Center for Undergraduate Research and Engaged Learning

Distinguish Yourself

Endorsed Awards

Endorsed awards are national and prestigious scholarships and awards that require a campus process to obtain endorsement necessary to apply. Students must work with the Director of Student Engagement (ugr@ucr.edu) to secure the campus endorsement as a candidate for UCR. You should plan to meet at least one or two quarters in advance of the application deadline to establish a timeline for preparing your application.

Endorsed Awards
  • Barry Goldwater Scholarship

    This scholarship is awarded nationally to students who demonstrate outstanding research potential and intend to pursue research careers in mathematics, the natural sciences, or engineering. UCR is one of the top-producing schools in the UC System.
     

    Minimum GPA: 3.7
    Award suitable for: Sophomores, Juniors
    Campus Deadline: Second Friday in January*
             *Requires Campus Interview to earn endorsement. Successful candidates begin application 2 quarters in advance of deadline.

    The purpose of the Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Foundation is to alleviate a critical current and future shortage of highly qualified scientists, mathematicians, and engineers. Students who plan to study medicine are eligible for a Goldwater Scholarship if they plan a research career rather than a career as a medical doctor in private practice. Applicants should have a strong commitment to research and be able to articulate specific research questions to which they intend to devote their professional life. Each scholarship covers eligible expenses for undergraduate tuition, fees, books, and room and board.

    The full application, including letters of recommendation, is due by the campus deadline. Campus interviews will determine award finalists. UCR may nominate up to four students to compete for the national scholarship.

    TO APPLY

    1. Review ALL guidelines, FAQs, and instructions on the Goldwater website: https://goldwater.scholarsapply.org/
    2. Attend Goldwater Information Session during the fall quarter. 
    3. Schedule an appointment with the Director of Student Engagement to discuss qualifications and fit for award. ugr@ucr.edu
    4. Submit application by campus deadline.
  • Fulbright

    The Fulbright U.S. Student Program is a national award providing grants for individually designed study/research/artistic projects, or for English Teaching Assistant (ETA) programs for one academic year in over 160 countries. Fulbright alumni have included 40 heads of state or government, 61 Nobel laureates, 89 Pulitzer Prize winners and 76 MacArthur Fellows, among other leaders and change-makers. Applicants must meet the following requirements:

    Minimum GPA: 3.2
    Class Standing: undergraduate seniors who anticipate graduating, master’s or Ph.D. degree candidates, and/or young professionals, UCR alumni
    Campus deadline for all materials: October 6, 2023 (for the 2024-25 award year)*

    *Requires campus interview to earn an endorsement. Successful candidates begin application two (2) quarters in advance of the deadline.

    A Fulbright application is limited to one country or geographic region. Each Fulbright grant covers round-trip transportation to and from host country, language or orientation courses (where appropriate), tuition (where appropriate), supplemental health and accident insurance, a stipend for the academic year based on living cost in host country, and in some cases, an allowance for books and/or research.

    TO APPLY

    1. Attend a Fulbright Information Session.
    2. Visit the website: us.fulbrightonline.org.
    3. Schedule an appointment with a campus Fulbright Program Advisor (FPA) to discuss qualifications and fit for the award. 
    Fulbright HSI Leader
  • George J. Mitchell Scholarship

    One year of graduate study in Ireland in any field.

    Minimum GPA: 3.7
    Award suitable for: Seniors, Alumni
    Campus Deadline: September 1*
            *Requires Campus Interview to earn endorsement. Successful candidates begin application 2 quarters in advance of deadline.

    The Mitchell Scholarship is designed to introduce and connect generations of future American leaders to the island of Ireland, while recognizing and fostering intellectual achievement, leadership, and a commitment to community and public service. The award funds one year of graduate study in Ireland in any field. Applicants are judged on three criteria: 1) scholarship 2) leadership 3) a sustained commitment to community and public service.

    TO APPLY

    1. Schedule an appointment with the Director of Student Engagement to discuss qualifications and fit for award. ugr@ucr.edu
    2. Visit https://www.us-irelandalliance.org/mitchellscholarship for more award information.
  • Harry S. Truman Scholarship

    Graduate study to prepare for a career in government or public service.

    Minimum GPA: 3.7
    Award suitable for: Juniors
    Campus Deadline: December 15*
            *Requires Campus Interview to earn endorsement. Successful candidates begin application 2 quarters in advance of deadline.

    TO APPLY

    1. Schedule an appointment with the Director of Student Engagement to discuss qualifications and fit for award. ugr@ucr.edu
    2. Apply directly at https://www.truman.gov/
  • James C. Gaither Junior Fellows - Carnegie's Endowment for International Peace

    The James C. Gaither Junior Fellows are funded to work as research assistants to Carnegie's Endowment for International Peace senior scholars. Each year 12-14 fellowships, lasting one year, are awarded to uniquely qualified graduating seniors and recent graduates (in last academic year). 

