The Big Six

The six scholarships briefly profiled below are the top scholarships available to engineering and computer science students. Although these scholarships are all highly competitive, requiring high GPAs and possible study abroad, don't let yourself be intimidated. You'll find it's to your advantage to take a minute to browse through these scholarships' Web sites.

Rhodes Scholarship
www.rhodesscholar.org
Thirty-two Rhodes scholarships are awarded per year for two or three years of graduate study in any field at Oxford University. The stated criteria for the Rhodes scholarship are character, leadership and physical vigor. The scholarship includes academic fees and an allowance for airfare and personal expenses. Applicants must be grad students under the age of 24 by the start of their first year at Oxford.

Marshall Scholarship
www.acu.ac.uk/marshall
Forty Marshall scholarships are awarded for two or three years of graduate study at any British university or business school. Scholarship criteria include academic ability and leadership potential. The scholarship includes airfare, tuition, fees and other expenses. Applicants must be graduates under the age of 26 by the start of their first academic year in Britain.

Mitchell Scholarship
www.us-irelandalliance.org/scholarships.html
This is a fairly new scholarship, but nevertheless, a prestigious and competitive one. The scholarship rewards academic ability and public service. Twelve scholarships, covering airfare, tuition, fees and expenses, are granted per year for one year of graduate study at any Irish university. Applicants must be graduates under the age of 30 by the start of their first year of study in Ireland.

Gates Cambridge Scholarship
www.gates.scholarships.cam.ac.uk
Gates Cambridge scholarships are among the newest and most diverse on the scholarship scene. Numerous scholarships cover between one and four years of graduate study at Cambridge University. Gates Cambridge Scholars are expected to become leaders in addressing global problems related to health, equity, technology and learning.

Fulbright Scholarship
www.iie.org/fulbright
Each year, over 800 Fulbright scholarships in over 140 countries are awarded for one year of study, teaching or research. Scholarships cover round-trip transportation, tuition, books and living expenses. Applicants design their own projects with a specific host country in mind and are viewed as a representative of the United States. Language skills appropriate to the host country are required.

National Science Foundation Fellowship
www.fastlane.nsf.gov
When visiting these pages, click on the link for "Graduate Research Fellowships." NSF fellowships are especially appropriate to those studying engineering or computer science. Each year, about 850 fellowships are granted for up to three years of graduate study leading to a master's or doctoral degree in engineering, mathematics and a wide range of sciences. The fellowship can be used at any accredited U.S. or foreign academic institution. Green card holders may also apply.

Other Prominent Scholarships

The scholarships featured below are not necessarily as prestigious (nor as competitive, at least statistically) as the six scholarships previously described, and a few may even take you a bit off the beaten path, but they all provide winners with plenty of bragging rights and ample funds to help finance graduate study.

Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship
www.act.org/goldwater
One or two years of support for outstanding students with research experience pursuing advanced degrees in mathematics, the natural sciences or engineering.

Rotary Foundation Ambassadorial Scholarships
www.rotary.org/foundation/educational/amb_scho/index.html
Academic-year, multi-year, and cultural ambassadorial scholarships in almost any field of study in any country where Rotary clubs are located.

Japan Exchange & Teaching (JET) Program (TESL in Japan)
www.mofa.go.jp/j_info/visit/jet
One year fully paid opportunity to serve in local government organizations as well as junior and senior high schools in Japan.

Doe High-Performance Computer Science Fellowship
www.krellinst.org/DOE_HPCS
Applicants must be planning to pursue a Ph.D. in computer science with an emphasis on high-performance computing.

National Alliance for Excellence Scholarships
www.excellence.org
For superior talent and ability without regard to financial need, in academics, technological innovation or visual and performing arts.

NASA Fellowships for Graduate Study
http://education.nasa.gov/gsrp
For graduate study leading to a research-based master's or doctoral degree in science, mathematics or engineering.

National Defense Science & Engineering Graduate Fellowships
www.asee.org/ndseg
Three-year graduate fellowships to conduct study and research in pursuit of doctoral degrees in mathematical, physical, biological, ocean and engineering sciences.

Nuclear Engineering Education for the Disadvantaged Program (NEED)
www.ans.org
For economically and culturally disadvantaged students intending a career in nuclear science, nuclear engineering or a nuclear-related field.

Star Fellowships for Graduate Environmental Study
www.epa.gov/ncerqa
Two or three years support for a master's or doctoral student in disciplines relating to environmental management including physical, biological sciences, social sciences and engineering.

Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowships for New Americans
www.pdsoros.org
For graduate study in any subject at a U.S. university for holders of green cards, naturalized citizens or children of two naturalized citizen parents.