The Beinecke Scholarship program seeks to encourage and enable highly motivated students to pursue opportunities available to them and to be courageous in the selection of a graduate course of study in the arts, humanities and social sciences. Each scholar receives $5,000 immediately prior to entering graduate school and an additional $30,000 while attending graduate school. 

There are no geographic restrictions on the use of the scholarship, and recipients are allowed to supplement the award with other scholarships, assistantships and research grants. Scholars are encouraged to begin graduated study as soon as possible following graduation from college, and must utilize all of the funding within five years of completion of undergraduate studies. Each year approximately 135 colleges and universities are invited to nominate a student for a Beinecke Scholarship and up to 20 new scholarships will be awarded.

Deadlines

Internal: Second Wednesday in January
External: Mid-February
Here's the link to view this year's specific deadline dates.

Eligibility

  • A student must have demonstrated superior standards of intellectual ability, scholastic achievement and personal promise during his or her undergraduate career;
  • Be a college junior pursuing a bachelor's degree during the current academic year and planning to receive a baccalaureate degree by August of their senior year;
  • Plan to enter a research-focused master's or doctoral program in the arts, humanities or social sciences. Students in the social sciences who plan to pursue graduate study in neuroscience or mathematics & statistics should not apply for a Beinecke Scholarship; nor should students applying for professional degrees that emphasize skills and practical analysis such as business, law, public health, public policy, and social work;
  • Be a United States citizen or a United States national from American Samoa or the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands;
  • Have a documented history of receiving need-based financial aid during their undergraduate years, with a strong preference for Pell Grant recipients.

Application

  • A completed Certification of Eligibility Form and a completed Application Form;
  • A current resume;
  • A statement of 1,000 words or less from the nominee devoted to describing their research or creative interests for graduate study and career aspirations beyond these studies. The statement should also include a discussion of the most relevant academic, professional, extracurricular, and personal experiences that have influenced or shaped the nominee’s interests and plans;
  • Candidates who wish to pursue an MFA degree must submit an artist's supplement of up to 5 pages of original work. Candidates may collate selected images or audio files online and links to these sites can instead be provided in the artist’s supplement.
  • Three letters of recommendation from faculty members that assess the nominee’s intellectual curiosity, character and potential for advanced graduate study;
  • An official transcript;
  • Institutional endorsement letter;
  • Each nominated student must also submit a Financial Aid Data Sheet (completed by the student and certifying that the student qualifies for need-based financial aid)

Learn more at beineckescholarship.org, visit the Office of National Fellowships & Scholarships, or contact the faculty liaison.