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Scholarship, Grant, and Fellowship Opportunities

There are a wide variety of scholarships, grants, and fellowship opportunities for students studying political science at the undergraduate and graduate level.

For general UCSD scholarships and grants, please reach out to the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships

Below is a table of scholarship and fellowship opportunities relevant to Political Science students. Please review any that interest you!

If any of the links do not work, or the information is incorrect, please reach out to the Undergraduate Advisor, Emilie Hines, with information about what needs to be corrected so that the issue can be taken care of as soon as possible. Additionally, if you received a poltiical science-based scholarship, grant, and/or fellowship in the past, and would be beneficial for other students to learn about and apply to, please reach out as well.

Scholarship, Grant, and Fellowship Opportunities

Scholarship, Grant, or Fellowship Name Description Application Deadline/Details
ACES Dissertation Research Fellowship  Encourages research on comparative economics and to recognize the fundamental contributions of Gerard Roland. Fellowship is awarded for a one year period.  See website for more information. 
ASMEA Research Grant Program Seeks to support research on topics in Middle Eastern and African studies that deserve greater attention. Applicants may submit paper proposals on any topic as long as it constitutes new and original research and is relevant to the five qualifying topic areas: Minorities and Women, Military History, Governance and Economy, Faith, and Iran. Link to Application 
Association of Foreign Intelligence Officers Scholarships Multiple scholarships for undergraduate and graduate students covering a wide range of areas within political science.  Link to Application
Benjamin A Gilman International Scholarship Program The Gilman Program provides grants for undergraduate U.S. citizens of limited financial means to study and intern abroad, thereby gaining skills critical to our national security and economic prosperity. Link to Application
Bruce B Melchert Scholarship Must be  at least a sophmore or above, and recognizes outstanding leadership within chapter. The applicant must be pursuing an undergraduate degree in political science, government and have a goal to serve people in political or governmental service position. See website for application details.
CIA Undergraduate and Graduate Scholarships Undergraduate students, serving as a scholarship recipients with the CIA, attend an accredited college on a full-time basis and work during the summer with the CIA. Link to Application
Council of American Ambassadors International Affairs Fellowhip Program Practical training and academic strengthen our alliances and promote democracy, peace, human rights and prosperity in our relations with other countries around the world. Link to Application
CyberCorps: Scholarship for Service Scholarship For Service is a unique program designed to recruit and train the next generation of information technology professionals, industrial control system security professionals, ans security managers to meet the needs of the security managers to meet the needs of the cybersecurity mission for Federal, State, local and tribal government. This program provides scholarships for up to 3 years of support for cybersecurity undergraduate and graduate education. See website for application details.
Davis Putter Scholarship Need-based scholarship awarded to college students active in the progressive movement. Applicants must have participated in activities in the US and there is a strong preference for applicants who plan on working in the US. See website for application details.
Dole Institute: Travel Grants Travel grant program is intended to defray cost associated with research-related travel to the Dole Institute. Offers reimbursements up to $750.  See website for application details.
Gilman-McCain Scholarship The UC Department of State's Gilman-McCain Scholarship provides awards of $5,000 for undergraduate child dependents of active duty services members.  Link to Application
Harry S Truman Scholarship For junior-level students at four year universities who: have extensive records of public and community service, committed to careers in government or elsewhere in public service, and have outstanding leadership potential and communication skills. See website for application details.
Hispanic Scholars Fund Scholarship Hispanic Scholarship Fund strives to make college education a top priority for every Latino family across the nation, mobilizing our community to proactively advance that goal.  Link to Application
Horizons Foundation Scholarhip Focus on preferred fields of study: security studies, military history, government relations, engineering, computer science, cyber security, physics, mathematics, business, law, international relations, political science, policy and diplomacy, intelligence and economics.  See website for application details.
Jim & Anna Hyonjoo Lint Scholarship Scholarship aims to support undergraduates and postgraduates educational pursuits of scholars interested in counterintelligence, international affairs, and national security studies. See website for application details.
Julie Allen World Classroom Scholarship Applicants must be planning to study abroad in a second or third world country whose culture, language and customs are different than their own. Preference is given to students who are studying international relations, business, economics, social development, humanitarian & civil rights, foreign language, or similar fields. See website for application details.
Laura W Bush Traveling Fellowship The fellowship will help fund a proposal designed to conduct brief work in a foreign country related to the mandate of UNESCO. The fellowship is intended for students who express interest in international collaboration but has not been afforded many opportunities to travel abroad.  See website for application details.
McNair Program The McNair Program helps low-income, first-generation college students prepare for doctoral study. McNair students participate in research activities in the winter, spring, and summer quarters. See website for application details.
Millennium Momentum Foundation Academic scholarships for aspiring undergraduate and graduate college students pursuing careers that impact the public good.  See website for application details.
NFRW Betty Rendel Scholarship The three annual scholarships of $1,000 are awarded to female undergraduates who are majoring in political science, government or economics and have successfully completed at least two years of college coursework. See website for application details.
PPIA Junior Summer Institute Fellowship Program Is a rigorous academic graduate level preparation program for undergraduate juniors committed to public service careers. Purpose of the JSI Fellowship is to prepare students to obtain a Master's or joint degree, in public policy, public administration, international affairs, or related field. Link to Application
Schwarzman Scholars A call for future leaders! Interested candidates participate in a rigorous and thorough selection process, designed to identify the most promising young leaders from around the world. Those selected will have demonstrated their potential to produce results within their own culture and context by inspiring and guiding groups and to not only benefit from but also contribute to the Schwarzman Scholars program. Link to Application
Tisdale Fellowship Scholarship The Eben Tisdale Fellowship is an opportunity for students who want to learn about high tech public policy issues with hands-on experience in Washington DC.  See website for application details. 
William Randolph Hearst Endowed Fellowship for Minority Students The fellowship is based on academic excellence and need, and is open to students of color. The Hearst Fellow serves as an intern with PSI in Washington, DC office of the Aspen Institute. Through this fellowship, seeks to introduce a diverse group of students to issue and challenges affecting philanthropy, social enterprise, non profit organization, and other social sectors.  Link to Application
Women in Defense Focus on preferred fields of study: security studies, military history, government relations, engineering, computer science, physics, mathematics, business (in relations to national security or defense), law, international relations, political science, policy and diplomacy, intelligence and economics.  See website for application details.