Current Ball State students and recent graduates are eligible for any number of nationally competitive scholarships and fellowships. Scroll down to learn more about some of the major scholarships and fellowships that are available and when to begin the application process.

To apply or learn more, contact Andrea Wolfe, interim director of nationally competitive scholarships. You don’t have to be in the Honors College to work with her on these and related scholarship opportunities, but you must be a current student or recent graduate. Incoming freshmen should visit the Financial Aid and Scholarships website for information about Ball State scholarships.
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Nationally Competitive Scholarships

 
 

The National Security Education Program (NSEP) David L. Boren Graduate Fellowships support research and study in all countries, except those in Western Europe and Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. NSEP focuses on geographic areas, languages, and fields of study deemed critical to U.S. national security. Boren Fellows design their own programs, usually research-based, but all proposed programs must include formal language study.

The National Security Education Program (NSEP) David L. Boren Undergraduate Scholarships support undergraduate study abroad in all countries, except those in Western Europe and Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, in order to help students acquire the international competence needed to communicate effectively across borders, understand other perspectives, and analyze increasingly fluid economic and political realities. NSEP focuses on geographic areas, languages, and fields of study deemed critical to U.S. national security. All proposed programs must include formal language study.

Recent Awards

  • Kyle Carnes (microbiology) - 2024
  • Simon Webster (math & mathmatical economics) - 2024
  • Madison Willingham (international business) - 2024

The Critical Language Scholarship Program is a fully-funded overseas language and cultural immersion program for American undergraduate and graduate students. The program facilitates intensive study of one of 12 languages deemed essential to America's engagement with the world: Arabic, Chinese, Hindi, Indonesian, Japanese, Korean, Persian, Portuguese, Russian, Swahili, Turkish, and Urdu.

Recent Awards

  • Lindsey Hayse (English education) - 2024
  • Lindsey Hayse (English education) - 2024
  • Scott Webster (economics & finance) - 2023

Graduate students in social sciences, hard sciences, or in professional areas such as law, business, and medicine have particular needs for their research and study in Germany. The following opportunities exist to help you master the German language, complete a research project in Germany, or expand your education with a stay at a German university.

Study Scholarship
Provides highly qualified individuals with an opportunity to do independent study in Germany or to complete a full Master's degree program at a German university. Options for study in the arts are also available. Deadline October 31, 2024.

RISE professional
Provides 3 months of funding for graduate students to complete an internship at a German company or non-university research institution. Students must be in biology, chemistry, physics, earth science, engineering, or a related field. German language requirements vary depending on placement. Deadline is November 30, 2024. Letters of recommendation due December 15, 2024.

Research Grants
Awarded primarily to highly qualified PhD candidates who are early in their academic/professional careers or to individuals wishing to earn a doctoral degree in Germany. Funding may also be granted to recent PhDs who would like to conduct research. Long-term and short-term options are available. Deadline is October 31, 2024.

University Summer Course Grant
Provides scholarships to attend a broad range of 3- to 4-week summer language courses at German universities which focus mainly on literary, cultural, political and economic aspects of modern and contemporary Germany. Extensive extracurricular programs complement and reinforce the core material. Deadline is December 1, 2024. 

German Studies Research Grant
Offers up to five German Studies Research Grants to highly qualified undergraduate and graduate students who are nominated by their department/ program chairs. The grant may be used for short-term research (one to two months) in either North America or Germany. Deadlines are May 1 and November 1, 2024.

EMGIP—Bundestag Internship
Offers internship opportunities for US and Canadian students in the German parliament, the Bundestag. The internships are two months long in positions matching the student’s interest and experience. Interns will be placed within the Verwaltung, preferably with a Sekretariat working for their preferred Ausschuss. In addition to contributing to the respective offices, interns have the opportunity to study legislative and administrative procedures in the German parliament. **Applications are not currently being accepted**

DAAD Undergraduate Scholarships are open to students in all fields of study for study abroad, internships, or senior thesis research. DAAD offers the following opportunities:

RISE—Research Internships in Science and Engineering
Summertime internships with German doctoral students at universities and research institutions—no German required! Deadline November 30, 2024. Letters of recommendation deadline is December 15, 2024.

University Summer Course Grant
Summer courses at German universities to help build your language skills while studying anything from film to politics to engineering. Deadline December 1, 2024. 

German Studies Research Grant
Funding for research in Germany in all areas of contemporary German Studies. Deadlines May 1 and December 1, 2024.

EMGIP—Bundestag Internship
Two months at the German parliament for students who are fluent in German. **Applications are not currently being accepted**

Recent Awards

  • Sally Ernst (German education) - undergraduate award, 2018
  • Robin Klause (physics) - RISE award, 2018

Sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, the Fulbright U.S. Student Program offers opportunities for recent graduates, graduate students, and developing professionals and artists to conduct career-launching study and research abroad in approximately 140 countries.

Watch a video about Ball State alumna (and now faculty member), Cynthia Smith, and her experience in Switzerland as a doctoral student conducting research.

Recent Awards

  • Julia Canty (economics) - Taiwan/English Teaching Assistantship, 2024
  • Jayana Fennell (telecommunications) - France/English Teaching Assistantship, 2024
  • Cady Garcia (history) - Poland/English Teaching Assistantship, 2024
  • Denver Hammons (English education & theatre education) - Malta/English Teaching Assistantship, 2024
  • Katelyn Redman (German education) - Germany/English Teaching Assistantship, 2024

The U.S.-U.K. Fulbright Commission offers 3- to 4-week Summer Institutes at universities throughout the United Kingdom for U.S. undergraduates to participate in a high-quality academic program, improve their research and communication skills, and explore the culture and history of the U.K.

