The programs listed here support students who are underrepresented in the academy and/or who have demonstrated a deep commitment to community engagement. If you know of other scholarships or programs you think should be added to this list, please reach out to diversityinclusion@uchicago.edu.
The Amelia Earhart Fellowship was established in 1938 in honor of famed pilot Amelia Earhart. The fellowship is awarded annually to up to 30 women pursuing PhD/doctoral degrees in aerospace-applied sciences or aerospace-applied engineering.
AAUW American Fellowships support women scholars who are completing dissertations, planning research leave from accredited institutions, or preparing research for publication. Candidates are evaluated on the basis of scholarly excellence, quality and originality of project design, and active commitment to helping women and girls through service in their communities, professions, or fields of research.
The American Indian Graduate Center offers more than 20 scholarships and fellowships that fund undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees for Native American students.
The Minority Fellows Program (MFP) is a fellowship competition for individuals from underrepresented backgrounds applying to or in the early stages of doctoral programs in political science. The American Political Science Association MFP was established in 1969 (originally as the Black Graduate Fellowship) to increase the number of minority scholars in the discipline. Since its inception, the MFP has designated more than 600 fellows and contributed to the successful completion of doctoral political science programs for more than 100 individuals.
The Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship enables Pell Grant recipients to study abroad by providing up to $5,000, and up to $8,000 for applicants studying a critical need language while abroad. The award can be used to defray eligible study costs, including program tuition, room and board, books, local transportation, insurance, international airfare, passport, and visa fees. The University's College Center for Research and Fellowships is available to provide advising and application essay writing support to students.
The Charles B. Rangel International Affairs Summer Enrichment Program is a six-week summer program designed to provide undergraduates with a greater understanding of career opportunities in international affairs, and the enhanced knowledge and skills to pursue such careers. The program encourages the application of minority groups, women, and those with financial need. The University's College Center for Research and Fellowships is available to provide advising and application essay writing support to students.
The Chicago Academic Achievement Program (CAAP) provides early exposure to scholarly and social life at the University of Chicago to a group of academically talented incoming first-year students, many of whom are the first in their family to go to college or from low-income backgrounds.
The Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute (CHCI) is the nation’s premier Hispanic leadership development organization and has a number of scholarship and enrichment opportunities.
The BSD Office of Diversity & Inclusion’s Small Grants Program offers BSD and UChicago Medicine staff, students, and trainees up to $2,000 in funding to engage in research and or programmatic interventions that have the potential to enhance and/or support diversity and inclusion within the BSD.
The BSD’s Faculty Diversity Career Advancement Grant is designed for BSD faculty members (SOM or BSD track) whose background and life experiences enhance the diversity of the BSD. Diversity is defined broadly. Candidates are asked to include a diversity statement with the application describing their background or past experiences and how these contribute to diversity in the BSD.
The goal of the Diversifying Higher Education Faculty in Illinois Fellowship is to increase the number of minority full-time tenure track faculty and staff at two- and four-year, public and private colleges and universities in Illinois.
Through its Fellowship Programs, the Ford Foundation seeks to increase the diversity of the nation’s college and university faculties by increasing their ethnic and racial diversity, maximize the educational benefits of diversity, and increase the number of professors who can and will use diversity as a resource for enriching the education of all students.
The Charles B. Rangel International Affairs Graduate Fellowship, Thomas R. Pickering Graduate Fellowship, and Donald M. Payne International Development Fellowship prepare college graduates for careers in the Foreign Service. Fellowships provide up to $37,500 annually for completion of a master’s degree in international affairs. Fellows commit to a minimum of five years of service. The application of members of minority groups, women, and those with financial need is encouraged. The University's College Center for Research and Fellowships is available to provide advising and application essay writing support to students.
The Frederick Douglass Teaching Scholars Fellowship is designed to provide teaching and other professional experiences, mentoring, and potential employment opportunities within universities that are strongly committed to cultural diversity. Applicants from diverse cultural backgrounds, especially those from historically underrepresented groups, are encouraged to apply.
The Hubertus W.V. Willems Scholarship for Male Students is awarded annually to a male US citizen who attends an accredited institution in the United States and is majoring in one of the following fields: engineering, chemistry, physics, or mathematical sciences.
There are many outside funding resources available for law students that have a diversity focus.
The Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellowship Program was created to increase diversity in the faculty ranks of colleges and universities. More specifically, the program helps students foster mentoring relationships with faculty, while supporting academic year and summer research in selected fields within the arts and sciences.
The National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program is the oldest national fellowship that supports graduate education in STEM and social science disciplines. Fellows receive a three-year annual stipend of $34,000 along with a $12,000 allowance for tuition and fees. Women, underrepresented individuals, and people with disabilities are encouraged to apply. The University's College Center for Research and Fellowships is available to provide advising and application essay writing support to students.
The Minority Visiting Clerkship Program (MVCP) is co-sponsored by the University of Chicago Committee on Diversity & Inclusion and the Departments of Medicine, Pediatrics, and Surgery as a supplement to the regular Visiting Clerkship Program at the Pritzker School of Medicine. This competitive program provides mentoring, networking, and stipend support for underrepresented students in medicine, fourth-year students participating in the Visiting Clerkship Program. Successful candidates will advance our diversity and inclusion mission at Pritzker and become prospects for academic training programs for internship and residency at the University of Chicago Medicine.
The University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine is home to a variety of pipeline programs that prepare and inspire talented high school and college students to pursue careers in medicine and in health-related research.
The Public Policy and International Affairs Program (PPIA) seeks to increase diversity in public service. The PPIA focuses on students from groups who are underrepresented in leadership positions in government, nonprofits, international organizations, and other institutional settings, providing student training and financial support for graduate school, and facilitating ongoing professional development. The University's College Center for Research and Fellowships is available to provide advising and application essay writing support to students.
The Timuel D. Black Community Solidarity Scholar Fund is an annual award offered through the Office of Civic Engagement's Civic Knowledge Project (CKP) given to an outstanding University of Chicago undergraduate or graduate student who exemplifies Black’s spirit and commits to furthering CKP’s mission.
Research indicates that most high school students are unclear about their occupational futures and have limited knowledge of the professional world. In particular, minority students often lack access to practical experiences and career-oriented role models, leaving these students underrepresented in many science and technology professions.