Explore the following links to learn more about internal and external funding opportunities for Schar School graduate students. These funding sources have been recommended and curated by Schar School faculty and staff. The awards listed below are open to both Master’s and PhD applicants.
Awards are organized by deadline.
FALL SEMESTER
August
Award: $4,000 toward tuition
Purpose: Stipend may be used for independent research, dissertation, or thesis support in following areas- International affairs with an emphasis on inter- and intra-national conflicts, international conflict resolution, analyses of negotiation and mediation, political psychology in international relations, and peace studies.
Eligibility: Exclusively for Schar Masters & Doctoral Students
September
The Hispanic Health Professional Student Scholarship
Award: Historically, an average of $3,900 has been given to each awardee. 15-20 scholarships awarded annually.
Purpose: Supports students with exceptional academic performance, documented leaderships activities, and commitment to a career providing healthcare services to the Hispanic community in the US.
Eligibility: GPA of 3.0 or more, full-time student. Must be a premier member of the National Hispanic Medical Association.
October
Award: $500.00 cash prize.
Purpose: Award honors best graduate student paper of critical inquiry into international relations.
Eligibility: Must be a member of the International Studies Association, must not have received PhD by date of paper presentation.
National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) Graduate Fellowship Program (NGFP)
Award: 12-month fellowship: $53,300 - $70,500, $4,000 hiring incentive, medical benefits, vacation & holidays, tuition reimbursement, professional development, & $10,000 travel/training allotment
Purpose: NGFP places highly qualified graduate students into year-long assignments across the NNSA nuclear security mission space, including: nonproliferation, stockpile stewardship, and infrastructure & oversight.
Eligibility: Must be a US Citizen, eligible for security clearance, be a current student or recent graduate, have at least 3.0 GPA in graduate program.
German Chancellor Fellowship for Prospective Leaders
Award: A monthly fellowship of €2,170- €2,770 (based on qualifications), additional financial support things such as travel or German language course, mentorship through the program.
Purpose: During their stay in Germany, the German Chancellor Fellows usually pursue research-based, self-developed projects in the areas mentioned above at host institutions. The projects should not only be of social significance, but should also have a long-term publicly-visible impact.
Eligibility: Must be a national of the USA, Russian Federation, People’s Republic of China, Brazil, or India. Must have completed a bachelor’s degree within the past 12 years.
David A. Winston Health Policy Fellowship
Award: The Fellowship provides a monthly stipend and related expenses for a twelve-month period from beginning in June.
Purpose: Winston Fellows learn about the political system through direct exposure to policy-makers in both the public and private sectors.
Eligibility: Fellowship is open to students graduating with at least a Master’s degree.
Paul and Daisy Soros Graduate Fellowships for New Americans
Award: Up to $90,000 in financial support over two years.
Purpose: This program honors the contributions of immigrants and children of immigrants to the United States. Each year, we invest in the graduate education of 30 New Americans—immigrants and children of immigrants—who are poised to make significant contributions to US society, culture or their academic field.
Eligibility: Applicant’s parents must not have been born in the US; must be enrolled full-time in graduate program; must be younger than 31 years by application deadline.
Award: $1,000
Purpose: The firm is dedicated to providing educational opportunities for future lawyers and other college and university students who are also actively engaged in making their community a better place by leading and planning community service projects.
Eligibility: The candidate must be in good academic standing with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher. Additionally, they must show a dedicated interest in community service and projects pertaining to criminal justice.
International Affairs Fellowship in Japan
Award: 3-12 month fellowship, stipend that covers travel & living expenses.
Purpose: IAF seeks to strengthen mutual understanding and cooperation between the rising generations of leaders in the United States and Japan by providing mid-career professionals with the opportunity to conduct research while affiliated with appropriate institutions in Japan.
Eligibility: Must be a US Citizen, mid-career professional.
NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GFRP)
Award: The GRFP provides three years of support for the graduate education of individuals who have demonstrated their potential for significant research achievements in STEM or STEM education.
Purpose: The program recognizes and supports outstanding graduate students who are pursuing full-time research-based master's and doctoral degrees in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) or in STEM education.
