Post-Graduate Gap Opportunities

American Councils for International Education provides grants to support post-graduate researchers in a range of disciplines, including language, social sciences, and foreign relations.  AC’s academic research fellowships take place in Russia, Central Asia, Eastern Europe, and Southeast Europe.

• Award: varies by fellowship
• Deadlines: October or December of each year

The American-Scandinavian Foundation (ASF) provides grants/fellowships for individuals to pursue research, study, or creative arts projects in one or more Scandinavian country for up to one year. Applicants should have basic proficiency in the host country language.

• Award: varies, up to $23,000
• Deadline: November 1

Blakemore Language Fellowships are awarded for one academic year of advanced level language study in East or Southeast Asia. Eligible languages include Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Burmese, Indonesian, Khmer, Thai, and Vietnamese.  In order to be eligible, applicants must be pursuing a professional, business, technical, or academic career involving the regular use of a modern East or Southeast Asian language.

• Award: varies
• Deadlines: Dec. 30

The Charles B. Rangel Graduate Fellowship Program provides funding to prepare outstanding applicants for careers in the Foreign Service of the U.S. Department of State.  Applicants must be currently seeking admission to a graduate program in a relevant subject area, such as public administration, public policy, international relations, business administration, economics, history, political science, communications, or foreign languages.  Upon completion of the fellowship, Rangel Fellows are committed to a minimum of five years in the Foreign Service.

• Award: varies, up to $37,500 annually
• Deadline: September of each year

The Explorers Club Field Research Grants provide funding to support the fieldwork of serious researchers in a range of disciplines, including climate change, geoscience, marine biology, archeology, conservation science, and more.

• Award range: $500-5,000
• Deadline: December of each year

The Fulbright U.S. Student Program, a congressionally-funded international exchange program, provides grants for recent graduates and young professionals to undertake international graduate study, advanced research, university teaching, and primary/secondary school teaching worldwide. The program currently awards approximately 2,000 grants annually in all fields of study and operates in more than 140 countries around the world.

• Award: varies
• Deadline: mid-October of each year

For more information about the Fulbright U.S. Student Program, contact the UT Dallas Office of Distinguished Scholarships.

The Go Overseas Gap Year Scholarship provides funding to students who demonstrate outstanding motivation to pursue a gap year experience.

• Award: $3,000
• Deadline: April 30

The Institute of Current World Affairs (ICWA) Fellowship Program supports fellows for two-year immersive programs of self-designed, independent research and writing abroad.  Proposals are given preference based on specific topics relating to South America, Cuba, Eurasia, and the Horn of Africa.

• Award: full funding, varies based on project and location
• Deadline: December of each year

The Peace Corps is a service opportunity for motivated changemakers to immerse themselves in a community abroad, working side by side with local leaders to tackle the most pressing challenges. Peace Corps volunteers serve in over 60 countries around the world and commit to 2 years of service.  Volunteer positions are available in a range of sectors, including agriculture, community economic development, education, environment, health, and youth in development.

• Award: housing, living stipend, and a stipend of approximately $10,000 upon program completion
• Deadline: varies by volunteer position

The Global Grant Program, sponsored by Rotary International, supports graduate-level academic studies and humanitarian projects in the fields of peacebuilding and conflict prevention; disease prevention and treatment; water, sanitation, and hygiene; maternal and child health; basic education and literacy; and community economic development.

• Award: varies based on project budget
• Deadlines: June of each year for academic studies, rolling for humanitarian projects

The Gap Year Grants Program, offered by gap year program provider Travel Access Project, provides funding to people all over the world interested in pursuing an educational gap year opportunity.

• Award: $3,000
• Deadline: late February of each year

The Alfa Fellowship Program is a distinguished international initiative that offers accomplished young Americans the opportunity to complete a high-level professional development program in Russia.  Applicants must have a graduate degree and professional experience in business, economics, journalism, law, public policy, or related fields.  Alfa Fellows complete work placements at leading institutions, attend professional seminars, and receive intensive language training.

• Award: monthly stipend, accommodation, program-related travel costs, language training, and private language tutoring
• Deadline: Nov. 15

The Andlinger Medical Residency Exchange Program, sponsored by the American Austrian Foundation, supports training for American medical residents in their third or fourth year of training.  The program allows fellows to participate in rotations at a partner institution in Austria for 2-4 weeks, broadening each resident’s experience through exposure to a foreign healthcare system.

• Award: $2,000
• Deadline: applications are accepted on a rolling basis

The UK government’s British Council offers several scholarships, bursaries, and additional financial support to students, including Chevening Fellowships and Royal Society research grants. Refer to the Studying in the UK webpage for a list of specific opportunities.

• Award: varies by funding opportunity
• Deadline: varies by funding opportunity

The Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange for Young Professionals (CBYX) Program, funded by the German Bundestag and the U.S. Department of State, offers funding to support young American professionals to spend one year in Germany.  Fellows will participate in intensive German language training, attend one semester of classes at a German institution, and complete a three-month internship in their career field.

• Award: round-trip airfare, tuition, housing, and monthly living stipend
• Deadline: December 1

Established by the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, the Eiffel Excellence Scholarship Program provides funding for top-qualified applicants to pursue an advanced degree at a French higher education institution.  Eligible fields of study include Economics and Management, Engineering (Master level), Sciences (PhD level), Law, and Political Sciences.

• Award: monthly stipend (approximately $1,200), round-trip airfare, housing subsidy
• Deadline: January of each year

The George J. Mitchell Scholarship Program, sponsored by the US-Ireland Alliance, provides funding to support future American leaders to pursue one academic year of postgraduate study in any discipline offered by institutions of higher learning in Ireland and Northern Ireland.  Applicants must demonstrate a commitment to scholarship, leadership, and community and public service.

