Global Awards & Fellowships

Science & Engineering Details: National Science Foundation Grants funds research and education in science and engineering fields. One fourth of federal support goes to basic research. The Graduated Research Fellowship Program is open to graduating seniors and students already enrolled in graduate programs, providing funding for your degree. More information on the program is available here.

Eligibility: To be eligible for the NSF GRFP, you must: - be a US citizen, US national, or permanent resident - intend to pursue a research-based Master’s or Ph.D. program in a GRFP-supported field - be enrolled in an eligible program at an accredited United States graduate institution, with a US campus, by fall following selection - be at an early stage in your graduate career - have completed no more than one academic year of full-time graduate study (or the equivalent)

Application: Apply online.

Deadline: The 2024 Application Submission Period is closed. Applications are generally due in October.

Microsoft Research Asia (MSR Asia), established in 1998, is a leading research lab with locations in Beijing and Shanghai. The lab conducts basic and applied research in areas central to Microsoft’s long-term strategy and future computing vision. Its diverse research areas include natural user interface, artificial intelligence, cloud and edge computing, big data and knowledge mining, computer science fundamentals, intelligent multimedia, and computational science. Over the years, technologies developed by MSR Asia have made a significant impact within Microsoft and also around the world, and new, innovative technologies are constantly being born from the lab.

Eligibility: Varies; refer to website

Application: Varies; refer to website

Deadline: Varies; refer to website

The Michel David-Weill Scholarship carries a monetary value of $80,000 and covers the cost of tuition and living expenses during a two-year master’s program at Sciences Po. Michel David-Weill is an alumnus of Sciences Po and former Chairman of Lazard Frères, a leading financial advisory and asset management firm. The Michel David-Weill Foundation created this scholarship to encourage exceptional American students to pursue their graduate education at Sciences Po, an international research university which specializes in the social sciences and offers multidisciplinary programs taught in English and French. The scholarship is awarded each year to one American student who exemplifies the core values embodied by Michel David-Weill: academic excellence, leadership, multiculturalism, tolerance and high achievement.

Eligibility: To qualify as a candidate you must be a US citizen currently enrolled as an undergraduate senior at an eligible Sciences Po partner institution (inc. NYU); have a 3.7 or higher GPA and be aged 19-25 without a doctoral degree; be accepted to an eligible Sciences Po master’s program.

Application: NYU conducts its own internal nomination process to select one candidate to compete for the Michel David-Weill Scholarship. Reach out to shanghai.global.awards@nyu.edu for more information.

Deadline: NYU sets an internal deadline in early fall; contact if interested.

The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program envisions a transformative network of young people and institutions driving inclusive and equitable socio-economic change in Africa. Since launching in 2012, the Program has supported nearly 45,000 young people in Africa to pursue secondary or tertiary education. 

Eligibility: For a graduate (master’s) degree, candidates must be 35 years old or under at the time they apply. In addition, each university has its own eligibility criteria. Refer to the website for more details. Citizenship: All African Countries.

Application: The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program is implemented through our partner universities and non-governmental organizations. The application process and decision-making are managed individually by each partner. If you are interested in becoming a Scholar, you must apply through the university of your choice. Refer to the website for more details.

Deadline: Partner institutions have their own deadlines and admission fees. Refer to the website for more details.

The Mandela Rhodes Scholarships programme is a combination of financial support for postgraduate studies and a high quality leadership development programme, with the intention of building exceptional leadership capacity in Africa. The programmes will develop leadership and vocational capacity across African society, to help the continent achieve success and prosperity and full equal participation in the global world.

Eligibility: Citizens of all African countries; Applicants should have a history of well above average academic results; The Scholarship is for postgraduate study at South African universities or tertiary institutions and full funding is for Honours (maximum one year) or Masters (up to a maximum of two years) or their equivalents (MBA’s excluded)

Application: Apply online

Deadline: Applications for 2025 will open March 2024.

