The majority of fellowships and grants are to support students as they undertake graduate study.  In general, the granting agencies want to support research projects, so it is important to think carefully about your career path and the kinds of research that you will be undertaking in order to get to that ultimate goal.  As well, those agencies are interested in giving their funds to change agents, people who identify problems and then set about to solve them.  Are you that person?

Many grants are for overseas study. Some of the most prestigious awards (Rhodes and Gates) are affiliated with specific universities, though others (Fulbright, Marshall, Mitchell, for instance) allow you more latitude in finding the right place for you to be.  Study the host institutions or countries and make sure that you can articulate a clear need to study at that school or be in that country.

In addition, a number of fellowships and grants provide assistance for graduate study in institutions in the United States.

Fellowships, Grants, and Scholarships you might consider for graduate study

Austrian Teaching Assistanceship Program

Field: English teachers fluent in German Requirements: US citizen Year of Application: Graduating seniors and graduates Campus Deadline: January 15 For More Information: http://www.fulbright.at/us_citizens/teaching_intro.php

DAAD - German Academic Exchange Service Graduate Scholarship

Field: All Requirements: Must be US/Canadian citizen, not a resident in Germany for over 1 year, requested to have a well defined study project, may not hold grant from another German association Year of Application: Graduating seniors or graduates Campus Deadline: Oct 15 For More Information: http://www.daad.org/?p=gradstudy

Davies-Jackson Scholarship

Field: Archaeology and anthropology, classics, economics, English, geography, history of art, modern and medieval languages, music, philosophy, or social and political sciences Requirements: Must be in the first in your family to graduate college Year of Application: Senior or recent graduate Campus Deadline: Oct 10 For More Information: http://www.cic.edu/projects_services/grants/daviesjackson/index.asp

Fannie and John Hertz Fellowships

Field: Physical sciences Requirements: US citizen or permanent resident pursuing Ph.D. Year of Application: Senior or recent graduate Campus Deadline: Oct 1 For More Information: http://www.hertzfndn.org/

Fulbright Grant/US Fulbright Student Program

Field: All students interested in graduate studies abroad Requirements: US citizen, graduating senior or graduate, in good health Year of Application: Graduating seniors or graduates Campus Deadline: Sept 19 For More Information: http://www.iie.org/fulbright or http://www.fulbrightonline.org/

Gates Cambridge Scholarship

Field: Must be submitted to Cambridge study: research leading to Ph.D., 1-yr post-graduate courses, 2-yr. MSc degree, second Bachelors as an Affiliated Student, MBBchair Clinical Studies Requirements: Citizens of any country outside of the UK Year of Application: Graduate Campus Deadline: Sept 15 For More Information: http://www.gatesscholar.org/

George Aratani/Daniel K. Inouye Fellowship

Field: Public policy Requirements: People with commitment to the Asian American and Pacific Islander communities who plan to pursue a public policy career. Year of Application: Graduate Campus Deadline: Jan 28 For More Information: http://www.apaics.org/fellow.html

George J. Mitchell Scholarship

Field: All majors - students interested in graduate study in Ireland Requirements: 3.7 GPA, between ages 18 and 30, nominated by UP Year of Application: Senior or recent graduate Campus Deadline: Sept 5 For More Information: http://www.us-irelandalliance.org/scholarships/Mitchell.html

German Chancellor Scholarships

Field: All - German proficiency not required Requirements: US citizen; no more than 34 years old when scholarship period begins Year of Application: Senior or recent graduate Campus Deadline: Nov 30 For More Information: http://www.humboldt-foundation.de/

International Institute for Political and Economic Studies

Field: Politics, economics, sociology Requirements: Currently enrolled in university Year of Application: Undergraduate or graduate Campus Deadline: Feb 15 For More Information: http://www.tfasinternational.org/iipes/about

Jack Kent Cooke Foundation Graduate Scholarship Program

Field: All majors Requirements: Nominated by UP, plan to attend full-time graduate program by the fall; plan to pursue first graduate degree through the scholarship, GPA of 3.5 or higher Year of Application: Senior, recent graduate Campus Deadline: Feb 14 For More Information: http://www.jackkentcookefoundation.org/

