Merit Scholarships and Institutional Fellowships

Hi! My name is Ginger and I am a grad assistant in the GRS admissions office! Financial Aid was the primary reason I chose to pursue my graduate studies at BU in the School of Theology, so I know how important it is when deciding if you want to go to grad school and what you want to study. 

I want to share some tips with you that I have learned in my time as a grad student and an assistant in the GRS office that could help you to fund your education! I have found there are many opportunities for funding both institutionally and outside of BU!

In today’s blog post I want to focus on and share some information about merit scholarships and fellowships that are available here at BU. Be sure to check out Part 2 for information about student employment opportunities and student loan information! 

Merit Scholarships 

Programs under departments such as economics, computer science, statistical practice, and earth & environment have merit scholarships available to students, and they don’t require a separate application. Be sure to check your specific program of interest to see what sort of aid you are automatically considered for– this webpage can provide more information on program-specific requirements and if merit scholarships are being offered. 

Looking for Institutional Fellowships! 

While these opportunities for aid require separate applications, they can be the most rewarding. BU offers numerous fellowships to help graduate students fund their studies. This webpage contains information about BU fellowship opportunities that you may be eligible for.

The GEM Fellowship offers resources to traditionally under-represented students pursuing an MS or Ph.D. in science or engineering. If you are interested in applying for a GEM Fellowship, the application deadline is coming up on November 15!

The American Association of University Women (AAUW) also offers several funding opportunities for women pursuing graduate studies. The AAWU is dedicated to empowering women through higher education and tackling the gender wage gap in the US. 

BU also offers its own fellowships that graduate students can apply in order to earn funding, and you can apply for fellowships in a variety of fields. 

The Martin Luther King, Jr. Fellowship is awarded to incoming graduate students who are dedicated to the social justice principles espoused by Dr. King.

The African Studies Center offers Foreign Language and Area Studies Fellowships to support students studying African languages and area studies.

The Whitney Young, Jr. Fellowship is awarded to graduate students in the fields of social work, urban studies, and Afro-American Studies.

The Lu Lingzi Scholarship offers financial assistance to outstanding international students, with preference given to students who come from China. For more information and a complete list of fellowships, please visit our website. 

The BU Newbury Center also offers information on financial resources available to graduate students.  

Other Tips and Tricks

National Today’s National Scholarship Month page offers tips & tricks and some unusual scholarship options when you search for graduate funding.

If you have any questions about financial aid or would like to speak with a financial aid associate, please feel free to schedule a one-on-one appointment with Keely or contact our admissions office at grsaid@bu.edu! 

I am so happy I got to share this important information with you today, and I hope to see you on campus next year! Don’t forget to check back next week to hear about student employment and loan opportunities! 

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About the Author:

Virginia (Ginger) Monroe

Marketing & Communication Assistant, GRS

Master’s Candidate, Theological Studies