COMPETITIVE FELLOWSHIPS
For applications requiring institutional endorsement, interested students must fill out the Administered Awards Internal Application Form and follow the guidelines set out in the internal endorsement process. Endorsement decisions are made after a review of an applicant's qualifications and candidacy for their selected awards. Not all competitive awards require endorsement, but we recommend working with CRF on all competitive award applications.
Students interested in receiving application support for the Gates Cambridge, Knight-Hennessy, or Schwarzman awards must meet with the CRF Director or Assistant Director (Fellowships) no later than August 1 to discuss their plans.
The Rhodes, Marshall, and Mitchell awards require endorsement and interested applicants must complete the Administered Awards Internal Application Form.
Prospective applicants should complete the Villanova Administered Scholarships Preliminary Application. All application materials should be submitted via email to crffellows@villanova.edu by 11:59 PM on May 15. Late applications will not be accepted.
Fellowship Opportunities
Gates Cambridge Scholarship
The Gates Cambridge Scholarship is awarded to outstanding applicants from countries outside the UK to pursue a full-time postgraduate degree in any subject available at the University of Cambridge. 40 scholarships are available for US applicants.
- Based on outstanding intellectual ability, leadership potential, commitment to improving the lives of others, and the applicant's fit for the postgraduate program
- Eligibility at a glance
- Citizen of any country outside the United Kingdom
- Applying to pursue one of the following courses at the University of Cambridge: PhD (full-time), MLitt (full-time), one year postgraduate course (full-time), with some exceptions. For 2024, there is a pilot scheme that supports applicants for a part-time PhD.
Year |
Student |
Field of Study |
2016 |
Brandon Wesley |
Chemical Engineering |
2007 |
Bryan Zimdahl (Finalist) |
Biology |
2006 |
Jeffrey Schubert (Finalist) |
Chemistry |
2006 |
Nicholas O'Donoughue (Finalist) |
Computer Engineering |
2005 |
Daniel DiCenso |
Music |
2004 |
Caitlin Fouratt (Finalist) |
Latin American Studies |
2002 |
David Quinn |
Engineering |
Knight-Hennessy Scholarship
The Knight-Hennessy Scholarship develops a community of future global leaders to address complex challenges through collaboration and innovation.
- Every year, up to 100 high-achieving students from around the world will receive full funding to pursue any graduate degree at Stanford, including the DMA, JD, MA, MBA, MD, MFA, MS, and PhD programs, as well as joint- and dual-degrees.
- Knight-Hennessy Scholars is the largest fully endowed scholars program in the world.
- Eligibility at a glance
- In your final year of study for your first/bachelor's degree OR
- Within five years of earning your first/bachelor’s degree
Year |
Student |
Program of Study |
2019 |
Bridget Gile |
Civil Engineering |
2019 |
Andrew Lee |
Mechanical Engineering |
Marshall Scholarships
Marshall Scholarships finance young Americans of high ability to study for a degree in the United Kingdom. Up to forty Scholars are selected each year to study at graduate level at an UK institution in any field of study.
- Eligibility at a glance:
- Applicants must have a GPA of at least 3.7
- Applicants must have a four-year degree by the time the scholarship begins
Year |
Student |
School Attended |
Field of Study |
| 2024 |
Gina Ngo |
University of Cambridge |
Medical Sciences and Clinical Neurosciences |
2015 |
Nicholas Ader | University of Cambridge |
Molecular Biology and Neurobiology |
2014 |
Jessica Wamala (Finalist) |
- | Modern Middle Eastern Studies |
2014 |
Joana Petrescu |
University of Cambridge |
Cancer Biology |
|
|||
2006 |
Diane Coffey (Finalist) |
- |
Development Studies and Education |
|
|||
2005 |
Kristin Carey (Finalist) |
- |
Biology, Philosophy, Honors |
2003 |
John Dawson (Finalist) |
- |
Chemical Engineering |
1998 |
Calista Harden (Finalist) |
- |
Communication |
1997 |
Jonathan Klick (Finalist) |
- |
Economics |
1994 |
Michele Rossi (Finalist) |
- |
Sociology |
1973 |
Linda Kerrigan (Finalist) |
- |
- |
|
Mitchell Scholarship
The George J. Mitchell Scholarship Program is a competitive scholarship that sponsors one academic year of postgraduate study in any discipline offered by institutions of higher learning in Ireland and Northern Ireland.
- Eligibility at a glance:
- Applicants are judged on scholarship, leadership, and sustained commitment to community and public service.
- Applicants must be between the ages of 18-30 and have completed a bachelor's degree by the start of the scholarship
Year |
Student |
School Attended |
Field of Study |
2015 |
Stephen Sechler |
Trinity College Dublin |
Bioengineering |
2011 |
Ivanley Noisette |
University of Ulster |
Human Rights Law and Transitional Justice |
Rhodes Scholarship
The Rhodes Scholarship, the oldest and most celebrated fellowship in the world, brings outstanding students from around the world to the University of Oxford.
- Recognize outstanding scholarly achievements, character, commitment to others and the common good, and leadership potential
- Eligibility at a glance:
- Applicants must be between the ages of 18-24 and have completed a bachelor's degree by the start of the scholarship
Year |
Student |
Field of Study |
2017 |
Patrick Smith (Finalist) |
Population Health |
2014 |
Jessica Wamala |
Modern Middle Eastern Studies |
2014 |
Weddy Worjroh (Finalist) |
International Migration |
2008 |
Tiffany Brown (Finalist) |
Psychology |
2006 |
Morgan Jones (Finalist) |
Immunology and Cancer Research |
2004 |
Krista Pietrangelo (Finalist) |
Comparative Social Policy |
2004 |
Bruce O'Neill (Finalist) |
Comparative Social Policy |
2004 |
Tom Grace (Finalist) |
Law |
2004 |
Nicholas Falco (Finalist) |
Theater |
2004 |
Ryan Costella (Finalist) |
Chinese Studies |
2003 |
Peter Klimas (Finalist) |
Computer Engineering |
2002 |
John Dawson (Finalist) |
Chemical Engineering |
2002 |
David Quinn (Finalist) |
Mechanical Engineering |
1999 |
Regina Speicher (Finalist) |
PhD in Mathematics |
1997 |
Stephen Frein (Finalist) |
Psychology; Systems Analyst, Dept. of Defense |
1995 |
Rebecca Spies |
Medicine/Public Health |
1993 |
Lynne Curry (Finalist) |
Medicine/Public Health (MD/MPH program) |
1992 |
Nnenna Lynch |
Sociology |
1985 |
Jane Ashton (Finalist) |
- |
1983 |
Carlton Young (Finalist) |
Medicine |
Schwarzman Scholars
Designed to prepare the next generation of global leaders, Schwarzman Scholars is the first scholarship created to respond to the geopolitical landscape of the 21st Century. The program gives students the opportunity to develop their leadership skills and professional networks through a one-year Master’s Degree at Tsinghua University in Beijing, one of China’s most prestigious universities.
- Students will live and study together on the campus of Schwarzman College, a newly-built, state-of-the-art facility, where all classes will be taught in English. Students will pursue degrees in one of three disciplines:
- Public Policy
- Economics and Business
- International Studies
- Eligibility at a glance:
- Applicants must be between the ages of 18 and 29, possess an undergraduate degree, and be proficient in English
Year |
Student |
Location |
2015 |
Kristin Robert |
Shimanto-cho |