The aim of the Kwok Scholars Association is the promotion and advancement of education. It works closely with the Walter & Wendy Kwok Family Foundation on the Kwok Scholarship Programme through which financial assistance is provided to Chinese students from Hong Kong and Mainland China who wish to undertake university studies in furtherance of their commitment to public service and are in need of financial assistance in order to be able to do so. In addition to being of strong academic ability, Kwok Scholars will demonstrate a commitment to public service, the intention to use their studies to further those interests and their need for financial assistance in order to be able to take up their offer of a place at university. In identifying and supporting talented, energetic and academically-strong individuals with a strong personal mission, and enabling them to gain a formidable educational foundation to help achieve their goals, the Kwok Scholarships seek to recognise the value to society of a career in and a passion for public service work. The Kwok Scholarship Programme currently extends to providing: - up to two scholarships a year for master’s programmes at the University of Oxford; - up to two scholarships a year for undergraduate programmes at the University of Oxford; - one scholarship a year for the Master in Public Policy in Global Affairs at the Jackson School of Global Affairs, Yale University; and - up to two awards a year for hospitality study at Cornell University's Nolan School of Hotel Administration.

Eligibility: Varies by scholarship, but Scholars generally must be be a Chinese student from Hong Kong or Mainland China, and have secured admission at their desired course of study at the University of Oxford or Yale University.

Application: Apply online

Deadline: March 2024

Knight-Hennessy Scholars builds a community of future leaders to solve challenges through collaboration and innovation. Full funding is provided to pursue any graduate degree at Stanford.

Eligibility: All nationalities. Final year of study for your first/bachelor's degree or within four years of earning your first/bachelor’s degree. High degree of academic attainment and leadership. See more here.

Application: Apply online.

Deadline: The Knight-Hennessy Scholars (KHS) application to join the 2024 cohort is now closed. The KHS application to join the 2025 cohort will open in summer 2024.

The Japan Exchange and Teaching Programme is one of the world’s largest international exchange programmes. Aiming primarily to promote grass-roots internationalization at the local level, the JET Programme invites young college graduates from around the world to participate in international exchange work and be involved in foreign language education at Japan’s local government offices, Boards of Education, elementary schools, junior high schools, and senior high schools.

Eligibility: Refer to the website for a full list of eligibility criteria. Most pertinently, applicants must be a national (not just a permanent resident) of the country where the recruitment and selection procedures take place by the time they submit their application form. Furthermore, those who possess Japanese citizenship must have submitted their applications to renounce their Japanese citizenship before submitting their Reply Form. Applicants who possess multiple nationalities with countries other than Japan may only apply as a national of one of those countries.

Application: Recruitment and selection of JET Programme participants is conducted at Japanese embassies and consulates around the world. Refer to their website for more details.

Deadline: Varies by country. Deadlines are generally between October to December of the preceding year, but please check the JET website and contact the Embassy or a Consulate of Japan in your home country for more detailed information about the recruitment and selection process.

The Foundation offers outstanding applicants from Cambodia, mainland China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam full-ride scholarships to study at Oxford and Cambridge Universities, and for courses at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels. Aspiring students from Hong Kong and Indonesia are also eligible to apply to the University of Hong Kong, and the Universitas Gadjah Mada for scholarships to study an undergraduate programme.

Eligibility: National of or resident of Cambodia, mainland China, Hong Kong SAR, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam, for a period of at least 7 years

Application: For postgraduate scholarships, applications must be made through the Partnered Colleges; refer to website for more details.

Deadline: Applications for awards for courses starting in Fall 2025 will open in mid-August 2024. The most recent application cycle's deadline was 20th October 2023.

Since 2000, ILF has provided scholarship and leadership training to over 10,000 Asian American and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) and Asian students; cultivating emerging leaders in the public, business and nonprofit sectors. The Fellowship consists of an 8- to 10-week public service internship in a federal agency or congressional office, individual mentorship, a plethora of seminars and workshops, and a scholarship.

Eligibility: US citizen. Sophomore, junior or senior. Minimum 3.0GPA.

Application: Apply online.

Deadline: January 5, 2024