Student Fellowships and National Scholarships
The Office of Academic Affairs mentors Detroit Mercy students interested in applying for fellowships and national scholarships sponsored by agencies outside of the University.
Are you a student who wants to make a difference in the world? Are you a student who plans to go to graduate school? Are you interested in leadership development, global challenges, foreign policy, or independent study/research? If you answered yes to these questions, then a fellowship or national scholarship may be of interest to you.
How do I apply for a fellowship or national scholarship?
- Review the list of fellowships and national scholarships listed below. Visit the websites to learn more about each program.
- Complete and submit the preliminary interest form. Once the form is submitted, you will receive an email from the Office of Academic Affairs to set up an appointment to discuss this grand opportunity.
Students should be aware that external fellowships and national scholarships are not the same as financial aid. Students who have questions and/or concerns about paying their Detroit Mercy tuition and/or their financial aid package should contact the Office of Financial Aid.
Truman Scholarship
Rhodes Scholarship
Barry Goldwater
Fulbright U.S. Student Program
Goldwater Awardee
Sara Abdulelah
Abdulelah is one of 396 students in the United States to earn the prestigious national scholarship from the Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Foundation.
Sara Abdulelah, a junior Biology student in Detroit Mercy’s College of Engineering & Science, has been named a 2020 Goldwater Scholar. Abdulelah applied for the scholarship through a pre-application approved by Richard Hill, Assistant Dean for Research & External Initiatives at the College of Engineering & Science. Three faculty members — Professor of Biology Gregory Grabowski, Assistant Professor of Biology Nicole Najor and Associate Professor of Biology Rachelle Belanger — supported Abdulelah’s application with reference letters. Sara is an amazing part of Belanger's research team; she designs and implements experiments and collects and analyzes data. Seeing Abdulelah honored as a Goldwater Scholar leaves Professor Belanger overjoyed.
For the past two years, Abdulelah and her classmates have studied the effects of atrazine on aquatic environments in Belanger’s lab. They found that atrazine, a commonly used herbicide, can have detrimental effects, including damage to DNA, on aquatic organisms when running off into water sources. “ In our lab, we use the crayfish as a model organism, and the studies that I focus on have shown diminished chemosensory abilities of the animal following atrazine exposure,” Abdulelah said. Abdulelah furthered this study by examining the olfactory sensory neurons (OSN) of the crayfish’s lateral antennules, which the crayfish use to find food. “I found that OSN damage increases as atrazine levels increase,” she said.
Fellowship and National Scholarship Opportunities
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Truman Scholarship
Overview
The Harry S. Truman Scholarship Foundation - the federal memorial to our thirty-third President - awards merit-based scholarships to college students who plan to pursue careers in government or elsewhere in public service. Truman Scholars receive up to $30,000 for graduate or professional school, participate in leadership development activities, and have special opportunities for internships and employment with the federal government.
THE SCHOLARSHIP: AWARDS AND PROGRAMMING
The Foundation provides:- Up to $30,000 toward a public service-related graduate degree. The Foundation has supported Truman Scholars in many fields of study, from agriculture, biology, engineering, technology, medicine, and environmental management, to fields such as economics, education, government, history, international relations, law, political science, public administration, nonprofit management, public health, and public policy.
- Truman Scholars Leadership Week. This event, held at William Jewell College in Liberty, Missouri, introduces new Scholars to the services provided by the Foundation and the many pathways to public service. Scholars participate in seminars and workshops with distinguished Truman alumni and other public service leaders, a group exercise about policy implementation, a graduate school and career fair with representatives from the schools and programs most attended by Truman Scholars, and community service events in the Kansas City area; this event is required of all Scholars.
- Summer Institute. Immediately after college graduation, Scholars have the opportunity to participate in an eight-week Summer Institute in Washington, DC. The Foundation helps to arrange internships with government agencies and nonprofit organizations, seminars and workshops, meetings with Washington policymakers and Truman alumni, and opportunities for community building among Scholars.
- Truman-Albright and Other Fellows Program. After Summer Institute, Scholars may elect to stay in Washington, DC, for a full year in the Truman-Albright Fellows Program; Truman-Albright Fellows are placed in public service jobs while participating in workshops, seminars, and mentoring opportunities. Additional fellowship opportunities, outlined on the Truman website, are available for Scholars as they move through the early stages of their careers in public service.
Candidates must be:- US Citizens, US National residents of American Samoa, or expecting their citizenship by the date of the award;
- Currently enrolled at a US-based accredited institution;
- In their penultimate year of school (for candidates graduating in four years or more) or in their final year of school (for candidates graduating in three years or fewer);
- Nominated by either their current institution of study or their former institution of study for transfer or community college applicants. Schools are limited to four nominees plus three additional transfer nominations; and,
- Planning to attend graduate school in pursuit of a career in public service. The Foundation encourages time between undergraduate and graduate school, so candidates need not commit to going immediately.
Candidates can be:
- pursuing any major likely to lead to a public service career;
- any age;
- interested in any graduate degree other than the MBA; and,
- considering either domestic or international programs for their graduate education.
