Accept the Challenge!

Connecticut College students are well positioned to compete for Fulbright and other national fellowship awards. With over 33 Fulbright awards over the past 5 years, the College is consistently recognized as a top producer of Fulbright scholars. Meet our past fellowship award winners.

Post-graduate fellowships and scholarships provide life-changing opportunities through generous financial support for study and research. At Connecticut College there is a strong network of supportive faculty and staff who are willing to assist high-achieving students as they explore fellowship and scholarship opportunities. There are many opportunities to learn about fellowships through info sessions hosted by Dean of the College and the Walter Commons. 

Plan Ahead. As early as the first year, students are encouraged to speak to staff in the Walter Commons for Global Study and Engagement or visit the Dean of the College for advice on the fellowship process. By discussing individual interests and long-term goals, advisers can help students create a strategy for a competitive application later on. Together, you will assess your candidacy, focus your study/research interest and consider opportunities and programs that will help you achieve your goals.

Interested in applying for a fellowship? See the Fellowships FAQ page 

To learn about upcoming info sessions and writing workshops subscribe to the Walter Commons newsletter, or contact fellowships@conncoll.edu 

Application Process

Crafting a competitive application takes time and campus deadlines are often several weeks earlier than national deadlines. Students who wish to apply for a major external award need to begin working with advisers and faculty no later than the semester before the award deadline. Students should plan to submit multiple drafts and should speak with advisers about how to approach faculty for letters of support. Strong faculty recommendations are crucial to fellowship applications and should be requested well in advance of deadlines from faculty who know the candidate well, and who can speak to their strengths in relation to the proposal. 

For any award that requires College endorsement or nomination students must apply through the Faculty Fellowship Committee. This process often includes an in-person or Zoom interview where applicants should be prepared to speak in detail about their proposals.  The committee will then determine whether the application merits College endorsement and if so provide feedback on the application.

Note: All students planning to apply for major awards with fall deadlines must also submit an Intent to Apply form to fellowships@conncoll.edu by May 23 the spring before the application deadline. 

Campus Application Deadlines

Campus Deadline   Opportunity
August Pickering, Rangel, Fulbright, Rhodes, Schwarzman, Knight-Hennessy, Marshall, Mitchell
September Gilman, NSF Graduate Research, Payne Fellowship, Soros Fellowship, Watson Fellowship
October Public Policy & Intl Affairs Fellowship, Gates Cambridge Scholarship, Critical Language Scholarship
November Goldwater Scholarship, DAAD RISE 
December Beinecke, Boren, Fulbright UK Summer, Gaither Junior Fellows Program,  Humanity in Action Fellowship, Mortimer Hays-Brandeis, Rangel Summer Program, Truman, Davis Projects for Peace
January Fulbright UK Summer Institute, Rangel International Affairs Summer Enrichment Program, 
February Gilman, Udall
March Freeman-Asia Scholarship,
May 23 *Intent to Apply for a Major Fellowship form due in the Walter Commons 

Application Deadlines for Connecticut College Awards 

Campus Deadline  

  Opportunity
Rolling Sustainable Projects Fund, SAC Co-Sponsorship Fund, Student Travel Grants, Leah S. Rubin Endowed Travel & Research Fund for Judaic Studies
October CCSRE Funding Proposals, Holleran Center Student Community Engagement Grant, Newman Civic Fellowship, Global Scholars Fund (for spring study)
December   Meyers, Davis Projects for Peace 
March ConnSSharp, Global Scholars Fund (for summer/fall study), The Robert E. Proctor Scholarship for Summer Language Study, The Chu-Kuo Fellowship for Chinese Language Study, Special Travel Funds through the Walter Commons, The John S. King Scholarship for German Language Study, Language Intensive Internship Grant (intent to apply)
April Funded Sophomore Summer Research Program for Students in Pathways and Centers
May Career Action Program Funds