Scholarships

Below is a comprehensive list of all 21 prestigious scholarships that SOP currently supports through strategic advising, draft review, and/or campus endorsement consideration.

Trailblazer’s 10

Spring – Summer Advising

The Trailblazer’s 10 Cycle for 2023-24 opens Spring 2024.

To begin your scholarship journey, visit our Scholarship Advising page!

Trailblazer’s 10 Deadlines:

    • Pre-Application Deadline: April 10th, 2023
    • Schwarzman Pre-Application Deadline for Chinese Passport Holders: March 10th, 2023
    • Scholarship Deadlines: Variable in Fall 2023

Academic Standing:

Juniors and Seniors

Trailblazer’s 10

Spring – Summer Awards

Pre-Application Opens: Mid-Feb. 2023 | Due by April 10 Noon 2023
Scholarship
Award Information
Eligibility
National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program- Funds 3 years of graduate study ($34,000/yr) toward research-based M.S. or Ph. D. (NOT M.D.) in science, engineering, or social science in the U.S.
- For students who have research experience, especially publication(s) or presentation(s).
- 1,500-2,000 Awards.
- Must intend to graduate by Summer 2025
- Must be U.S. citizen or permanent resident.
- 3.2+ GPA recommended;

Pre-Application Opens: Mid-Feb. 2023 | Due by April 10 Noon 2023
Scholarship
Award Information
Eligibility
Fulbright U.S. Student Program (140+ countries)*- Funds 1 academic year of graduate study, independent research, or special grants in arts, music, or teaching English in 140+ available host countries.
- 1,000+ Awards.
- Must intend to graduate by Summer 2025
- Must be U.S. citizen.
- 3.5 + GPA recommended
Churchill Scholarship (UK)*- Funds 1 year of Master's study at Cambridge in the sciences.
- For students who have research experience, especially publication(s) or presentation(s).
- 15 Awards.
- UCI may nominate 2 students.
- Must intend to graduate by Summer 2025
- Must be U.S. citizen.
- 3.7+ GPA recommended
Gates Cambridge Scholarship (UK)- Funds up to 3 years of graduate study at Cambridge.
- For students who have exceptional academic merit, demonstrated leadership, & community service record.
- 90 Awards/40 from U.S.
- Must intend to graduate by Summer 2025
- No citizenship restrictions.
- 3.7+ GPA recommended
Rhodes Scholarship (UK)*- Funds 2 years at Oxford.
- For students with exceptional academic merit, demonstrated leadership, & community service record.
- 95 Awards/32 from U.S.
- Must intend to graduate by Summer 2025
- Must be aged 18-23
- No citizenship restrictions.
- 3.7+ GPA required
British Marshall Scholarship (UK)*- Funds 1-3 years at any U.K. university.
- For students who have exceptional academic merit, demonstrated leadership, & ambassadorial potential.
- 45-48 Awards.
- Must intend to graduate by Summer 2025
- Must be a U.S. citizen, graduating after April 2018.
- 3.7+ GPA required
George Mitchell Scholarship (Ireland)*- Funds 1 year of graduate study at institutions in the Republic of Ireland.
- For students with exceptional academic merit, demonstrated leadership, & community service record.
-12 Awards.
- Must intend to graduate by Summer 2025
- Must be aged 18-29
- Must be U.S. citizen.
- 3.7+ GPA recommended
Schwarzman Scholars (China)
For Chinese passport holders: Pre-app due March 10
- 1-year Master's study in Global Affairs at Tsinghua University in China.
- For students with strong academic performance & demonstrated leadership record.
- 200/Awards/90 from U.S.
- Must intend to graduate by Spring 2025
- Must be aged 18-27
- No citizenship restrictions.
- 3.5+ GPA recommended

Pre-Application Opens: Mid-Feb. 2023 | Due by April 10 Noon 2023
Scholarship
Award Information
Eligibility
Fulbright U.S. Student English Teaching Assistantship- Must intend to graduate by Summer 2025
Fulbright U.S. Student Binational Business Internship- Must intend to graduate by Summer 2025

Pre-Application Opens: Mid-Feb. 2023 | Due by April 10 Noon 2023
Scholarship
Award Information
Eligibility
Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowship for New Americans-$20,000 per year plus stipend for graduate study in any major.
- For students who exhibit creativity, initiative, & record of accomplishment.
- 30 Awards.
- Must intend to graduate by Summer 2025
- Both parents must have been born abroad as non-U.S. citizens.
- 3.7+ GPA recommended
Knight-Hennessy Scholars*- Funds 3 years in any graduate program at Stanford University.
- For students with demonstrated leadership & vision for large-scale positive change.
- For students who have a specific, ambitious career goal.
- 100 Awards.
- Must intend to graduate by Summer 2025
- No citizenship restrictions.
- 3.7+ GPA recommended

* = Requires UCI endorsement (nomination) & campus screening process; deadlines must be met in order to qualify.

= Available to international students.

Explorer’s 11

Fall – Winter Advising

The Explorer’s 11 Cycle for 2023-24 opens in Fall.

To begin your scholarship journey, visit our Scholarship Advising page!
Deadlines for Explorer’s 11 Cycle 2023-24:
    • Pre-Application Deadlines: Late-October, Mid-November
    • Scholarship Deadlines: Variable Winter 2024
Academic Standing:
      • Beinecke: Juniors & Seniors
      • DoD SMART: Sophomores, Juniors, & Seniors
      • Goldwater: Sophomores, Juniors, & Seniors
      • National Institute of Health: Sophomores, Juniors, & Seniors
      • N.O.A.A: Sophomores & Juniors
      • Killam: Sophomores, Juniors, & Seniors
      • California Capital Fellows: Seniors
      • Carnegie Endowment Junior Fellows: Seniors
      • Strauss: Sophomores, Juniors, & Seniors
      • Truman: Juniors