Mitchell Scholarship
*As of March 2024, the Mitchell Scholarship has “paused”. There will be no scholarship competition for the 2024-2025 cycle. ODS will update this page if the scholarship reopens in the future*
The George J. Mitchell Scholarship Program is a national, competitive scholarship sponsored by the US-Ireland Alliance. Up to twelve Mitchell Scholars between the ages of 18 and 30 are chosen annually for one academic year of postgraduate study in any discipline offered by institutions of higher learning in Ireland and Northern Ireland.
Award: The Mitchell Scholarship Program provides funding for a one-year master’s degree. Most programs run for nine months. It provides full tuition, housing, and a monthly living stipend (currently about $1250 USD) for up to one year of post-graduate academic study. One round-trip airline ticket between the United States and Ireland is also provided.
Criteria: Applicants are judged on (1) Scholarship, (2) Leadership, and (3) A sustained commitment to community and public service.
Undergraduate applicants must be endorsed by the Office of Distinguished Scholarships in order to apply for the Mitchell Scholarship. Interested applicants are strongly encouraged to meet with the ODS director to learn more about the application process.
Eligibility
A Candidate for the Mitchell Scholarship Program must meet all the following criteria:
Be a U.S. citizenBe 18 years of age or older, but not yet 30, on September 28 of the year of the applicationHave a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university before beginning study as a Mitchell ScholarHave a competitive GPA, generally no less than 3.7
Notice: If you are a selected as a Mitchell Finalist, you must withdraw applications for the Rhodes & Marshall. Please be advised that this is ONLY applicable for applicants who submitted to the Rhodes and or Marshall Scholarships in conjunction with being selected as a finalist for the Mitchell.
How to apply for UNC endorsement
Review the Mitchell Scholarship TimelineRequest Three to Four (3-4) Letters of Recommendation>Use the Recommender Name Submission Form to request letters.Apply for UNC Endorsement with the Application for UNC Endorsement FormEmail ods@unc.edu your CV or resume and indicate that you are interested in applying for the Mitchell Scholarship to receive Mitchell application promptsPrepare and upload a single PDF that includes (in this order)Current CVA document that answers all prompts and also lists top institution choices from the Mitchell applicationThis should be typed into a separate document (ex: MS Word, Google Docs, etc.) and converted to a PDF.Please list the required word count and the associated word count of your responses
All relevant transcripts
Resources for applicants
- Review the ODS “Tips & Advice” document for advice on applying for a distinguished award
- Thoroughly read the following Mitchell rules and guidelines:
- ODS information sessions and prep-shops
- Schedule a meeting with the ODS director to discuss your application and receive advice to consider as you prepare for the endorsement deadline. Appointments are available in person in Graham Memorial 020 or online via Zoom.
Applicants may apply for multiple scholarship awards simultaneously, including the Rhodes, Marshall, and Mitchell Scholarships. However, pay careful attention to differences in guidelines for personal statements.
