Distinguished Fellowships
What is a Fellowship?
A fellowship is a funded award that supports an opportunity, such as conducting research abroad, teaching abroad or engaging in graduate studies. Fellowships can range in length and amount funded.
Distinguished fellowships are nationally competitive fellowships that fund a variety of opportunities – domestic and international independent research and travel, teaching and work. Many of these opportunities involve an internal campus process where student applications are reviewed in advance of the national competition.
Who Should Apply?
Open to U.S. citizens and permanent residents, fellowships are available for all kinds of talented students and support a wide range of interests and goals. The majority of fellowships support post-baccalaureate opportunities, although a limited number support undergraduate experiences.
Juniors, seniors, graduate students and alumni can work with advisors on applications for post-baccalaureate experiences, while first-year students and sophomores can research opportunities and take steps to strengthen their future application by getting involved in co-curricular experiences such as undergraduate research, study abroad, tutoring, mentoring or student leadership positions.
Highlighted Opportunities
Beatrice S. Demers Foreign Language Fellowship
Eligibility: Rhode Island residents or anyone who is a student at a Rhode Island college or university who wishes to pursue foreign language study.
Scholarship range: $1,000-$20,000
Deadline: January
More information: rifoundation.org
Boren Fellowship
Focus: Supports graduate study of a critical language abroad, such as Arabic, Chinese, Portuguese or Swahili.
Eligibility: Graduate student; language preparation varies by language.
Campus deadline: December
National deadline: January
Destination: Africa, Asia, central and eastern Europe, Eurasia, Latin America, Middle East.
Boren Scholarship
Focus: Supports study of a critical language abroad, such as Arabic, Chinese, Portuguese or Swahili.
Eligibility: Undergraduate student; language preparation varies by language.
Campus deadline: December
National deadline: February
Destination: Africa, Asia, central and eastern Europe, Eurasia, Latin America, Middle East
Ernest F. Hollings/NOAA Undergraduate Scholarship
Focus: Provides undergraduate scholarships and internships at NOAA sites
Eligibility: Sophomores with a minimum 3.0 GPA in biology, environmental studies or mathematics, including the 3+2 engineering programs
National deadline: January
Destination: NOAA internship sites
More information: www.noaa.gov
Fulbright U.S. Student English Teaching Assistantship
Focus: Places Fulbrighters in classrooms abroad to provide assistance to local English teachers. ETAs help teach English language while serving as cultural ambassadors.
Eligibility: Seniors, graduate students or alumni
Campus deadline: August
National deadline: October
Destination: 140 countries worldwide
More information: us.fulbrightonline.org
Fulbright U.S. Student Research/Study Award
Focus: Funds research projects or graduate studies abroad
Eligibility: Seniors, graduate students or alumni
Campus deadline: August
National deadline: October
Destination: 140 countries worldwide
More information: us.fulbrightonline.org
Gates Cambridge Scholarship
Focus: Supports graduate study in any field at the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom
Eligibility: Seniors, graduate students or alumni
Campus deadline: August
National deadline: October
Destination: United Kingdom
More information: gatescambridge.org
Goldwater Scholarship
Focus: Supports juniors and seniors who intend to pursue a research career in the natural sciences, math or engineering
Eligibility: Sophomores or juniors
Campus deadline: November
National deadline: January
Destination: N/A
More information: goldwater.scholarsapply.org/
Marshall Scholarship
Focus: Supports graduate study in any field at any institution in the United Kingdom
Eligibility: Seniors, graduate students or alumni
Campus deadline: May
National deadline: September
Destination: United Kingdom
More information: marshallscholarship.org
Mitchell Scholarship
Focus: Supports graduate study in any field at any institution in Ireland
Eligibility: Seniors, graduate students or alumni
Campus deadline: May
National deadline: September
Destination: Ireland
More information: us-irelandalliance.org
National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship
Eligibility: Seniors, graduate students
Campus deadline: August
National deadline: October
Destination: U.S.-based graduate programs
More information: www.nsf.gov
Rhodes Scholarship
Focus: Supports graduate study in any field at Oxford University in the United Kingdom
Eligibility: Seniors, graduate students or alumni
Campus deadline: August
National deadline: September
Destination: United Kingdom
More information: https://www.rhodeshouse.ox.ac.uk/
The Voyager Scholarship- Obama Foundation
Focus: Tuition scholarships, travel stipend and mentor network for students seeking careers in public service
Eligibility: Open to current college sophomores
Campus Deadline: April
National Deadline: May
More information: https://www.obama.org/voyager-scholarship/
Past Recipients
Jacqueline Allee '18 (M)
M.A. in international relations
2018 Boren Fellowship for Arabic language studies in Oman
Hannah Cazzetta '16
B.A. in global studies and Spanish
2016 Fulbright Award to assist local English teachers in Colombia
Isabelle Cole '24
B.S. in social work
2022 Voyager Scholarship – The Obama Chesky Scholarship for Public Service
Andrew Loftesnes '20 (M)
M.A. in international relations
2019 Boren Fellowship for Arabic language studies in Israel
Riley Rancourt '20
B.A. in administration of justice and political science
2020 Boren Fellowship for Turkish and Azerbaijani language studies in the United States and Azerbaijan
Daniel Regan '17
B.A. in global studies and political science
2015 Boren Scholarship for Arabic language studies in Jordan
Alexis Smith '18, '19 (M)
B.A. in administration of justice and global studies, M.S. in administration of justice and homeland security
2019 Boren Fellowship for Arabic language studies in Jordan
Nikki Vanelli '22
B.A. in environmental studies
2020 National Oceanic & Atmospheric Association Ernest F. Hollings Undergraduate Scholarship
Angela Wheeler '12
B.A. in cultural and historic preservation and global studies
2012 Fulbright Award for study/research in the Republic of Georgia
Kaelie Piscitello '24
B.S. in elementary and special education
2024 Fulbright English Teaching Assistant program in Taiwan
John Rangel Marte '23
B.A. in business administration
2024 Fulbright English Teaching Assistant program in Spain