Opportunities For Seniors

The East-West Center, located in Honolulu, offers a range of educational opportunities for students interested in the relationship of the United States with the Asia Pacific region as well as the evolving demands and interdependency of global change. A variety of graduate fellowships are available, many of which are open to non-US citizens. No institutional nomination is required.

The Knight Hennessy Scholars program provides full funding to pursue a graduate degree at any of Stanford’s seven internationally top-ranked graduate schools. These highly competitive awards are aimed at preparing the next generation of global leaders to address the increasingly complex challenges facing the world.  No institutional nomination is required, and Macalester does not provide endorsements for this award; however, the fellowship advisor has experience with the application and can support you as you apply. Deadlines vary by degree program. Application opens in the spring of each year and is typically due at the beginning of October.

National Science Foundation Graduate Fellowships: NSF administers a program of fellowships for graduate study in the natural and social sciences, mathematics and engineering. The GRE exam is not required, but research experience is highly recommended. No institutional nomination is required. Contact Prof. Brooke Lea in the Psychology Department for further information.

The Soros Fellowship provides opportunities for continuing generations of able and accomplished New Americans to achieve leadership in their chosen fields. Grants are for up to two years of graduate study in the United States. Institutional nomination is not required. Applications are typically due at the end of October.

Gates Cambridge Scholarships are awarded to outstanding candidates from outside the UK to pursue a postgraduate degree in any subject offered at the University of Cambridge. These highly competitive, full-scholarship awards are granted on the basis of intellectual ability, leadership capacity, a person’s desire to use knowledge to benefit the world, and the fit between the applicant and the graduate program at Cambridge. Successful candidates typically have a minimum GPA of 3.7 or higher and are expected to make significant contributions to the field during their time at Cambridge. Candidates apply simultaneously for admission to Cambridge and for the Gates Cambridge Scholarship. No institutional nomination is required. The deadlines vary by program, but are typically in September each year.

Several types of Fulbright grants are available: the most common are research/study grants and English Teaching Assistantships, but Fulbright is adding more and more awards to support year-long masters programs abroad. Although the requirements for each type vary from country to country, research/study grants typically require fluency in the language of the country and substantive knowledge of the topic to be investigated. Teaching Assistantships usually require a commitment to and experience in teaching, broadly conceived. In all cases applicants must be U.S. Citizens. Open to seniors and recent graduates not enrolled in graduate school. Campus application deadline: September 11, 2026.

Marshall Scholarships allow students to study for a degree, at either the undergraduate or graduate level, at any British university. Students who wish to apply for a Marshall must complete an Intent to Apply Rhodes and Marshall by May 31, 2026. The application is due for campus review on August 1, 2026.

The McCall MacBain Scholarship provides funding and leadership development for a cohort of graduate students at McGill University in Montreal, Canada. As their website says, “The McCall MacBain Scholarships are about much more than financial support. We believe in the power of community and provide scholars with opportunities to develop as interdisciplinary leaders in a complex world. This program brings together a diverse group of scholars who aspire to lead with purpose – individuals who have demonstrated leadership potential and an inner drive to make a positive impact in other people’s lives.” Students interested in applying must contact the fellowship advisor by September 1, and complete applications are due on September 5 for the campus endorsement process. The application is typically due in the third week of September.

Rhodes Scholarships enable students to study at Oxford University following their graduation from Macalester. Academic excellence and evidence of substantial leadership experience are expected. Students who wish to apply for a Rhodes must complete an Intent to Apply Rhodes and Marshall form by May 31, 2026. The application is due for campus review on August 1, 2026.

Rotary Peace Fellowships fund tuition, room and board for a two-year, masters-level degree program in international studies, and peace and conflict resolution at one of the six Rotary Peace Centers around the world. Eligibility requirements include: a bachelor’s degree; a minimum of three year’s full-time paid or unpaid relevant work experience; proficiency in both English and another language; significant leadership experience. Applications are typically due in early May.

The Schwarzman Scholars program is a prestigious one-year, fully funded master’s program in global affairs at Tsinghua University, one of the world’s top universities. Designed to build a global community of future leaders, this program offers an immersive learning experience dedicated to leadership development. Academic excellence and evidence of substantial leadership experience is expected. No institutional nomination is required. The application is due for most applicants in mid-September (for 2025, the deadline is September 10). Applicants with passports from Mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Macao have an earlier deadline and should consult the Schwarzman website for instructions on how to proceed.

Several types of Fulbright grants are available: the most common are research/study grants and English Teaching Assistantships, which allow students to teach English abroad for a year, often in close collaboration with local staff. Although the requirements for each type vary from country to country, Teaching Assistantships usually require a commitment to and experience in teaching, broadly conceived and may require proficiency in the local language. In all cases applicants must be U.S. Citizens. Open to seniors and recent graduates not enrolled in graduate school. Campus application deadline: September 11, 2026.

The Luce Scholarship provides graduating seniors, recent graduates and young professionals under the age of 32 with an in-depth experience in Asia. Successful candidates will have demonstrated significant leadership ability, intercultural competence, and evidence of potential for professional achievement. Reviewers will consider academic accomplishments; however, the Luce Scholars Program is experiential rather than academic in nature. Personal qualities such as resilience, flexibility, adaptability, maturity, humility, creativity, openness to new ideas, and sensitivity to cultural differences are as important as academic performance. No institutional nomination or endorsement is required. The application typically opens in late April and has a mid-September deadline.

Watson Fellowships  enable students of unusual promise to spend a year abroad engaged in an independent study project immediately following graduation. Macalester may nominate four seniors, who then have an interview with a Watson Foundation representative. This competition is open to non-U.S. citizens.  Interested students must contact the Fellowship Advisor in order to gain access to the Watson on-line application. The entire application, including recommendations, is due on September 25, 2026.  Nominees will be able to rework their applications based on feedback from our selection committee.

James C. Gaither Junior Fellows Program: Each year the Carnegie Endowment offers 8-10 one-year fellowships to uniquely qualified graduating seniors and individuals who have graduated during the past academic year. Junior Fellows work as research assistants to the Endowment’s senior associates. Strong research experience and GPAs of 3.7 or higher are expected. Institutional nomination is required. Campus deadline is December 1, 2026.

FAO Schwarz Fellows are recent college graduates working at leading nonprofit organizations. The Fellowships include direct service, strategic projects, and professional development. They’re designed to jumpstart your career as a leader of change.  Open to college seniors who are eligible to work in the U.S.  for the duration of the two-year fellowship. Application is made directly to the partner organization. No institutional nomination is required. The application deadline is in early February.

Humanity in Action Fellowships bring together international groups of university students and recent graduates to explore national histories of discrimination and resistance, as well as examples of issues affecting different minority groups today. For five weeks, the five HIA European countries selected serve as case studies that Fellows can later use as they engage with other human rights issues. Fellowships cover costs of participation and accommodation for the summer program. Transportation to Europe is not covered. No nomination is required. There is typically an early January deadline for the following summer’s programs.

Samuel Huntington Public Service Awards provide $30,000 for a graduating college senior to pursue one year of public service anywhere in the world.  The application requires a detailed project proposal, a budget, three letters of recommendations, a transcript, and a resume.  No institutional nomination is required.  Applications are typically due in mid-January.