Fellowships and Scholar Programs

Excelling academically at a private university is no small feat. Yet over the past 10 years, an increasing number of St. Edward’s University students have stood out not just at St. Edward's but in comparison with their peers at similar universities. By winning Fulbright, Udall and other competitive fellowships, they have achieved their dreams of traveling abroad or attending graduate school. For many students, fellowships provide a unique inside look at a particular field or area of research — and an opportunity to earn an allowance for living expenses, study abroad or research.

Ronald E. McNair Scholars Program

For undergraduate students challenged by financial, social or other obstacles that may prevent them from pursuing doctoral degrees, the Ronald E. McNair Scholars Program opens up new opportunities. McNair Scholars at St. Edward’s have gone on to graduate studies at Stanford and Columbia universities, Harvard Divinity School and the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, among others.

Students in the McNair Scholars Program show strong academic potential, a commitment to postgraduate study and a passion for rigorous research.

What are the benefits of the McNair Scholars Program?

• Guidance from a faculty mentor who provides advice, research direction and an introduction into the academic profession
• Presentation of your research at national conferences and in a St. Edward’s faculty blind-reviewed research journal
• Individual assistance in preparing graduate school applications
• Seminars that provide insights into being a graduate student and help get you ready for graduate studies
• Fully funded GRE test preparation
• Visits to graduate schools
• Application fee waivers from participating graduate schools

McNair Scholars may be eligible for Summer Research Internships, which include:

• An eight-week stipend of up to $2,800
• Paid room and board on campus
• Three semester hours of tuition-free credit
• An opportunity to present your research at the St. Edward’s University McNair Research Symposium

Learn about the McNair Scholars Program Eligibility Requirements (PDF) »

Fellowships

With opportunities ranging from teaching English abroad to conducting neuroscience research, high achieving students can explore their passions through fellowship programs offered by private foundations and government agencies. Fellowships are available in a range of disciplines such as humanities, natural sciences, mathematics, law, finance and many others.

In your junior or senior college year, St. Edward’s will assist you with identifying and preparing applications for a variety of fellowships, including:

• American Psychological Association Minority Fellowship Program
• Andrew Mellon Fellowship in Humanistic Studies
• Cintas Fellowships
• Common Ground Fellowship in Creative Responses to Homelessness
• Coro Fellows Program
• Donald Harrington Graduate Student Fellows Program – University of Texas
• Ford Foundation – Pre-doctoral Fellowships for Minorities
• Fulbright U.S. Student Program
• German Chancellor Scholarship
• Herbert Scoville Jr. Peace Fellowship
• Hertz Foundation
• Jacob K. Javits Fellowship Program
• James H. Dunn Jr. Memorial Fellowship Program
• James Madison Memorial Fellowship Foundation
• Minority Fellowship Program in Neuroscience Training
• Minority Graduate Fellowships – National Science Foundation
• National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate Fellowships
• National Physical Science Consortium – Graduate Fellowships
• National Science Foundation
• Paul and Daisy Soros Fellowship for New Americans
• Pre-doctoral Fellowships in Biological Sciences
• Russian-U.S. Young Leadership Fellows for Public Service Program
• Self Graduate Fellowship – University of Kansas
• Stoody-West Fellowship
• The Urban Fellows Program

Driven to Pursue Research

Spanish major and Journalism minor Leslie de la Rosa ’12 is driven by natural curiosity. As a McNair Scholar, she prepared for graduate school, conducted research, and presented her findings at numerous conferences, including the Leadership Alliance National Symposium and the Harvard Poster Symposium. She was also awarded a Leadership Alliance Fellowship from the Mellon Foundation and a McNair summer research internship, and she was chosen to participate in the Fulbright Summer Institute in Great Britain.