awards scholarships to college sophomores and juniors for leadership, public service, and commitment to issues related to Native American nations or to the environment. In 2019, the Udall Foundation anticipates awarding 50 scholarships of up to $7,000 each. For more information, visit http://www.udall.gov/OurPrograms/Scholarship/Scholarship.aspx

  • Fisk campus contacts: Dr. Steven Damo, Dr. Saumya Ramanathan, and Dr. Brian Nelms

Deadline: Early Spring

Goldwater Scholarship for students in math and the sciences. The Barry Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Program awards up to 260 scholarships of $7500 towards undergraduate tuition, fees, books, and room and board. You may apply in your sophomore and/or junior year but may receive the award only once. Applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents and must be nominated (Fisk can nominate up to four students each year). For more information visit http://goldwater.scholarsapply.org/

  • Fisk campus contacts: Dr. Saumya Ramanathan, Dr. Steven Damo, and Dr. Brian Nelms
  • Deadline: Early Spring

Truman Scholarship for students interested in public service. The Harry S. Truman Scholarship Foundation awards 55-60 scholarships each year, to students who are planning on graduate school and are committed to careers in government, nonprofit, or advocacy. Awardees must be U.S. citizens, and apply during their junior year. Applicants must be nominated by Fisk. For more information visit http://www.truman.gov/.

  • Fisk campus contacts: Dr. Leslie Collins; Dr. LaTanya Rogers, Dr. A. Hannibal Leach
  • Deadline: Early Spring

Udall Undergraduate Scholarship. The Udall Foundation awards scholarships to college sophomores and juniors for leadership, public service, and commitment to issues related to Native American nations or to the environment. In 2019, the Udall Foundation anticipates awarding 50 scholarships of up to $7,000 each. For more information, visit http://www.udall.gov/OurPrograms/Scholarship/Scholarship.aspx

  • Fisk campus contacts: Dr. Steven Damo, Dr. Saumya Ramanathan, and Dr. Brian Nelms
  • Deadline: Early Spring

Apply Your Senior Year

Senior year applications: Since the fall deadline is very early in the semester, if you plan to apply for any of the fellowships below, you should begin your application as early as possible. By the March deadline above, contact the faculty representatives for the fellowship(s) to which you plan to apply as a senior. You should also, at a minimum, review what is needed for the application and get feedback on a draft of the fellowship essays.

Rhodes Scholarship. Recognized as the “oldest and most celebrated international fellowships in the world,” Rhodes scholarships support a U.S. Citizen or permanent resident to study at Oxford University. Former Rhodes scholars include Newark Mayor Cory Booker, Louisiana governor Bobby Jindal, MSNBC host Rachel Maddow, National Security Advisor Susan Rice, former Tennessee Titan Myron Rolle, and former president Bill Clinton. Applicants must be endorsed by Fisk University and must secure 5-8 letters of recommendation, in addition to the other requirements. For more information go to http://www.rhodesscholar.org/applying-for-the-scholarship/.

This award is open to all students, including international students. US Citizens apply through the US Rhodes; students from the Caribbean apply through the Commonwealth Caribbean Rhodes; students from Old and New Commonwealth countries apply through their country of citizenship, and all other students apply through the Global Rhodes.

  • Fisk campus contact: Dr. LaTanya Rogers, Dr. Eugene Collins, Dr. Vann Newkirk
  • Deadline: Early Fall

Schwarzman Scholarship. Designed to prepare the next generation of global leaders, Schwarzman Scholars is the first scholarship created to respond to the geopolitical landscape of the 21st Century. Whether in politics, business or science, the success of future leaders around the world will depend upon an understanding of China’s role in global trends. Students spend a year immersed in an international community of thinkers, innovators and senior leaders in business, politics, and society. In an environment of intellectual engagement, professional development, and cultural exchange, they learn from one another and pursue their academic disciplines while building their leadership capacities. This experience will expand students’ understanding of the world and create a growing network of global leaders for the future. http://www.schwarzmanscholars.org/ This award is open to all students, including international students.

  • Fisk campus contact: Dr. LaTanya Rogers, Dr. Kent Wallace, Dr. James Quirin
  • Deadline: Early Fall

The Gates-Cambridge Scholarships are awarded to outstanding applicants from countries outside the UK to pursue a full-time postgraduate degree in any subject available at the University of Cambridge. The selection criteria are outstanding intellectual ability, leadership potential, a commitment to improving the lives of others, and a good fit between the applicant's qualifications and aspirations and the postgraduate programme at Cambridge for which they are applying. For more information visit http://www.gatescambridge.org/about This award is open to all students, including international students.

  • Fisk campus contact: Dr. Brian Nelms, Dr. Saumya Ramanathan, Dr. Kent Wallace, Dr. James Quirin
  • Deadline: Early Fall

Fulbright English Teaching Assistant (ETA) or Study/Research Awards.  Funded by the State Department, Fulbright fellows spend a year in a foreign culture serving as a cultural ambassador. Though no Fisk student has been awarded a Fulbright recently, we have a historic connection to the program: Fisk President Charles S. Johnson served on the inaugural J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board, and alumnus John Hope Franklin was chair of Fulbright Board of Foreign Scholarships from 1966-1969. The fellowship is open to all U.S. Citizens. ETAs support local English language teachers, while Study/Research fellows pursue an independent research agenda. For more information please visit http://us.fulbrightonline.org/applicants/getting-started

  • Fisk campus contacts: Dr. LaTanya Rogers, Dr. Irina Willis, Dr. Ana Rueda-Garcia, Professor Nancy Rasico
  • Deadline: Early Fall

Marshall Scholarship. Open to U.S. citizens with a minimum GPA of 3.7, the Marshall Scholarship funds up to forty students a year to attend graduate school in the United Kingdom. For more information visit http://www.marshallscholarship.org/applications/apply

  • Fisk campus contact: Dr. Kent Wallace
  • Deadline: Early Fall

Mitchell Scholarship. The George J. Mitchell Scholarship is awarded to up to twelve scholars and supports a year of study at a university in Ireland or Northern Ireland. For more information visit http://www.us-irelandalliance.org/content/3/en/George%20Mitchell%20Scholarship%20Program%20%7C%20US-Ireland%20Alliance.html

  • Fisk campus contact: Dr. James Quirin, Dr. Kent Wallace, Dr. LaTanya Rogers,
  • Deadline: Early Fall

Pickering Fellowship The Pickering Fellowship offers a unique opportunity to promote positive change in the world.  Upon successful completion of a two-year master’s degree program and fulfillment of Foreign Service entry requirements, fellows have the opportunity to work as Foreign Service Officers, serving in Washington, DC or at a U.S. embassy, consulate, or diplomatic mission around the globe.  http://pickeringfellowship.org/graduate-fellowship/overview-and-eligibility/

  • Fisk campus contact: Duwon Clark, Dean of Global Initiatives
  • Deadline: Early Fall