Protect brown girls who didn’t know the following scholarships existed
This isn’t my normal content, but I was thinking recently about how many academic opportunities I missed out on simply because my parents didn’t know the Western academic institution like my white peers did. And by the time I heard about most of these scholarships and programs, I was too old to apply, or they didn’t make sense for my career path anymore.
I have a lot of young followers. I imagine many of you find yourselves in a similar position, where your non-South Asian peers are applying for scholarships that no one ever told you about. I also imagine many of you are looking for ways to seek education on your own terms, and figuring out the finances poses a hurdle. So I wanted to do a rundown of some prestigious and/or South Asian-centric scholarship programs that you may find yourself eligible for and interested in, at a time when you’re young enough to take advantage of these opportunities–or, at the least, young enough to keep them in mind as you go through school.
This is not a list of every scholarship out there. The scholarships listed here are specifically prestigious, nationally or globally recognized scholarship programs that don’t require independent nomination or enrollment in a specific field of study. As a result, these are also highly selective programs, with some granting fewer than 50 awards each year. But that shouldn’t discourage you from applying! God knows your white peers are applying without caring if they meet the requirements.
National Merit Scholarship
Eligibility requirements: Junior in high school; must take PSAT/NMSQT test in 11th grade; must achieve one of the highest scores in the state the test was taken
Country of origin: US students, or US citizens studying abroad
What the program covers: Minimum $2,500 for undergraduate studies; maximum full tuition for undergraduate studies at certain schools
Deadline to apply: Take PSAT/NMSQT by January of junior year
Coca-Cola Scholars Program
Eligibility requirements: High school senior; minimum 3.0 unweighted GPA; must demonstrate leadership capacity and commitment to making an impact at their school/community
Country of origin: US citizens or nationals
What the program covers: $20,000 for undergraduate studies
Deadline to apply: October 31
Eligibility requirements: High school senior; person of color; Pell-eligible; minimum 3.0 unweighted GPA
What the program covers: Full cost of attendance not covered by other sources of financial aid for undergraduate studies; funding may continue for postgraduate studies in certain fields
Deadline to apply: September (phase 1); January (phase 2)
NIH Undergraduate Scholarship Program
Eligibility requirements: Must demonstrate exceptional financial need; minimum 3.3 unweighted GPA; must be enrolled or accepted for enrollment at a 4-year undergraduate institution; must commit to a paid Summer Laboratory Experience and 1 year of full-time employment at NIH post-graduation per year of funding received
What the program covers: Up to $20,000 per year for undergraduate studies
Deadline to apply: Mid-March
(Note: Some schools may require you to go through an internal application process before endorsing your application for one of the following scholarships. Check in with your university to see if there’s anything you need to do before applying to one of these programs.)
Eligibility requirements: Aged 18-24 years; must demonstrate outstanding intellect, character, leadership, and commitment to service
Country of origin: Global
What the program covers: Generally 2 years’ tuition for any postgraduate course offered at the University of Oxford, plus an annual stipend for living expenses
Deadline to apply: Early October
Eligibility requirements: A bachelor’s degree; interest in facilitating cultural exchange
Country of origin: US (with some options for non-US applicants)
What the program covers: All expenses for 1 year to study, teach English, or pursue a research/professional project in a foreign country
Gates Cambridge Fellowship
Eligibility requirements: Must demonstrate outstanding intellectual ability and leadership potential
Country of origin: Global (minus UK)
What the program covers: Full cost of tuition, plus living stipend, plus discretionary funds, for most full-time graduate programs at the University of Cambridge
Deadline to apply: Mid-October (for US citizens in the US); December or January (for all else)
Eligibility requirements: Senior in college or recent college graduate; minimum 3.70 unweighted GPA; endorsement from President, Provost, or Academic Dean of undergraduate institution
Country of origin: Global (minus UK); undergrad degree must be obtained in US
What the program covers: Full cost of tuition for up to 2 years of postgraduate study at any university in the UK, plus monthly living stipend and allowances
Deadline to apply: Late September
Eligibility requirements: An unconditional offer from an eligible master’s course at any UK university; at least 2 years of work experience
Country of origin: Global (minus UK)
What the program covers: Full funding (tuition, room, and board) for any 1-year master’s program in the UK
Deadline to apply: Early November
Knight-Henessy Scholarship
Eligibility requirements: First bachelor’s degree must have been obtained no earlier than 7 years prior to the year of enrollment
Country of origin: Global
What the program covers: Full tuition, plus a living stipend, for up to 3 years of graduate study at Stanford University
Deadline to apply: Early October
Eligibility requirements: At least one parent born in India; family adjusted gross income <$90,000; minimum 3.6 unweighted high school GPA
What the program covers: Up to $2,000 per year for undergraduate studies
Deadline to apply: Late April
Eligibility requirements: Minimum 2.7 unweighted high school GPA; preference given to students coming from low socioeconomic backgrounds
What the program covers: Minimum one-time $2,500 award for undergraduate studies; maximum $20,000 for undergraduate studies
Deadline to apply: Late January
Eligibility requirements: At least one parent of Indian ancestry; minimum 3.0 unweighted high school GPA
What the program covers: $10,000 for undergraduate studies (tuition only)
Deadline to apply: March 1
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