Application Deadlines
Please notify the Office of Distinguished Scholarships (ods@unc.edu) if you wish to apply for one or more of these awards. Note that some of the dates (endorsement deadlines in particular) may change or be updated. We encourage you to check this page regularly and reach out to our office!
Endorsed Awards Other AwardsUNC Endorsement Required
Endorsement includes a campus application and selection process, and endorsement application deadlines are at least several weeks before the final award deadlines.
Beinecke Scholarship
Open to third-year students
- Endorsement Application Deadline: Friday, January 14, 2022 (5:00 pm ET)
- Final Application Deadline: Wednesday, February 9, 2022 (5:00 pm ET)
Churchill Scholarship
Open to fourth-year students and alumni from the previous academic year
- Endorsement Application Deadline: Wednesday, September 15, 2021 (5:00 pm ET)
- Application Deadline: Monday, November 1, 2021 (5:00 pm ET)
James C. Gaither Junior Fellows Program
Open to fourth-year students and alumni from the previous academic year
- Endorsement Application Deadline: Monday, November 15, 2021 (11:59 pm ET)
- Application Deadline: Saturday, January 15, 2022 (5:00 pm ET)
Goldwater Scholarship
Open to second- and third-year students
- In order to nominate a student: a faculty or staff member must send a short e-mail to ODS (ods@unc.edu)
- Faculty nomination deadline: Monday, November 15, 2021 (11:59 pm ET)
- Application Deadline: Friday, January 28, 2022 (5:00 pm ET)
Luce Scholars Program
Open to fourth-year students and alumni
- Endorsement Application Deadline: NA
- Application Deadline: NA
- ***There will be no competition this year
Marshall Scholarships
Open to fourth-year students and recent alumni
- Endorsement Application Deadline: Tuesday, August 3, 2021 (5:00 pm ET)
- Application Deadline: Tuesday, September 28, 2021 (5:00 pm ET)
McCall MacBain Scholarship
Open to fourth-year students and alumni
- Application Material Review/Endorsement Deadline (no endorsement interview): Friday, August 20, 2021 (5:00 pm ET)
- Application Deadline: Tuesday, September 21, 2021
Michel David-Weill Scholarship
Open to fourth-year students
- Endorsement Application: Friday, October 15, 2021 (5:00 pm ET)
- Application Deadline: TBD (5:00 pm ET)
Mitchell Scholarship
Open to fourth-year students and alumni
- Endorsement Application Deadline: Tuesday, August 3, 2021 (5:00 pm ET)
- Application Deadline: Friday, September 24, 2021 (5:00 pm ET)
- ***UNC Endorsement not offered for graduates
Rhodes Scholarships
Open to fourth-year students and recent alumni
- Endorsement Application Deadline: Tuesday, August 3, 2021 (5:00 pm ET)
- Application Deadline (US competition only): Wednesday, October 6, 2021 (5:00 pm ET)
- Other competitions have final deadlines that may be much earlier than the US competition; check with ODS regarding endorsement for non-US competitions
Open to third-year students
- Endorsement Application Deadline: Monday, November 15, 2021 (5:00 pm ET)
- Application Deadline: Tuesday, February 1, 2021 (5:00 pm ET)
Udall Scholarship
Open to second- and third-year students
- Application Deadline: The 2021 deadline has not been decided yet. (Last year, the deadline was March 5, 2020)
Yenching Academy
Open to fourth-year students and alumni
- Endorsement Deadline: October 15, 2020 (5:00 pm ET)
- Application Deadline: December 4, 2020 (5:00 pm ET)
UNC Endorsement Not Required
You may apply independently for these and other non-endorsed awards listed on our website. ODS can provide assistance and feedback upon request.
Schwarzman Scholars Program
Open to fourth-year students and alumni
- Application Material Review Deadline (optional: guarantees feedback and evaluation): Friday, August 20, 2021 (5:00 pm ET)
- Application Deadline: Tuesday, September 21, 2021
Knight-Hennessy Scholars Program
Open to fourth-year students and alumni
- Application Material Review Deadline (optional: guarantees feedback and evaluation): Friday, September 24, 2021 (5:00 pm ET)
- Application Deadline: Wednesday, October 6, 2021 (4:00 pm ET)
Boren Awards | National Security Education Program
Open to undergraduates (scholarship) and those applying to or in graduate school (fellowship)
- Endorsement Application Deadline (optional: guarantees feedback and evaluation): Tuesday, December 14, 2021 (5:00 pm ET)
- Final Application Deadline for Graduate Fellowship: Wednesday, January 26, 2022.
- Final Application Deadline for Undergraduate Scholarship: Wednesday, February 2, 2022.
Critical Language Scholarship (CLS)
Open to undergraduates and those applying to or in graduate school
- Application Material Review Deadline (optional: guarantees feedback and evaluation): TBD (5:00 pm ET)
- Final Application Deadline for Scholarship: TBD.
Gates Cambridge Scholarship
Open to fourth-year students and alumni
- Application Deadline for U.S. applicants: October (exact deadline will be set in late summer; check website for exact date)
- Application Deadlines for non-U.S. applicants: December or January (depending on student’s course)
Ertegun Scholarships
Open to fourth-year students and alumni
- Application Deadlines: January (deadline depends on degree program)
Gilman International Scholarships
Open to undergraduates
- Application Deadline for Spring programs and early application for Summer programs: October (check website for exact date)
- Application Deadline for Summer, Fall, and Academic Year-Long programs: March (check website for exact date)
Hollings NOAA Scholarships
Open to second-year students. Application opens in September.
- Application Deadline: January (check website for exact date)
Humanity in Action Fellowships
Open to second-, third- & fourth-year students and recent alumni
- Application Deadline: January (application will open in the fall)
Mount Vernon Leadership Fellows
Open to second-year students
- Application Deadline: late January (check website for exact date)
Oxford Pershing Square Graduate Scholarships
Open to fourth-year students and alumni
- Application Deadline: Will be made available early August (check website for exact date)
- Students must apply for master’s and MBA programs separately.
The Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowships for New Americans
Open to fourth-year students and alumni
- Application Deadline: October (check website for exact date)
Pickering Foreign Affairs Fellowship
Open to fourth-year students and alumni
- Application Deadlines: Mid-September (check website for exact date)
Rangel International Affairs Program
Open to undergraduates (summer enrichment program) and to fourth-year students and alumni (graduate fellowship program)
- Application Deadline for Graduate Fellowship Program: September (check website for exact date)
- Application Deadline for Undergraduate Summer Enrichment Program: February (check website for exact date)