Eligibility: Fellowship is open to graduate students.
Thomas R. Pickering Foreign Affairs & Graduate Foreign Affairs Fellowships
Award: $37,500 annually for a two-year period for tuition, room, board, books, & mandatory fees.
Purpose: The Thomas R. Pickering Fellowship is a U.S. Department of State program that seeks to attract and prepare outstanding young people, based on financial need, who represent ethnic, gender, social, and geographic diversity and have an interest in pursuing a Foreign Service career in the U.S. Department of State.
Eligibility: Exclusively for incoming master's students. Must be a US Citizen. GPA of 3.2 or greater is required.
Presidential Management Fellowship
Award: Two-year fellowship; eligibility for PMF appointment in a federal agency.
Purpose: The Presidential Management Fellowship program is the premier program for leadership development in the Federal civil service.
Eligibility: Must be able to work legally in the United States.
This two-year fellowship was established to attract to federal services outstanding individuals who have a clear interest in, and commitment to excellence in, the leadership and management of public policies and programs.
Award: Fellowship includes seminar sessions, membership in the organization, and an opportunity to be mentored by a senior Washington, D.C.-based professional.
Purpose: The mission of the Graduate Fellows Program (GFP) is to help Fellows develop an understanding of UN issues, policies, and organizations while assisting them in preparing for UN-related careers.
Eligibility: Must be a graduate student studying at a university in the DC-Maryland-Virginia region.
November
The Association of Women in International Trade (WIIT) Scholarship
Award: $1,500 scholarship, 1 year of personal mentorship, & WIIT membership.
Purpose: Our merit-based scholarships are awarded twice per year to support and encourage women studying International Trade and Global Development.
Eligibility: Applicants must identify as female & be currently enrolled.
AAUW International Fellowship Program
Award: $18,000 (Master’s), $20,000 (Doctoral); $30,000 (Postdoctoral).
Purpose: Program provides support for women pursuing full-time graduate or postdoctoral study in the U.S. A limited number of awards are available for study outside of the U.S.
Eligibility: Exclusively for women who are not US citizens or permanent residents.
Critical Language Scholarship Program
Award: 8-10 weeks of language instruction, room, board, program-sponsored travel within host country; US academic credit issued through Bryn Mawr College, international & domestic travel between student’s home city.
Purpose: Intensive overseas language and cultural immersion for American students. Students spend eight to ten weeks abroad studying one of 15 critical languages.
Eligibility: Must be US citizen; must be current US student.
Robert Wood Johnson Fellowship Programs
Award: Up to six awards of up to $104,000 each will be made in 2020.
Purpose: The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) Health Policy Fellows program provides the nation’s most comprehensive learning experience at the nexus of health, science, and policy in Washington, D.C.
Eligibility: Exceptional mid-career professionals from academic faculties; government, and nonprofit health organizations, who are interested in experiencing the health policy process at the federal level, are encouraged to apply.
December
Award: Generous stipend and accommodation in Moscow, Russian-based language training, coursework at Higher School of Economics in Moscow, and all program-related travel.
Purpose: The Alfa Fellowship Program is a distinguished international initiative that each year offers the opportunity to complete a high-level professional development program in Russia. Fellows complete work placements at leading institutions, attend professional seminars, and receive intensive language training.
Eligibility: Exclusively for US, UK, or German citizens between the ages of 25-35.
Blakemore Freeman Fellowship in Asian Languages
Award: Funding for 1 academic year of advanced level language study in East or Southeast Asia.
Purpose: The Blakemore Foundation was established in 1990 to encourage Americans to develop greater fluency in Asian languages and to increase the understanding of Asian art in the United States.
Eligibility: Must have at least three years of language study; must be US citizen or permanent resident of US
2021 Ellings Korduba Fellowship
Award: The program offers eight-month fellowships of up to $12,000.
Purpose: Fellowship for students whose degrees focus on issues of strategic importance to the United States in Asia.
Eligibility: Master's Student, US Citizen.
