Citizenship Not Required Funding Opportunities
So many prominent fellowships and scholarships--especially federal programs like the NSF GRFP--limit eligibility to those with American citizenship that it can seem impossible to find less restrictive options. However, many funding opportunities do not require American citizenship--or any citizenship documentation at all. The awards assembled here represent a selection of these opportunities. While many of the awards on this page are specifically for graduate students of certain ethnic heritages or underserved groups, others are open to applicants from a wide range of backgrounds and experiences regardless of citizenship status.
American Academy of CPR and First Aid “Save a Life” Scholarship
Graduate students in the fields of healthcare or education are eligible to apply for this $1500 scholarship. Biannual May and October deadlines.
Association of Firearm and Tool Mark Examiners Scholarship Program
Awards up to $2000 to graduate students of any level who are pursuing a degree in a natural, physical, or biological science and intend to seek a career in forensic science.
Byron Hanke Fellowship
Available for graduate students whose research projects relate to the development, management and governance of common interest communities and their community associations. Awarded by The Foundation for Community Association Research.
Center for Engaged Scholarship
This $25,000 award is intended for advanced (ABD) PhD students researching social science. Eligible fields include anthropology, economics, geography, history, political science, social psychology, sociology. Students engaged in similar research in interdisciplinary programs such as ethnic studies or American studies are also eligible. December submission deadline.
Charlotte W. Newcombe Fellowship
Intended to encourage original and significant study of ethical or religious values in all fields of the humanities and social sciences, this $30,000 one-year dissertation fellowship is available for advanced (ABD) PhD students whose research explores the ethical implications of foreign policy, the values influencing political decisions, the moral codes of other cultures, and religious or ethical issues reflected in history or literature, or similar issues. Students who have received a similar national award (such as the AAUW, Ford, Mellon/ACLS or Mellon-CES fellowship) are not eligible to apply.
Davis-Putter Scholarship Fund
The Davis-Putter Scholarship Fund awards need-based scholarship to students active in movements for social and economic justice in the United States. Recent grantees have been active in the struggle against racism, sexism, homophobia and other forms of oppression; building the movement for economic justice; and creating peace through international anti-imperialist solidarity. Preference for applicants who plan on working in the United States. Awards up to $15,000 annually.
Google Lime Scholarship
This $10,000 merit-based scholarship is open to first-year graduate students in computer science or computer engineering (or related technical fields) who have visible or invisible disabilities.
Great Minds in STEM Scholarship
In addition to pursuing a STEM degree, eligible applicants must be of Hispanic descent and/or demonstrate significant service within the community. Awards range from $500-$5000.
Harvey Fellowship
Intended for full-time graduate students who profess personal faith in Jesus Christ and intend to enter vocational field underrepresented by Christians, this fellowship awards a $16,000 stipend, renewable annually for a maximum of three years. Eligibility for renewable is contingent both upon degree type and Fellow's academic standing. Successful applicants tend to be preparing for careers in research, teaching, and administration at premier secular colleges and universities; economics, business, and finance in public and private sector; international diplomacy, security, and business; journalism and media; film production and visual and performing arts; public policy and federal, state, and major city government; and applied and theoretical sciences.
Healthline Stronger Scholarship
Awards 2 $5000 scholarships to graduate students who demonstrate a commitment to health and climate change either through their research or extracurriculars.
Hispanic Scholarship Consortium Scholarship
The Hispanic Scholarship Consortium offers an array of scholarships to graduate students who are of Hispanic/Latino heritage and reside in Texas.
Institute for Humane Studies Fellowship
Applicants for Humane Studies Fellowship awards must be enrolled in an MA or PhD program or be undertaking a post-doctoral fellowship. Previous applicants and winners are welcome to apply. Prior participation in IHS programs is not required. While there are no specific citizenship requirements, the fellowship gives preference to applicants who live or study in North America or the United Kingdom. Qualifying fields of study include economics, political science, philosophy, law, history, sociology, and similar disciplines in the social sciences and humanities. Award amounts range from $5000 to $15,000.
Interventional Vascular and Vein Center
Full-time graduate students interested cultivating sustainable healthy lifestyle habits are eligible to apply for this $2500 award. December and August essay submission deadlines.
Korean American Scholarship Foundation
Awards scholarships of $500-$5000 to full-time students of Korean heritage (i.e., have a Korean parent, grandparent, or great-grandparent, or be adopted from Korea) who demonstrate financial need. Additionally, the foundation reserves a portion of its annual scholarships for students who have physical disabilities, who demonstrate Christian faith and attend a central Texas university, or whose parents have "made a personal and financial sacrifice to serve the lord."
Louisville Institute Dissertation Fellowship
This $25,000 fellowship is intended to fund the final year of dissertation writing for PhD students whose research relates to North American Christianity. Succesful project proposals will have the potential to strengthen the religious life of North American Christians and advance American religious scholarship. Applicable fields include history, ethics, the social sciences, biblical studies, and historical, systematic, and practical theology, as well as interdisciplinary programs.
Meta Research PhD Fellowship Program
Must be a PhD student in computer science or engineering. Fellowship covers two years of tuition, travel costs to Meta headquarters for the annual Fellowship Summit, and a $42,000 annual living stipend.
Momeni Foundation Financial Assistance Scholarship
Awards $1000 scholarships to graduate students of any level of Iranian descent, regardless of citizenship or country of residency.
Paul and Daisy Soros Fellowships for New Americans
Intended for immigrants and children of immigrants in the United States, eligible students must be in their first or second year of graduate school. Additionally, their parents must have been born outside of the U.S. as non-U.S. citizens. The fellowship awards up to $90,000 for one to two years.
The Point Foundation Scholarship
The Point Foundation awards scholarships to students who demonstrate a proven track record of leadership and community involvement, strong academic achievement, working for the betterment of the LGBTQ community, and financial need. Applicants must identify as a member of the LGBTQ community. Award amounts vary.
The Prism Foundation Scholarships
Prism Foundation provides scholarships to outstanding students who are making a positive impact on the Asian & Pacific Islander and LGBTQ+ communities. While applicants should have a strong history of work and impact within these communities, they do not need to identify as either to apply. Scholarships range from $1000 to $5000.
The Simplr Artificial Intelligence and Technology Scholarship
This $7,500 scholarship is awarded to graduate students (including law students) studying artificial intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), Blockchain technology, and Intellectual Property (IP) law. Students with full academic scholarships are ineligible to apply.
Society of Exploration Geophysicists
These merit-based scholarships, ranging from $500-$10,000, are awarded to graduate students planning on a career in applied geophysics.
Society of Women Engineers Scholarship
Eligible applicants must identify as women and be enrolled in engineering, computing, or technology programs.
Turco Muñoz Domestic Violence Survivor Scholarship
Applicants must have some victim advocacy experience serving DV survivors (e.g., experiences as a victim advocate, family law paralegal, social worker, investigator, or other employee of an organization whose mission is to serve domestic violence survivors) and must be enrolled in law school or other graduate program with applicable field of study. Scholarship awards $1000.
United Methodist Church Higher Education and Ministry Scholarships
Various requirements and award amounts. Many (not all) require UMC membership.
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
A ten-week research experience for graduate students with an interest in the nonlinear dynamics of rotating, stratified fluids. Accepted fellows receive a stipend of approximately $7,500 in addition to domestic travel expenses. Eligible fields include classical fluid dynamics, physical oceanography, meteorology, astrophysics, planetary atmospheres, geological fluid dynamics, hydromagnetics, physics and applied mathematics.