Being an outstanding student comes with a price. It’s a lot of work. This is why private and government-owned institutions launch various financial incentives and grants to encourage bright students and strengthen the cords of development and educational pursuits. One such movement to aid student’s participation in professional studies and career advancement is the prestigious scholarships.
Prestigious scholarships as the name suggests, are renowned scholarships that award outstanding students partial or full educational funding opportunities with other benefits. They are highly esteemed amongst other scholarships as they offer very significant financial awards, and involve competition at a national and international level.
According to Dr. John Martell, Jr, in his paper, Prestigious Scholarships: An Overview, they are “intensely competitive scholarships and are very difficult to win”. Students who bag prestigious scholarships are exceptional in virtually everything.
While there are several types of scholarships including full-tuition scholarships, their goal has always been to assist students, foster growth for some cause, and bridge the gap of educational disparity. The common types of scholarships are need-based and merit-based yet prestigious scholarships cover all of them.
Whether for financial cause, specific purpose, or merit-based, prestigious scholarships enable students to reach excellence at the highest level. Recipients of these awards have conquered fears including all national to personal barriers. Their performance attributes competence, leadership ability, and purposeful future. Martell captured it better saying, “The majority of these awards are given to students who are, of a better word, “activists”.
It takes accurate preparation to secure a prestigious award. Such that students who lay hold of it, must have started preparation before leaving high school. The long-term planning offers students the opportunity to meet the high academic and moral standards to receive the award.
In this article, we will explore 10 prestigious scholarships that empower students from different backgrounds to prestige, professional, and career advancement. We will also explore their criteria for eligibility, the application process, and tips for success.
Types of Prestigious Scholarships
The different types of prestigious scholarships can be categorized in different forms such as academics, research, national security, specific cause, etc.
Below are 10 recognized prestigious scholarships to apply for:
Fulbright Foreign Student Program
The Fulbright Foreign Student Program is considered the largest prestigious scholarship. It is sponsored by the US. Government through the U.S. Department of State. It operates in over 160 countries across the world, enabling recent college graduates, graduate students, young professionals, and artists irrespective of age, background, or ethnicity to study and conduct research in the United States.
Approximately 8,000 students benefit from this program each year. Eligibility and selection of candidates are based on merit, yet the criteria vary widely by country. While it is funded by the U.S. government, other institutions, governmental bodies as well as individual donors provide funds for this prestigious award.
The Fulbright Program is recognized for its merit-based selection process and academic prestige. It selects recipients irrespective of nationality, color, sex, age, religion, socio-economic status, sexual orientation, or disability.
Eligibility:
- Applicants must be Americans before the time of application. (Permanent residents are not eligible).
- A bachelor’s degree or an equivalent is required before the start of the grant.
- In the creative and performing arts, four years of professional training or equivalent experience fulfills the basic eligibility criteria.
Gates Cambridge Scholarships
The Gates Cambridge Scholarship is an international award open for postgraduate students to pursue any available course at the University of Cambridge. Approximately 80 candidates benefit from the program every year with 25 awards available to candidates in the US and 55 available in the International round.
It was established by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation in 2000 with a donation of $210 million. In October 2001, the first Gate Cambridges emerged and since then, over 2000 students from 110 countries have benefited from the award.
The grant covers the full cost of a postgraduate degree with additional and discretionary costs for academic and professional development. It is highly competitive with over 200 Gates Cambridge studying at a time.
Eligibility:
The application must be for one of the full-time residential degrees below:
- Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
- Master of either Science (MSc), Letters (MLitt), or Philosophy (MPhil)
- Other one-year postgraduate course (e.g. LLM, MRes, MASt)
There are four criteria for selecting candidates for the scholarship:
- Academic Excellence
- Choice of Course
- A Commitment to improving other people’s lives.
- Leadership Capacity
Rhodes
The Rhodes Scholarship is one of the earliest and most profound scholarships that sponsors bright students from different parts of the globe to pursue a course at the University of Oxford. Young students with good character, intellect, good leadership skills, and commitment to service, are the best candidates for a Rhodes Scholarship.
The committee prefers candidates with a minimum of 3.75 GPA at least in the top 10% of their class, and show excellent academic work. The scholarship covers tuition, all other university and college costs, one economy class airfare to Oxford at the start of the scholarship, and one economy flight back to the student’s home country after the scholarship.