Ford Foundation Fellowship Program
Award: Stipend ($26,000 – $50,000 annually), depending on program (predoctoral, dissertation, and post-doctoral)
Purpose: The Ford Foundation seeks to increase the diversity of the nation’s college and university faculties by increasing their ethnic and racial diversity, maximize the educational benefits of diversity, and increase the number of professors who can and will use diversity as a resource for enriching the education of all students.
Eligibility: Individuals committed to a career in teaching and research at the college or university level in the US.
Award: 2-year paid opportunity for recent graduates to serve in high-impact roles in government.
Purpose: Govern For America bridges the gap between governments and emerging leaders to build a pipeline of diverse and dynamic public sector talent.
Eligibility: Must be on track to earn a master’s degree by June 2022; or if graduated, have earned an undergraduate in 2019 or later. Must be eligible to work in the US.
Institute for Humane Studies (IHS) Humane Studies Fellowship
Award: $500.00 cash prize.
Purpose: Award honors best graduate student paper of critical inquiry into international relations.
Eligibility: Must be a member of International Studies Association, must not have received PhD by date of paper presentation.
The Marcellus Policy Fellowship
Award: $750 stipend
Purpose: The Fellowship is for those who are in, are pursuing, or intend to pursue in the near future a career shaping U.S. national security policy in fields like government service, the media, academia, think tanks, advocacy, and so forth.
Eligibility: Undergraduate & Graduate Students - 8 fellowships offered. US Citizenship is not required.
PPIA’s Graduate School Consortium
PPIA’s Graduate School Consortium is comprised of over 50 public policy and international affairs programs from across the county. These institutions share PPIA’s commitment to increasing diversity and fostering inclusion in public service and support our fellows in their pursuit of graduate education. Alumni of the PPIA Junior Summer Institute (JSIs) who apply for admission to the Schar School can waive the application fees and, if accepted, are guaranteed a minimum, one-time financial award of $5,000 from the school.
Applicants should indicate they have participated in the PPIA JSI.
Spring application deadline: December 1
Fall application deadline: May 1
Eligibility: Master's Students
For any questions on this opportunity, please contact Schar Graduate Admissions at schar@gmu.edu.
P.E.O International Peace Scholarship Fund
Award: Up to $12,500; lesser amounts may be awarded according to individual needs.
Purpose: The International Peace Scholarship Fund, is a program which provides scholarships for selected women from other countries for graduate study in the United States and Canada. Members of P.E.O. believe that education is fundamental to world peace and understanding.
Eligibility: A student who is a citizen or permanent resident of the United States or Canada is not eligible. In order to qualify for her first scholarship, an applicant must have a full year of coursework remaining, be enrolled and in residence for the entire school year.
SPRING SEMESTER
January
Award: $4,000 toward tuition
Purpose: Stipend may be used for independent research, dissertation, or thesis support in following areas- International affairs with an emphasis on inter- and intra-national conflicts, international conflict resolution, analyses of negotiation and mediation, political psychology in international relations, and peace studies.
Eligibility: Exclusively for Schar School Master's & Doctoral Students
The 50th Anniversary Scholarship: $2,500
Award: $2,500
Purpose: This scholarship will award essential funds to a student each year who embodies the ideal of dedicated alumni leaders: Service, Diversity, and Philanthropy.
Eligibility: Mason graduate students must have 6-credit hours completed at the time of application.
The George Mason Alumni Association Service Scholarship: $2,500
Award: $2,500
Purpose: This award is given to a full-time student who demonstrates a commitment to service within the university community while maintaining an exemplary academic record.
Eligibility: Mason graduate students must have 9-credit hours completed at the time of application.
John C. and Louise P. Wood Graduate Scholarship
Award: $2,500 scholarship
Purpose: The Wood Graduate Scholarship is awarded annually to a student that demonstrates unusual motivation and ability in the pursuit of education and who has contributed to the development and welfare of George Mason University and/or the greater community.
Eligibility: Exclusively for Mason’s full-time current graduate students; candidates must have a GPA of 3.0 or higher & 6 completed credits.
February
Applications for Research Stipends
For more information and to apply
The Social Security Administration (SSA) is once again awarding graduate students $10,000 stipends to research work, rehabilitation, and disability issues through the Analyzing Relationships between Disability, Rehabilitation and Work (ARDRAW) Small Grant Program. The objective of ARDRAW is to foster new analyses of work, rehabilitation, and disability issues, which may develop innovative and fresh perspectives on disability by providing research stipends to a broad spectrum of graduate students.
