Postgraduate Scholarships

The Fulbright U.S. Student Program provides one academic year of funding for graduating college seniors, and graduate students to undertake international graduate study, advanced research, university teaching, and primary and secondary school teaching worldwide. The program currently awards approximately 2,000 grants annually in all fields of study and operates in more than 140 countries worldwide. 

The Fulbright Program is the flagship international educational exchange program sponsored by the U.S. Government and is designed to increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries. The primary source of funding for the Fulbright Program is an annual appropriation made by the U.S. Congress to the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA). Participating governments, host institutions, corporations, and foundations in foreign countries and in the United States also provide direct and indirect support. Recipients of Fulbright grants are selected on the basis of academic or professional achievement, as well as demonstrated leadership potential in their fields.

The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs strives to ensure that the Fulbright Program reflects the diversity of U.S. society and societies abroad. Opportunities are open to people regardless of their race, color, national origin, sex, age, religion, geographic location, socio-economic status, disability, sexual orientation, or gender identity.

For more information, please visit the U.S. Student Fulbright Program website.

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Fulbright Application Instructions

Eligible candidates should arrange an advising appointment with Gabriele Schmiegel early in the process. 

The Rhodes Scholarship is one of the oldest, most competitive, and prestigious scholarship awards. It funds two to three years of post-bachelor study at Oxford University in Great Britain. The award covers educational and living expenses. Initiated after the death of Cecil Rhodes in 1902, the scholarships bring outstanding students from nineteen countries and five continents to Oxford University. Thirty-two American Rhodes Scholars are selected each year. Rhodes Scholars may pursue either a second bachelor or graduate degree.

The Rhodes Scholarship involves a two-part application process with a campus deadline in August and a national deadline in early October. Official UCSC campus endorsement is required. The application process is lengthy and requires many months of preparation.

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For more information about the Rhodes scholarship and Oxford University, please visit the following sites:

• Official Rhodes Scholarship website
• Oxford University website

Diversity and Inclusion Statement: The Rhodes Trust warmly welcomes applications from talented young persons of diverse backgrounds. Selection of Rhodes Scholars is made without regard to gender, gender identity, marital status, sexual orientation, race, ethnic origin, religion, social background, caste, or disability.

Eligible candidates should arrange an advising appointment with Gabriele Schmiegel early in the process. 

Open to:  Graduating seniors; Graduate students; Recent graduates/Alumni

• U.S. Citizenship or Permanent Residency (=Greeen Card) status in the U.S. is required. Permanent resident applicants must have held that status for at least five years prior to April 15 on the year of application. Certain non-citizens are also eligible to apply through their home country. Please see below.
• DACA status applicants. DACA applicants will be requested to provide appropriate documentation regarding their status (an approved I-797 letter confirming DACA status and a U.S. Employment Authorization Card displaying valid dates)
• Must have a minimum 3.7 GPA
• Bachelor’s degree must be completed before October of the year applying
• Upon entry to Oxford, the candidate must either be under 25 years of age or up to a maximum age of 28 years old if you have completed your undergraduate degree within the last two years.
• Previous applicants who are still eligible may only re-apply once

If you are  not a citizen of the U.S , please note* In addition to the 32 awards offered each year to U.S. citizens and permanent residents, 100 Rhodes Scholarships are available to citizens of the following countries: Australia, Bermuda, Canada, China, East Africa (including Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, South Sudan and Burundi), Germany, Hong Kong, India, Israel, Jamaica and the Commonwealth Caribbean (includes Antigua, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Trinidad & Tobago, Jamaica, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, St. Kitts-Nevis, Montserrat, Anguilla, the Turks and Caicos Islands, Cayman Islands and British Virgin Islands), Kenya, Malaysia, New Zealand, Pakistan, Singapore, Southern Africa (including South Africa, Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Namibia, and Swaziland), Syria, Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine, United Arab Emirates, West Africa (Including Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, the island of Saint Helena, Senegal, Sierra Leone, São Tomé and Principe and Togo), Zambia and Zimbabwe.

Please visit the Eligibility and Apply page on the Rhodes website to determine the application requirements and deadlines for your country.

The Marshall Scholarship funds one or two years of post-bachelor study at any college or university in the United Kingdom (England, Wales, Scotland, or Northern Ireland). It was created by the British government in 1953 to commemorate the Marshall Plan. The program is intended to encourage future American leaders to be personal ambassadors to the U.K. The award covers all reasonable educational costs, a personal allowance for living expenses, and travel costs to and from the United States.

The Marshall Scholarship has a campus process and requires a UC Santa Cruz campus endorsement. Therefore, you need to be aware of two deadlines: a campus deadline and a national deadline.  The campus deadline is typically in early August and the national deadline typically in early October.  The application process is lengthy and requires many months of preparation.

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Marshall Application Instructions

Eligible candidates should arrange an advising appointment with Gabriele Schmiegel early in the process. 

• U.S. citizen
• Graduating senior
• Minimum 3.7 GPA

Selection Criteria

Candidates must combine outstanding academic ability with the capacity to play an active role in a U.K. university, and have the potential to make significant contributions to their communities and fields of study. Applicants should also display strong motivation and seriousness of purpose through their focused presentation of (and preparation for) a feasible academic program.

Schwarzman Scholarhip Program is a fully-funded, one-year master’s degree and leadership program at Tsinghua University in Beijing, China. At the heart of the program are world-renowned advisers, a rigorous and innovative study of global affairs, and hands-on exploration of Chinese culture and commerce. Approximately 140 scholarships are awarded each year.

Schwarzman Scholars is the first scholarship program created to respond to the geopolitical landscape of the 21st century. As China’s role in global trends continues to grow, the success of future leaders in any sector depends upon an immersive understanding of the country and its culture. Schwarzman Scholars is a one-year, fully-funded master’s program at Tsinghua University in Beijing, designed to build a global community of future leaders who will strengthen understanding between China and the rest of the world.

The program also provides Scholars with unparalleled learning opportunities with leaders from China and the world through high-level interactions at lectures, an internship program, a mentor network, and intensive deep-dive travel seminars.

• Official Schwarzman Scholars Website

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Schwarzman Application Instructions

* The Schwarzman Scholars Program discourages applicants from submitting any supplemental materials that are not required, such as portfolios, writing samples, additional recommendations, etc. Such materials will not be shared with the Review Committee. 

Eligible candidates should arrange an advising appointment with Gabriele Schmiegel early in the process. 

• Undergraduate degree or first degree from an accredited college or university or its equivalent. 
• English language proficiency. 
• Age. Applicants must be at least 18 but not yet 29 years of age as of your Schwarzman Scholars enrollment year.

Selection criteria

Interested candidates will participate in a rigorous and thorough selection process, designed to identify the most promising young leaders from around the world. The process includes an online application and credentials evaluation as well as in-person regional interviews. Those selected will have demonstrated their potential to not only benefit from but also contribute to the Schwarzman Scholars program.