For anything not answered below, please email us at ons@marshall.edu.
National scholarships and fellowships are highly competitive programs that often include research, study abroad, public service, graduate study, and other high-impact opportunities.
The process of applying for scholarships and fellowships can be time-consuming and daunting. Some students may wonder, “Why even bother?” Aside from the obvious benefits of receiving an award (financial, professional, personal, and otherwise), there are real benefits to going through the process itself.
Students who actively engage in the application process for nationally competitive scholarships and fellowships will:
○ Strengthen their relationships with faculty mentors
○ Clarify their personal, academic, and professional goals
○ Improve writing skills that will be valuable for graduate school applications, cover letters, and resumes
○ Better understand what distinguishes them from their peers
○ Gain confidence by completing a sophisticated application process
Although we are housed in the Honors College, the Office of Nationally Competitive Awards and International Engagement works with students from across the university. Please don’t hesitate to contact us even if you are not an honors student. We also work with faculty and alumni.
The office helps students compete for nationally and internationally competitive scholarships, fellowships, and awards, including opportunities such as the Fulbright, Rhodes, Boren, and Gates Cambridge. In addition, the office supports selected Honors College initiatives related to international engagement and partnership-based opportunities. The name reflects both the office’s long-standing work with competitive awards and its broader role in supporting international engagement.
Several of these applications can be challenging to navigate. We are here to help you stay up to date with deadlines, identify opportunities that are a good fit for you, and strengthen your application throughout the process.
Absolutely not! We are here to assist you throughout the process and offer feedback to help strengthen your application. We can also serve as a sounding board as you sort through your ideas and identify the programs that best fit your interests and goals.
That’s one of the things we are here to help with. Filling out our intake form helps us get to know you better and understand your educational, personal, and professional interests and goals. From there, we can help identify awards and opportunities that may be a strong fit for you. You are always welcome to do your own research and bring us your ideas as well.
That is completely okay. Many scholarship and fellowship programs have very low acceptance rates, and you may still be a strong candidate. You may be able to revise and reapply for some programs. Our office is here to support you throughout the process and to provide guidance through both successes and disappointments.
Undergraduate and graduate students are welcome to apply. We serve Marshall University students across the university, as well as faculty and alumni.
Yes. In some cases, students may apply for multiple opportunities, and some awards can even be combined. Be sure to check with our office so we can help you understand what is possible and plan accordingly.