Barry M. Moriarty Graduate Paper Competition
Award: $1,000
Purpose: The Southern Regional Science Association promotes the advancement of regional analysis and related spatial & areal studies. The Southern Regional Science Association (SRSA) awards an annual cash prize to the graduate student submitting the best paper in Regional Science. Papers should represent original research.
Eligibility: Must be enrolled as a full-time student, sole author, & sponsored by SRSA member.
Legacy Award of the Victims of Pan Am Flight 103
Award: $5,000 (Legacy Fellow)
Purpose: The mission of the Victims of Pan Am Flight 103, Inc.’s Legacy Award is to support students pursuing advanced degrees in areas of study related to improved national security and terrorism prevention.
Eligibility: Legacy Awards are available to students pursuing advanced degrees at U.S. institutions in areas of study related to improved national security and terrorism prevention
March
Henry Owen Memorial Award Essay
Award: $1,000 - $500, and opportunity to attend Bretton Woods Committee Annual Meeting
Purpose: The Henry Owen Memorial Prize honors Bretton Woods Committee co-founder Henry Owen, and hopes to inspire new generations of thoughtful young leaders to follow Ambassador Owen’s example as both a scholar and diplomat.
Eligibility: Exclusively for graduate-level students attending universities in the mid-Atlantic region.
Laura Bassi Scholarship: Applications Now Open!
Award: $750 (Master’s) & $2,500 (PhD)
Purpose: Aims to provide editorial assistance to postgraduates and junior academics whose research focuses on neglected topics of study, broadly construed.
Eligibility: All currently enrolled master’s and doctoral candidates are eligible to apply, as are academics in the first five years of full-time employment.
Award: One-year, competitive fellowship program; up to $5,000 for the year.
Purpose: The aim of this fellowship is to introduce students to the Austrian, Virginia, and Bloomington schools of political economy as academic foundations for contemporary policy analysis, policy-relevant academic research, and other applied topics.
Eligibility: graduate students who are enrolled in master’s, juris doctoral, and doctoral programs from any university and in any discipline including, but not limited to, economics, law, political science, and public policy.
Eisenhower Transportation Fellowship Program
Award: Between $5,000-$35,500 in grant funding
Purpose: The DDETFP Graduate Fellowship provides funding for students to pursue master's or doctoral degrees in transportation-related disciplines. The goals of these Grants are to 1) attract the Nation's brightest minds to the field of transportation, 2) enhance the careers of transportation professionals by encouraging them to seek advanced degrees, and 3) bring and retain top talent in the transportation industry of the U.S.
Eligibility: Must be pursuing a graduate degree in a full-time program for a transportation-related discipline, and must have at least 1 full year of academic training remaining in program of study. Apply via grants.gov.
HORIZONS Scholarship – For Women Intending National Security and Defense Careers
Award: Scholarship
Purpose: Through the HORIZONS Scholarship, Women In Defense encourages women to pursue careers supporting U.S. national security, with a focus on defense or foreign policy.
Eligibility: Exclusively for female US citizens who are interested in pursuing a career related to national security or defense. Must minimum 3.25 GPA.
Award: $3,600 for 2-months of service to the Commonwealth of Virginia.
Purpose: The Governor’s Fellows Program provides an opportunity for students interested in public service to experience firsthand the administration of state government in the Commonwealth.
Eligibility: University students enrolled in a Virginia college/university, or Virginia resident enrolled in an out-of-state institution.
ICPSR Summer Program in Quantitative Methods of Social Research
Award: Scholarship waives Program Scholar’s fees to attend one or both of the four-week sessions in the ICPSR Summer Program.
Purpose: Provide funding to assist Public Administration & Public Policy students to attend ICPSR’s courses in quantitative methods of social research.
Eligibility: Exclusively for current graduate students (MPA, MPP, Ph.D.).
