William V. Shannon Memorial Fellowship
We are not accepting fellowship nominations in 2026.
The Shannon Fellowship at Boston University honors the legacy of Ambassador William V. Shannon, a distinguished diplomat, journalist, and historian. Appointed Ambassador to Ireland by President Jimmy Carter, Bill Shannon served from 1977 to 1981. Before that, he spent 16 years on the Editorial Board of the New York Times. After his time in Ireland, he joined Boston University as a University Professor and a Professor of History.
The Shannon Fellowship provides a full-tuition scholarship for up to one year for any master’s or professional graduate programs at Boston University.
Fellowship Details
Eligibility
Students from the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland who plan to pursue graduate study at Boston University are eligible.
- Open to incoming master’s and professional graduate student applicants.
- Applicants are encouraged to inform BU departments of their interest in being nominated for the Shannon Fellowship.
Application Process
Interested applicants for the William V. Shannon Memorial Fellowship must be nominated by their school or department. Submit all application materials as a single collated PDF, which includes:
- Nominee’s Complete Graduate Application: Include all required materials for your BU graduate program.
- Written Personal Statement from Nominee: A 2-page essay answering the following question:
- “The Shannon Fellowship honors Ambassador William V. Shannon’s legacy as a diplomat, journalist, and historian, and his commitment to fostering cross-cultural understanding and academic excellence. Describe how your personal experiences, academic pursuits, and career aspirations align with the values embodied by Ambassador Shannon’s work. How would receiving this fellowship help you contribute to his legacy and to the global community?”
Deadline and Submission
Nominations should be submitted through Qualtrics (link is forthcoming) by February 28, 2025.
Contact apgrad@bu.edu for any questions or concerns.