Jacob K. Javits Fellowship

Field: Plan to pursue doctoral degree in arts, humanities, social sciences (or terminal MFA) Requirements: US citizen or national, permanent resident or citizen of any of the freely associated states.  Must demonstrate financial need. Year of Application: Senior or recent graduate, or in 1st year of graduate school Campus deadline: Sept 1 For More Information: http://www.ed.gov/programs/jacobjavits/index.html

James Madison Graduate Fellowships

Field: Be a teacher, or plan to become a teacher, of American history, American government, or social studies at the secondary school level (grades 7-12) Requirements: Be a US citizen or US national Year of Application: Senior or graduate; Possess a bachelor's degree or plan to receive a bachelor's degree no later than Aug 31 of the year in which you are applying Campus deadline: Feb 1 For More Information: http://www.jamesmadison.com/index.html

Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) Programme

Field: All Requirements: US citizen. Genuine interest in Japan, in good health, excellent pronunciation, rhythm, intonation and voice projection skills in English. Some positions require Japanese proficiency. Year of Application: Senior or graduate: hold at least a Bachelor's degree by July of application year. Campus Deadline: Nov 1 For More Information: http://www.jetprogramme.org/

Marshall Scholarship

Field: Science, technology, the humanities, social sciences and the creative arts for graduate study. Requirements: US citizen, 3.7 GPA, Nominated by UP Year of Application: Have graduated by start of program; must have earned degree after 2005. Campus Deadline: Sept 4 For More Information: http://www.marshallscholarship.org/

Morris K. Udall Native American Congressional Internship

Field: All majors; a career related to tribal government and/or public policy Requirements: Must be documented tribal member, a descendant in the first or second degree, or recognized by the Department of the Interior. US citizen or resident. 3.0 GPA Year of Application: Be a junior or senior in college, a recent graduate from a tribal or 4-year college, or a graduate or law student Campus Deadline: Dec 31 For More Information: http://www.udall.gov/OurPrograms/NACInternship/NACInternship.aspx

National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship

Field: Research focused graduate study in science, mathematics, engineering, computer, and information science Requirements: US citizen, nation, or resident Year of Application: Seniors, up to the first semester of the second year of graduate study Campus Deadline: Oct 1 For More Information: http://www.nsfgradfellows.org/

National Security Education Program (NSEP) David L. Boren Graduate Fellowships

Field: Students pursuing the study of languages, cultures, and world regions that are critical to US national security. Requirements: US citizen; foreign language study appropriate to region; must work in the federal government in positions with national security responsibilities Year of Application: Must be enrolled in a graduate program or applying to graduate school. Campus Deadline: Dec 30 For More Information: http://www.borenawards.org/

NESP National Flagship Language Program Fellowship

Field: Critical languages (Arabic, Korean, Mandarin, Persian, and Russian) Requirements: US citizen; language proficiencies defined on web site; completed undergraduate degree by start of program; service work in the federal government in a position with national security responsibilities Year of Application: Recent graduate/graduating seniors Campus Deadline: Dec 18 For More Information: www.flagshipfellowships.org

North American Language and Culture Assistants in Spain

Field: Prospective English teachers Requirements: US citizen with intermediate to advanced Spanish language skills; teaching experience; experience abroad Year of Application: Junior or senior; recent graduates Campus Deadline: Dec 1 For More Information: http://www.mec.es/sgci/usa/en/programs/us_assistants/default.shtml

Organization of American States Student Intern Program

Field: Varies by program Requirements: US citizen; 3.0 GPA; command of two of four languages: English, Spanish, Portuguese, French. Year of Application: Junior or senior; graduate students Campus Deadline: Dec 15 For More Information: http://www.oas.org/dhrs/gen_information.htm

Paul and Daisy Soros Fellowships for New Americans

Field: All majors Requirements: Students with green cards, naturalized citizens, or those with two parents who are naturalized citizens. Year of Application: Senior or recent graduate Campus Deadline: Oct 1 For More Information: http://www.pdsoros.org/

Rhodes Scholarship

Field: All majors Requirements: 3.7 GPA, under the age of 24, interviews in November, nominated by UP. Year of Application: Senior or recent graduate Campus Deadline: Sept 1 For More Information: http://www.rhodesscholar.org/

For a complete listing of opportunities by major, click here.