Recent Awards

  • Chelsea Murdock (English education) - 2024 Recipient
  • Lily Haley (chemistry) - 2024 Alternate
  • Miguel Ortega (psychology) - 2024 Alternate
  • Destiny Wells (English creative writing) - 2024 Finalist
  • Rebecca Parnell (biology & pre-medical preparation) - 2022

The Gates Cambridge Scholars program enables outstanding graduate students from outside the United Kingdom to study at the University of Cambridge. Scholarships are awarded on the basis of candidates' intellectual ability, leadership capacity, and desire to use their knowledge to contribute to society throughout the world by providing service to their communities and applying their talents and knowledge to improve the lives of others.

Recent Awards

  • Sara Sorrell (biochemistry) - 2008

The Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program supports study abroad for undergraduate students who are receiving Federal Pell Grants and who intend to study, intern, or student teach in another country for any period of time.

The new Gilman-McCain Scholarship is open to dependent children of active duty military members, in any of the U.S. military branches, at the time of application.  Applicants must receive any type of Title IV aid, rather than specifically a Pell Grant.  Other eligibility requirements, application procedures, deadlines, and award amounts are the same as those for the regular Gilman Scholarship.  No special application is needed.  Eligible students will be considered for both scholarships but may receive only one.  For details, visit the Gilman-McCain page

Recent Awards

  • Bryn Edwards (German & psychology studies) - Germany, 2024
  • Caroline Erny (psychology) - Japan, 2024
  • Carly Lehman (biology) - Namibia, 2024
  • Dylan Mann (biology) - Namibia, 2024
  • Trey Mathews (Spanish education studies) - Chile, 2024
  • Darcy Niewiadomski (Japanese & English studies) - Japan, 2024
  • Dani Sipp (urban planning and development) - South Korea, 2024
  • Leah Sodo (biology studies) - Namibia, 2024
  • Mia Thompson (Japanese education studies) - Japan, 2024
  • Annet Victorio (elementary education) - United Kingdom, 2024
  • Tierra Williams (computer science studies) - Greece, 2023
  • Angel Esquivel Vazquez (biology & pre-physician assistant studies) - Ireland, 2023
  • Tomiya Hamer (political science & public relations) - Spain, 2023
  • Franz Lozano (fashion industry studies) - Italy, 2023

The Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship provides support to college students who intend to pursue research careers in science, mathematics, and engineering.

Recent Awards

  • Taylor Bias (biochemistry) - 2024 
  • Griffin Thomas (biology) - 2023
  • Isabelle Behrman (chemistry) - 2022

The Ernest F. Hollings Undergraduate Scholarship—an initiative of NOAA (the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration)—awards two years of academic assistance and a paid summer internship to sophomores pursuing careers in oceanic and atmospheric science or a related field.

Recent Awards

  • Gabe Prough (meteorology) - 2019

The Knight-Hennessy Scholars program selects up to 100 high-achieving students annually to receive full funding to pursue a graduate education, in any discipline, at Stanford University.

James Madison Graduate Fellowships are awarded to seniors or recent graduates who intend to pursue their master's degrees and become outstanding teachers of the American constitution in secondary schools.

Recent Awards

  • Brittany Moser (history, social studies education) - 2009

Marshall Scholarships finance young Americans of high ability to study for a degree in the United Kingdom. Marshall Scholars, who are the potential leaders, opinion formers, and decision makers in their own country, may thereby gain an understanding and appreciation of British values and the British way of life.

Recent Awards

  • Finalist: Colin Hart (theatrical studies) - 2014
  • Finalist: Kate Endress (entreprenuership) - 2004

The National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowships offer graduate fellowships in the mathematical, physical, biological, engineering, and behavioral and social sciences (including the history of science and the philosophy of science) and in research-based PhD programs in science education. Specialized components are awards for Women in Engineering (WENG) and Women in Computer and Information Science (WICS).

Recent Awards

  • Jillian Cieslik (biology) - 2024
  • McKenna Kaczanowski (mathematical sciences) - 2022
  • Leslie Remache (social psychology & quantitative psychology) - 2022

Rhodes Scholarships fund two years of post-baccalaureate study at Oxford University for students of high academic achievement, integrity of character, a spirit of unselfishness, respect for others, potential for leadership, and physical vigor.

Watch a video about the Rhodes Scholarship.

Recent Awards

Finalists:

  • William Jay (physics & German) - 2011
  • Abigail Shemoel (landscape architecture) - 2010
  • Matt Tancos (biology) - 2010

The Samvid Scholars Program provides two years of funding to outstanding students in master’s-degree, J.D., or M.D. programs, with the goal of supporting and empowering young leaders who have ambition to make change in society.

Recognizing the contributions of new Americans, the Paul and Daisy Soros Fellowship Program assists first- and second-generation Americans who pursue graduate degrees in any professional field or academic discipline with the ultimate goal of helping them become leaders in their chosen fields.

The Harry S. Truman Scholarship Foundation awards merit-based federal grants to undergraduate juniors who will attend graduate or professional school in preparation for careers in government, the nonprofit sector, or elsewhere in public service.

The Morris K. and Stewart L. Udall Foundation awards 50 undergraduate scholarships to sophomores and juniors preparing for careers related to the environment, Native American health care, or tribal public policy.

Recent Awards

  • Steve Doll (wildlife biology and conservation) - 2022
  • Kalee Snorden (wildlife biology & conservation) - 2019
  • Maddie Clark (landscape architecture) - 2018
  • Kaitlin Gavenda (wildlife biology) - 2018

The Voyager Scholarship—aka the Obama-Chesky Scholarship for Public Service—supports college sophomores with demonstrated financial need who have extensive experience in public service and are committed to a career in public service. The scholarship awards not only financial support for undergraduate expenses but also a funded summer work-travel experience and funding for post-college travel.