Washington DC Chapter National Defense Transportation Association Merit Scholarship
Award: Scholarship
Purpose: Encourage continuing studies in transportation related fields
Eligibility: Minimum 3.0 GPA, completing of 12 semester hours. Applicants must be members of the Washington Chapter of the NDTA.
April
The Association of Women in International Trade (WIIT) Scholarship
Award: $1,500 scholarship, 1 year of personal mentorship, & WIIT membership.
Purpose: Our merit-based scholarships are awarded twice per year to support and encourage women studying International Trade and Global Development.
Eligibility: Applicants must identify as female & be currently enrolled.
Award: 2-Year Predoctoral Fellowship: $50,000 annually plus benefits
Purpose: The Predoctoral Program in Policy is a pilot program for exceptional policy school master’s students to develop the skills, experience, and mentorship needed to prepare for doctoral studies and an academic career in policy. Eligibility: Completion of a master's degree in a qualifying program during the previous year. Authorized to work in the US.
Bryce Harlow Foundation Fellowship Program
Award: $8,000 award defrays tuition costs (will be paid directly to the university in two installments); opportunity to participate in Bryce Harlow Mentoring Program.
Purpose: The Foundation has awarded fellowships to highly motivated students in pursuit of a career in professional advocacy through government relations and lobbying. The Foundation considers its Bryce Harlow Fellows to be the future of professional advocacy — those who are committed to practicing the art and science of lobbying with the highest level of integrity.
Eligibility: Fellowships are awarded to individuals who undertake graduate level studies on a part-time basis and work full-time. U. S. Citizenship required.
Award: 3-6 credits (up to $4,000).
Purpose: This Grant provides tuition support for graduate students’ courses that significantly enhance training and education and/or satisfy credit-bearing requirements towards completion of the graduate degree. Master's Students: This grant supports experiential learning opportunities such as an internship and practicum.
Eligibility: Mason graduate students are eligible for this award.
Christine Mirzayan Science & Technology Policy Graduate Fellowship Program
Award: 12-week paid fellowship & mentorship through the National Academies.
Purpose: The Christine Mirzayan Fellowship Program is a full-time hands-on training and educational programs that provides early career individuals with the opportunity to spend 12 weeks at the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine in Washington, DC learning about science and technology policy and the role that scientists and engineers play in advising the nation.
Eligibility: Fellowship is for current graduate students or recent graduates (within the past 5 years). Must be US citizen, US permanent resident, or non-US citizen holding visa.
Award: Up to $1,250 for the semester.
Purpose: Fellowships are open to students from any discipline who are interested in studying key ideas in political economy and learning how to utilize these ideas in academic and policy research.
Eligibility: Fellowship program for advanced undergraduates, recent graduates considering graduate school, and early-stage graduate students from any discipline.
May
Award: $3,000-$5,000 award.
Purpose: The Foundation for Community Association Research (FCAR) awards its Byron Hanke Fellowship to selected graduate students to implement research projects related to the development, management and governance of common interest communities and their community associations.
Eligibility: Exclusively for current Masters & Doctoral students.
Airport Cooperative Research Program (ACRP) Graduate Research Award
Award: $12,000 research stipend, opportunity for paper to be published in Transportation Research Record and for student to present at Transportation Research Board Annual meeting. Program provides mentorship opportunities.
Purpose: The ACRP (Airport Cooperative Research Program) Graduate Research Award is intended to stimulate thought, discussion, and research by those who may become the future airport managers, operators, designers, and policymakers in aviation. The focus of this graduate student research program is on applied research on airport and related aviation system issues to help the public sector continue to improve the quality, reliability, safety, and security of the U.S. civil aviation system well into the foreseeable future.
Eligibility: Exclusively for full-time graduate students. Must be US or Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or current student visa holders.
Cory L. Richards Memorial Scholarship Program
Award: $15,000 scholarship
Purpose: This Scholarship provides financial support to students who plan to devote their careers to advancing public policy related to sexual and reproductive health and rights, and who are seeking advanced degrees in public health or public policy.
Eligibility: Must enroll in graduate coursework full-time.
NMIF Merit Scholarship Program
Purpose: The National Military Intelligence Foundation (NMIF) is currently accepting applications for the annual NMIF Merit Scholarships to support students pursuing courses of study and formal degrees in intelligence studies and related disciplines.