    Award Suitable for: Seniors and Recent Graduates
    Campus Deadline: December 1*
            *Requires Campus Interview to earn endorsement. Successful candidates begin application 2 quarters in advance of deadline.
    Application Deadline: January 15

    James C. Gaither Junior Fellows

  • Marshall

    The Marshall Scholarship enables intellectually distinguished young Americans, their country's future leaders, to study in the UK in order to help Scholars gain an understanding and appreciation of contemporary Britain and to motivate Scholars to act as ambassadors between the USA and the UK. The award is also designed to promote the personal and academic fulfillment of each Scholar. To this end, scholarships provide winners with two fully funded years of study, with a possible third-year extension, at any university in the United Kingdom and applicable to nearly any field of study.

    Minimum GPA: 3.7
    Award suitable for: Seniors, Alumni
    Campus Deadline: September 1*
            *Requires Campus Interview to earn endorsement. Successful candidates begin application 2 quarters in advance of deadline.

    The Marshall Scholarships commemorate the humane ideals of the Marshall Plan and express the continuing gratitude of the British people to their American counterparts. Marshall Scholarships finance young Americans of high ability to study for a degree in the United Kingdom.

    Marshall Scholars are selected to study at the graduate level at a U.K. institution in any field of study. A Marshall Scholarship is tenable for one or two academic years at any British university but may be extended by the commission, though not beyond the end of a third academic year.

    Each scholarship covers university fees, cost-of-living expenses, annual book grant, thesis grant, research and daily travel grants, fares to and from the United States, and, where applicable, a contribution toward the support of a dependent spouse.

    TO APPLY

    1. Review all pertinent award information at http://www.marshallscholarship.org.
    2. Attend a Marshall Scholarship information session.
    3. Schedule an appointment with the Director of Student Engagement to discuss qualifications and fit for award. ugr@ucr.edu
  • Morris K. Udall & Stewart L. Udall Scholarship

    Undergraduate scholarship support for students with a demonstrated commitment to the environment, or to Native Americans and Alaskan Native students with a demonstrated commitment to tribal public policy and Native health care. See

    Award suitable for: Sophomores, Juniors
    Campus Endorsement: February 1*
            *Requires Campus Interview to earn endorsement. Successful candidates begin application 2 quarters in advance of deadline.


    Morris K. Udall & Stewart L. Udall Scholarship

  • Rhodes Scholarship

    Two to three years of graduate study at Oxford University.

    Minimum GPA: 3.7
    Award suitable for: Seniors, Alumni
    Campus Deadline: September 1*
            *Requires Campus Interview to earn endorsement. Successful candidates begin application 2 quarters in advance of deadline.

    TO APPLY

    Schedule an appointment with the Director of Student Engagement to discuss qualifications and fit for award. ugr@ucr.edu

  • Donald A. Strauss

    This scholarship funds $15,000 to student led public service and education projects. Strauss Scholars tend to have an extensive record of community and public service. UCR is one of the top producing schools in the UC System.
     

    Minimum GPA: 3.2
    Award suitable for: Sophomores, Juniors
    Campus Deadline: February 1*
            *Requires Campus Interview to earn endorsement. Successful candidates begin application 2 quarters in advance of deadline.

    The Foundation promotes the value of public service in the education and preparation of our future leaders by financing innovative student-generated projects.  A central part of the application package is a proposal for a project to be carried out between the end of the sophomore or junior year, and the spring of the following year; these proposals shall become a major focus of the selection process.

    TO APPLY

    1. Attend fall quarter information session.
    2. Schedule an appointment with the Director of Student Engagement to discuss qualifications and fit for award. ugr@ucr.edu
    3. Review all pertinent award information at http://www.straussfoundation.org.
  • Winston Churchill Foundation Scholarship

    The Winston Churchill Foundation of the United States undertakes to encourage the exchange of knowledge and the sharing of ideas in science and technology between the United States and Great Britain.

    Minimum GPA: 3.7
    Award suitable for: Seniors
    Campus Deadline: October 1*
            *Requires Campus Interview to earn endorsement. Successful candidates begin application 2 quarters in advance of deadline.

    TO APPLY

    1. Schedule an appointment with the Director of Student Engagement to discuss qualifications and fit for award. ugr@ucr.edu
    2. Apply directly at https://churchillscholarship.org/
  • Schwarzman Scholars Program

    The Schwarzman Scholars Program is an international scholarship program that supports up to 200 scholars annually from the U.S., China and around the world for a one-year Master's Degree program at Tsinghua University in Beijing, one of China's most prestigious universities and an indispensable base for the country's scientific and technological research. Scholars chosen for this highly selective program will live in Beijing for a year of study and cultural immersion, attending lectures, traveling, and developing a better understanding of China. 

    Award suitable for: Seniors
    Campus Endorsement: Sept. 1*
            *Requires Campus Interview to earn endorsement. Successful candidates begin application 2 quarters in advance of deadline.

    Schwarzman Scholars program