Eligibility:
- Applicants must be U.S. or Canadian citizens or lawful permanent residents, or citizens of a country without an existing Rhodes Scholarship.
- Candidates must be 18 to 23 years old by October 1 of the application year, or up to 28 years old if they earned their first undergraduate degree within the last two years.
- Candidates must have an academic standing advanced enough to ensure they will complete their bachelor’s degree by October 1 of the year following their application.
- The Marshall Scholarships
The Marshall Scholarship targets young, intelligent, and promising scholars to study in the United Kingdom at the graduate level. Candidates must choose to study at one of the Marshall Partner Universities in the United Kingdom.
Every year, no less than 50 scholars receive Marshall sponsorship. The award covers college fees, plus additional fees for research, travel, thesis, book, and living expenses. Airfares to and from the United States are included. Additionally, there is a contribution for the support of a dependent spouse, if applicable. Recipients of the Marshall Scholarship can boost of grant for only two years.
Eligibility:
- Candidates must be citizens of the United States of America at the time of application.
- Candidates must have their first undergraduate degrees from an accredited university or college in the United States.
- Candidates must have nothing less than 3.7 for their undergraduate degree at the time of application.
The Truman Scholarship
The Truman Scholarship is targeted at sponsoring scholars with a passion for public service. This is why to secure a Truman scholarship; attention must be paid to pursuing a career in public service. Candidates who plan to have an impact on a specific cause or community in the area of public service are the best applicants.
No less than 55 to 65 candidates are selected each year, usually one from each state. No minimum GPA is required yet applicants maintain a 3.8 GPA to retain their scholarships. The awardees receive $15,000 for their first year and last year of graduate study.
Eligibility:
- Candidates must be U.S. citizens or will be before the date of receiving the scholarship
- Graduate students ongoing a course program with another institution are not eligible. However, they must be full-time students pursuing a bachelor’s degree with junior-level academic standing or have senior-level standing in the third year of college enrollment.
- Candidates must agree to commit to work in public service for three of the first seven years after completing a graduate degree funded by the Truman Scholarship.
- Candidates must pursue a master’s degree, a doctorate, or a professional degree in any public service area such as a Master of Public Health, Master of Social Work, Master of Public Administration, Master of Education, or Master of International Affairs.
The Goldwater Scholarship Program
The Goldwater Scholarship is highly respected amongst other national undergraduate awards in the natural sciences, engineering, and mathematics. The goal is to support the education of talented students in science, math, and engineering. Candidates must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents and plan to pursue careers in the science and engineering fields.
It’s a merit-based program, given to about 400 college sophomores and juniors from around 1200 nominees. The amount given to the recipients depends on their financial needs, up to a maximum of $7,500 per academic year. Colleges and universities can nominate only four of their undergraduate students each year for this scholarship.
The scholarship selection process considers the student’s field of study, career aspirations, dedication, and potential for making a significant professional impact. This evaluation is conducted through letters of recommendation, student essays, and prior research experience. The number of scholarships awarded in each region is determined by the quantity and quality of nominees from that region. The regions include all 50 U.S. states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and, as a single group, Guam, American Samoa, the Northern Mariana Islands, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Eligibility:
- Students must be citizens of the United States of America, or the District of Columbia; U.S. residents for those nominated by institutions in Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands; or permanent residents.
- Students must aim to pursue research careers in natural science, mathematics, or engineering.
- Students must be full-time, matriculated sophomores or juniors pursuing a degree at an accredited 2- or 4-year institution of higher education.
George J. Mitchell Scholarship
The George J. Mitchell Scholarship is a prestigious national scholarship sponsored by the US-Ireland Alliance. It was named in honor of the former U.S. Senator’s significant contributions to the Northern Ireland peace process.
Its primary aim is to connect and familiarize the next generation of American leaders with Ireland. This scholarship recognizes and fosters intellectual achievement, leadership, and a commitment to community and public service.
Up to twelve scholars are selected annually and must be between 18 and 30 years old. They can study any discipline for one academic year of postgraduate study in any of the selected nine institutions in Ireland and Northern Ireland.
The scholarship covers tuition, and accommodation, and provides a stipend for living expenses and travel. The grant is not renewable and the acceptance rate is approximately five percent. This shows the program’s competitiveness.