• Award: tuition, accommodation, and a monthly living/travel stipend of approximately $1,250
• Deadline: September of each year

For more information about the George J. Mitchell Scholarship Program, contact the UT Dallas Office of Distinguished Scholarships.

Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst/German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) maintains a database of opportunities for those interested in studying, researching, or interning in Germany.

• Award: varies by funding opportunity
• Deadline: varies by funding opportunity

The German Chancellor Fellowship Program provides funding to university graduates from the United States who have an international outlook and are interested in spending a year in Germany to implement a project of their own design.  In order to apply, applicants must develop their own project and find a mentor in Germany to host them.

• Award: varies, up to $3,000 monthly
• Deadline: Sept. 15

The Institute of Turkish Studies (ITS) sponsors an annual grant competition for scholars in the United States. The purpose of the grant program is to encourage research, scholarship, and learning in the field of Ottoman and Modern Turkish Studies.

• Award: varies by grant
• Deadline: late March of each year

The Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (abbreviated as Monbukagakusho in Japanese or MEXT in English) sponsors scholarships to enable students from around the world to study and earn degrees at Japanese universities.  Applications should be submitted at the nearest Consulate-General of Japan.

• Award: tuition, monthly living stipend, round-trip airfare
• Deadline: May of each year

The Jessie Lokrantz Scholarship, offered by the American Women’s Club in Stockholm, provides funding to support U.S. citizens attending an accredited Swedish university.  Recipients are expected to attend at least one AWC event during the course of the academic year for which the scholarship is granted.

• Award: varies
• Deadline: April or May of each year

Funded by the British government, the Marshall Scholarship Program finances young Americans of high ability to earn a graduate degree in any subject in the United Kingdom.  The program strives to strengthen the enduring relationship between British and American peoples and equips future leaders with a lasting understanding of British society.  Up to fifty scholars are selected each year.

• Award: tuition and university fees, living expenses, travel grants, and round-trip airfare
• Deadline: early October of each year

For more information about the Marshall Scholarship Program, contact the UT Dallas Office of Distinguished Scholarships.

The Serge Bellanger International Business Degree Scholarship, sponsored by the French-American Chamber of Commerce Foundation (FACC Foundation), provides funding for the next generation of transatlantic business leaders.  In order to be eligible, U.S. students must plan to pursue an MBA, a master’s degree, or a mastère specialisé in a business-related discipline in France.

• Award: $10,000
• Deadline: March 31

Several scholarships and grants are available for students interested in studying and earning a degree in Australia.  These are offered by the Australian Government, universities, and a number of private and public organizations. Refer to the Study in Australia Scholarships webpage for a list of specific opportunities.

• Award: varies by funding opportunity
• Deadline: varies by funding opportunity

Several scholarships and grants are available for students interested in studying and earning a degree in Hungary.  Refer to the Study in Hungary Scholarships webpage for a list of specific opportunities.

• Award: varies by funding opportunity
• Deadline: varies by funding opportunity

Several government- and university-funded scholarships are available for students interested in studying and earning a degree in Taiwan.  Refer to the Study in Taiwan Scholarships webpage for a list of specific opportunities.

• Award: varies by funding opportunity
• Deadline: varies by funding opportunity

Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships for Foreign Scholars and Artists provide funding for young researchers who have completed a master’s degree or PhD and foreign artists with a bachelor’s degree.

• Award: monthly stipend (approximately $2,000), flight allowance
• Deadline: October of each year

The William J. Clinton Fellowship for Service in India Program is an immersive, 10-month volunteer service program matching young professionals with development organizations in India.  The program is designed to help shape the next generation of leaders into positive change agents.

• Award: monthly living stipend, round-trip airfare
• Deadline: March 15

The Churchill Scholarships in science, mathematics, and engineering provide funding to American students for one year of Master’s study at the University of Cambridge, based at Churchill College. Established at the request of Sir Winston Churchill, the program is designed to advance science and technology on both sides of the Atlantic.

• Award: tuition and university fees, round-trip airfare, and a living allowance
• Deadline: early November of each year

The Gates Cambridge Scholarship, established by a donation from Bill and Melinda Gates, offers full-cost scholarships to outstanding applicants from countries outside the United Kingdom to pursue a full-time graduate degree in any subject available at the University of Cambridge.  Approximately two-thirds of the awards are offered to PhD students with approximately 25 awards available for U.S. applicants.

• Award: tuition and university fees, round-trip airfare, discretionary funding
• Deadline: early October of each year

The oldest international fellowship award in the world, Rhodes Scholarships provide support to 32 American students each year to pursue a graduate degree at Oxford University in the United Kingdom.  Rhodes Scholars are chosen for their outstanding academic achievements, their character, their potential for leadership, and their commitment to others and to the common good.

• Award: tuition and university fees, round-trip airfare, monthly stipend of approximately $1,600
• Deadline: early October of each year

For more information about the Rhodes Scholarship Program, contact the UT Dallas Office of Distinguished Scholarships.

The Schwarzman Scholarship Program provides talented young leaders with the opportunity to earn a fully-funded Master’s of Global Affairs degree at Tsinghua University in China.  The program also includes an internship, a mentors network, travel seminars, and learning opportunities with leaders from China and around the world.

• Award: tuition, housing and food, round-trip airfare, and a $4,000 stipend
• Deadline: September of each year

The Yenching Academy of Peking University aims to build bridges between China and the rest of the world through a fully-funded interdisciplinary master’s program in China Studies. Yenching Scholars create their own study paths by choosing courses from six different research areas within the humanities and social sciences: Economics and Management, History and Archaeology, Philosophy and Religion, Politics and International Relations, Law and Society, and Literature and Culture.

• Award: tuition, accommodation, round-trip airfare, and a monthly stipend
• Deadline: December of each year