An Introduction to Major Scholarships at SIU

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A collage of past Scholars
                                                              Our past Major Scholarship Winners

You may be eligible for one or more nationally competitive scholarships, and the University Honors Office is prepared to help you achieve your goals. Please make your interest known to your Honors Mentor. Because these applications are very labor-intensive, significant preparation is advised beginning in your freshman and sophomore years.  Students who compete for these scholarships may be able to use their applications as the basis for graduate or professional school applications.

You should also consider applying to join UHON 111:  The Honors Colloquium, a class offered in the Spring semester every year. This course will introduce you to the resources and opportunities on the SIU campus to help prepare you to apply for major scholarships in your area of interest.  Selected participants will refine the breadth of skills needed when applying for major scholarships, graduate, internship, and professional school applications.  These include crafting your personal essays, developing interview skills, and researching major scholarships and research opportunities.  The basic requirements for the application are:

  • 3.7 cumulative GPA*
  • Desire and ability to be an exemplar in the University Honors Program
  • A demonstrated commitment to service and research
  • Planning to enroll in Graduate School

Please contact Elizabeth Donoghue at elizabeth.donoghue@siu.edu or Morris 184D for application materials and instruction.

*Students with under 3.7 GPA may be eligible with permission.

Please review these suggested prestigious scholarships, and see if one might be the right fit for you!

Table about the fifteen major scholarships available to students

The Featured Major Scholarships - University Honors Program
Scholarship Who Award Deadlines Details
Boren Freshman, Sophomores & Juniors up to $20,000 depending on study length Early February Study abroad, security, preference on critical lang. & areas, 1yr paid post award service requirement.
Critical Language Scholarship Sophomores & Juniors Covers cost of travel and program Late November Sponsored by the U.S. Department of State to cultivate language acquisition in foreign countries.
Carnegie Jr. Fellow Seniors

1 year position $39,500

 Early January (nominating process begins on campus in October) Preference to those studying fields related to political science and global peace studies.
DAAD (German Academic Exchange) Seniors Funds travel and stipend for Master Program in Germany Early November  Open to all disciplines. Requires entry into German university. Funding includes travel, stipend, insurance but not tuition.
Fulbright Award Seniors Travel, living expenses & more Mid October  Study abroad, variety of areas of study.
Gates Cambridge Seniors Funds graduate study at Cambridge University December  Focuses on commitment to improving lives of others, academic excellence, and capacity for leadership.
Gilman International Scholarship Undergraduates receiving Pell Grant Up to $8,000 Early March Study abroad, diverse language & culture study.
Goldwater Sophomores & Juniors $7,500 Late January STEM field major, excellent grades, plans to pursue a Ph.D. in STEM.
Hollings Undergraduate Scholarship Sophomores $9,500 - 2 years & paid NOAA internship January  NOAA program related from environmental to hydrology, physics, and engineering.
Knight-Hennessy Seniors Funds graduate study at Stanford University October  Selection is based on admission to Stanford, independence of thought, purposeful leadership and civic mindset.
Madison Fellowship Seniors $24,000 towards graduate study Early March  For individuals desiring to become outstanding teachers of the American Constitution at the secondary school level.
Marshall Scholarship Seniors Travel, tuition, living expenses for UK study Mid September  Awards based on academic merit, leadership, and ambassadorial potential.
Mitchell Scholarship (US-Ireland) Seniors Tuition, travel, stipend Late September  A post-graduate award to pursue one year of study in Ireland and Northern Ireland. Initiative of the US-Ireland Alliance.
National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Juniors & Seniors Up to $46,000 covering tuition & stipend Mid October – depending on discipline STEM with research-based plan to obtain Master or Ph.D.
National Science Foundation Research Experience for Undergraduates Freshman, Sophomores & Juniors Funds summer research at host institution Varies depending on program and host institution Supports active research participation by undergraduate students in any of the areas of research funded by the National Science Foundation.
Rangel Summer Enrichment Program Sophomores & Juniors Six-week summer program hosted at Howard University February  Provides undergraduate students with a deeper appreciation of current issues and trends in international affairs.
Rhodes Scholarship Junior or Senior (18-23yrs) Fees and stipend for study at Oxford University October  The oldest and most prestigious international scholarship program in the world.
Rotary Peace Fellowship Seniors Covers all cost for master’s program and/or internship and field-study expenses February  For dedicated leaders from around the world to study at one of the Rotary peace centers or embark on individual program, internship, or field study.
Schwarzman Seniors Fully funds one year master’s program in Beijing Mid September  Designed to build a global community of future leaders who will serve to deepen understanding between China and the rest of the world.
Soros Seniors Funds one or two years of graduate study up to $90,000 Late October  Supports New Americans, immigrants, or the children of immigrants, who are pursuing graduate school in the United States.
Harry S. Truman Scholarship Juniors $30,000 toward graduate study

Early February

 Graduate school plan in public service field. Record of service and commitment to issue.
Udall Scholarship Sophomore or junior $7,000 Late January Commitment to career related to environment, and/or Native American issue.
UK Fulbright Freshman and Sophomores Funds costs of UK summer program Mid February  Three-to-four-week programs for US undergraduate students, who have no or very little travel experience outside North America.