The selection process is based on:
- Academic excellence.
- Demonstrated leadership qualities and potential.
- Commitment to community and public service.
Candidates must be nominated by their university, which may select up to two students. The application process is online and includes four letters of recommendation (750 words or fewer).
Eligibility:
- Applicants must have completed a bachelor’s degree from an accredited university or college before the start of the grant.
- Married applicants are accepted, but no allowances are made for spouses or dependents.
- Non-EU citizen spouses must obtain a work permit to seek employment in Ireland or Northern Ireland.
Chevening Scholarship
The Chevening Scholarship is a highly competitive award funded by the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, and partner organizations. It offers recipients full financial support for a one-year master’s degree at any UK university.
The program covers tuition fees, living expenses, return flights, and additional allowances for travel and visa costs. Scholars also have access to exclusive events and networking opportunities. Upon receiving a Chevening, applicants must demonstrate exceptional academic achievements, leadership potential, and a commitment to their home country.
Eligibility:
- Only individuals from a Chevening-eligible country can apply.
- Applicants must have an undergraduate degree equivalent to an upper second-class 2:1 honors degree.
- A minimum of two years of work experience is required.
- Apply to three different eligible UK universities and receive an unconditional offer from at least one.
- Agree to return to their home country for a minimum of two years after completing their scholarship in the UK.
Boren Scholarship
The Boren scholarship aims to promote long-term linguistic and cultural immersion for U.S. students interested in public service careers. It is sponsored by the National Security Education Program as the award comprises both the Boren Scholarships and Fellowships. The scholarship tends to support and encourage candidates to study in areas critical to U.S. interests and encourage recipients to work in federal national security roles.
The scholarship offers approximately $25,000 for undergraduate students and $30,000 for graduate students for 6-12 months of overseas study. The awards also include additional funding for domestic language study before departure and for professional development opportunities
Eligibility:
- S. undergraduates can access the Boren scholarships, while U.S. graduates can access Boren fellowships.
- Applicants must be willing to study in areas critical to U.S. national security
- Applicants must agree to work in the federal government for at least one year after graduation.
The Commonwealth Scholarships
The Commonwealth Scholarships aim at supporting talented individuals from Commonwealth countries who would love to but cannot afford to study in the UK. The scholarships provide scholars the opportunity to undertake postgraduate degrees at UK universities. However, the recipients must demonstrate financial need and have the potential to make a positive impact on the global stage.
Eligibility:
- Applicants must be citizens or permanent residents of a Commonwealth country, or be refugees or British-protected persons.
- At least second class upper (2:1) of an undergraduate honors degree is required. (For PhD applicants, a relevant master’s degree is also required).
- Applicant must be unable to afford to study in the United Kingdom
There are several Commonwealth Scholarships administered by the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission (CSC). The different scholarships cover a wide range of programs such as science and technology for development, improving health systems, promoting global economic prosperity, and strengthening educational systems.
- Some of the Commonwealth scholarships are:
- Commonwealth Master’s Scholarships
- Commonwealth PhD Scholarships
- Commonwealth Shared Scholarships
- Commonwealth Medical Fellowships
- Commonwealth Professional Fellowships
- Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholarships
Commonwealth Scholarships are generally fully funded, covering tuition fees, airfares to and from the UK, Living stipends, additional fees for research and travel expenses, and if applicable, specific allowances for scholars with disabilities or dependants (children).
Eligibility and Application Process
Interested applicants should visit the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission website to get all necessary information.
Conclusion
Prestigious scholarships provide valuable financial support that empowers students to pursue their passions and make meaningful contributions to society.
Exceptional students, who would not have otherwise afforded an education abroad are getting recognized globally. Individual potential, vision, and academic excellence are being rewarded with these prestigious scholarships that inspire change and drive progress.
Students who envisage bagging these scholarships must be determined and prepared early enough to be considered in the selection process. These scholarships require some strict processes and are highly competitive yet, the prestige it confers is worth the time and effort.
Additionally, they aim at developing both the awardees and their communities at large. With the likes of Goldwater Scholarship, Truman scholarships and George J. Mitchell Scholarship, significant development is recorded in their respective fields.
Other awards, such as the Fulbright Foreign Student Program, Gates Cambridge and the Rhodes are also leaving no stones unturned for skills acquisition, leadership development, research and academic advancement.