Eligibility: Full-time undergraduate Juniors, Seniors, and Graduate students studying degrees in intelligence studies and related disciplines.
Award: $7,500
Purpose: The late Herbert Roback was a highly respected public servant. During his 34-year career, he encouraged talented and promising students to consider lifetime careers in public service. To honor Mr. Roback, his family and friends established the Herbert Roback Scholarship Fund to perpetuate his work.
Eligibility: Exclusively for master’s students in public administration, public & international affairs, and/or political science.
National Forum for Black Public Administrators (NFBPA) Scholarships
Award: $2,000 - $10,000, depending on Scholarship
Purpose: The NFBPA scholarship program provides scholarships to graduates and undergraduates pursuing an education in the field of public administration, public policy, or a related discipline.
Eligibility: Must be enrolled as a full-time student.
PPIA’s Graduate School Consortium
PPIA’s Graduate School Consortium is comprised of over 50 public policy and international affairs programs from across the county. These institutions share PPIA’s commitment to increasing diversity and fostering inclusion in public service and support our fellows in their pursuit of graduate education. Alumni of the PPIA Junior Summer Institute (JSIs) who apply for admission to the Schar School can waive the application fees and, if accepted, are guaranteed a minimum, one-time financial award of $5,000 from the school.
Applicants should indicate they have participated in the PPIA JSI.
Spring application deadline: December 1
Fall application deadline: May 1
Eligibility: Master's Students
For any questions on this opportunity, please contact Schar Graduate Admissions at schar@gmu.edu.
SUMMER & ROTATING DEADLINES
June
Congressional Fellowships on Women and Public Policy
Award: Congressional fellowship in role as a legislative assistant (40 hours per week) 7-month stipend, and an additional stipend for health insurance. Program runs from January - July.
Purpose: Fellows gain practical policymaking experience and graduate credit as they work from January to July in Congressional offices. The fellowships are designed to train potential leaders in public policy formation to examine issues from the perspective, experiences, and needs of women.
Eligibility: Current graduates students & recent graduates (within two years) are eligible to apply. Applicants must be legally eligible to work in the United States.
Award: $2,500
Investing in the Future of the IC Workforce Scholarship
Award: Up to $5,000
Purpose: The INSA Foundation launched this scholarship program to help enrich the pipeline of talent into the Intelligence Community.
Eligibility: 3.5 GPA or higher; full-time student entering their second semester of graduate school; US Citizen.
July
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Rotating Deadlines
Dirksen Congressional Research Grants
Deadline: January, April, July, and October
Award: Individual awards capped at $3,500.
Purpose: The Dirksen Congressional Center invites applications for grants to fund research on congressional leadership and the U.S. Congress. Notes: Research teams of two or more individuals are eligible. Grants can be used to fund dissertation research.
Eligibility: The grants program does not fund undergraduate or pre-Ph.D. study. U. S. citizenship required.
P. E. O. Educational Loan Fund
Deadline: No deadline; average application processing time is 8-12 weeks.
Award: A Loan- Up to $12,000 for non-degree accredited programs, up to $15,000 for a Master’s degree, and up to $20,000 for a doctoral degree. The current interest rate is 2%.
Purpose: Educational Loan Fund makes loans available to qualified women who desire higher education and need financial assistance. The loan fund is not a scholarship fund.
Eligibility: Exclusively for women, US Citizenship required.
U. S. Department of Energy (DOE) Scholars Program
Deadline: Rotating, based on program.
Award: 8-12 week appointment with DoE approved-facility, a minimum stipend of $650 per week, travel reimbursement to & from Washington, D.C.
Purpose: DOE Scholars Program will introduce highly qualified students and postgraduates to DOE missions, functions, and operations; these appointments prepare scholars for the full range of entry and mid-level research, technical and professional positions within DOE and organizations that support the DOE mission.
Eligibility: Current student OR recently graduated (Certificate graduates: 1 year, Masters/Ph.D. graduates: within 5 years); STEM degree or interest/work experience in a STEM field; US Citizenship required.