Important Dates and More Information
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Barry Goldwater Scholarship
Overview
The Barry Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Foundation was established by Congress in 1986 to serve as a living memorial to honor the lifetime work of Senator Barry Goldwater, who served his country for 56 years as a soldier and statesman, including 30 years in the U.S. Senate. By providing scholarships to college sophomores and juniors who intend to pursue research careers in the natural sciences, mathematics and engineering, the Goldwater Foundation is helping ensure that the U.S. is producing the number of highly-qualified professionals the Nation needs in these critical fields. Over its 30-year history, Goldwater Scholarships have been awarded to thousands of undergraduates, many of whom have gone on to win other prestigious awards like the National Science Foundation’s Graduate Fellowship, Rhodes Scholarship, Churchill Scholarship and the National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate Fellowship that support our Scholars’ graduate school work. Today, Goldwater alumni can be found conducting research that is helping defend the Nation, finding cures for catastrophic diseases and teaching future generations of scientists, mathematicians and engineers.
Student Level
The Scholarship is available to college sophomores and juniors who intend to pursue research careers in the natural sciences, mathematics or engineering.
Eligibility
1. Be a full-time matriculated pursuing a degree at an accredited 2- or 4-year institution of higher education during the 2022-2023 academic year,
2. Intend to pursue a research career in a natural science, mathematics or engineering,
3. Have a college grade point average of at least a 3.00 on a 4.00 scale , and
4. Be a U.S. citizen from the 50 states or the District of Columbia; a U.S. national for those students nominated by institutions in Puerto Rico, Guam, Virgin Islands, American Samoa, and Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands; or a permanent resident. A permanent resident must submit a photocopy of their Permanent Resident Card, also known as the Green Card.Nomination Rules
All nomination materials (Student Questionnaire, Research Essay, three Letters of Recommendation, Transcript(s), Institutional Nomination Form and, when applicable, a copy of the student’s Permanent Resident Card) must be uploaded to the Goldwater online nomination site by 5:00 p.m. Central Time on the last Friday in January. Incomplete nominations or nominations that are not uploaded by this date and time will not be reviewed.
Important Dates
First Tuesday in September: Goldwater Opens
Early September to Late January: Individual internal campus deadlines are determined by each institution’s Goldwater Campus Representative. Check with the Goldwater Campus Representative on your campus for specific dates.
Last Friday in January: Goldwater Foundation’s nomination submission deadline (5:00 p.m. Central Time)
Late February: Nomination packets reviewed by Goldwater review committee
Mid-March: Goldwater Foundation Board of Trustees reviews and votes on slate of Goldwater Scholars
Last Friday in March: Goldwater awardees announced (12:00 p.m. Eastern Time)
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Rhodes Scholarship
Overview
"The Rhodes Scholarship is a fully funded postgraduate award for young people to study at the University of Oxford, UK. The Rhodes Trust funds 100 Scholars per year. They select young leaders of outstanding intellect and character who are motivated to engage with global challenges, committed to the service of others and show promise of becoming value driven, principled leaders for the world’s future."
Student Level
Have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university.
Additional Information
The program supports exceptional young people for postgraduate study at the University of Oxford, and actively fosters lifelong learning and fellowship.
Application Deadline
Application window is June thru September each year.
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Fulbright U.S. Student Program
Overview
The Fulbright U.S. Student Program is designed to increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries
Eligibility
- Applicants must be citizens or nationals of the United States of America at the time of application. Permanent residents are not eligible. Please review the Award Description in relation to the eligibility of dual citizens.
- Applicants must have a conferred bachelor's degree or equivalent before the start of the grants.
- In the creative and performing arts, four years of professional training and/or experience meets the basic eligibility requirement.
- Applicants must meet the language requirements of the award to which they are applying and demonstrate sufficient competency to complete their project and adjust to life in the host country.
- Applicants may hold a J.D. at the time of application.
- Doctors of Medicine may receive grants for advanced academic study, but not for internships or residencies. Scholars with an M.D. degree who have completed their formal postgraduate training and propose attachment to a hospital or clinic for the purpose of independent or collaborative research should apply to the . Grants shall not authorize activity for which a license to practice medicine or nursing is required. The Fulbright Program cannot authorize proposals for medical research that involves clinical training, patient care or patient contact.
Additional Information
Fulbrighters will meet, work, live with and learn from the people of the host country, sharing daily experiences.
Application Deadline
"2024-2025 Award Cycle Competition Deadline is October 10, 2023"
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Preliminary Interest Form
In order to better support Detroit Mercy Students who are interested in Fellowship or National Scholarship opportunities, the Office of Academic Affairs requires students to complete a preliminary interest form.
Click here to complete the
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About Detroit Mercy Selection of Candidates And Internal Deadlines
Some fellowships and scholarships require the University of Detroit Mercy to select, nominate, or otherwise endorse you as a candidate before you may continue with the application process.
Detroit Mercy, through the Office for Academic Affairs, sets its own internal deadlines for applicants well in advance of the deadlines established by those agencies which are offering the fellowships or national scholarships. Detroit Mercy students must abide by these deadlines in order to receive proper assistance and endorsement by the University.
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About Letters Of Recommendation
University professors, administrators, coaches, priests, and ministers are happy to write a letter of recommendation for you. In order to assist them, please provide the following information with your request:
- A description of the fellowship or national scholarship for which you are applying.
- The deadline for your recommender to submit it to the foundation/agency or for the letter to be sent to or picked up by you.
- Your proposal, your resumé/curriculum vitae, and any other information that might be useful and help your recommender write a strong letter with specific details.
- If possible, a brief statement regarding your interest in and suitability for the fellowship. Your Preliminary Interest Form will help you with this.