Scholarships & Financial Support

Here is a list of common scholarships and financial support available through the University and open to religious studies majors for:

Study Abroad and Language Study
Research and Conference Participation
Internships and Teaching
Major External Scholarships

Awards, conditions, and application deadlines may change. Students should check with the director of undergraduate studies or pertinent Web sites for updates.

This list is not exhaustive and includes only external awards supported through Pitt. Students should also check Religious Studies on Facebook, which lists announcements of scholarships, grants, and internships for which our majors are eligible. See also Academic Resource Center, Office of Experimental Learning, Study Abroad Office, University Center for International Studies, and Related Links.

Download Scholarships and Financial Support (PDF)

Grants for Study Abroad and Language Study

Adrienne Spillar Memorial Fund for the Study of Religion and Media or Religion in America 

To apply for research-related travel funds, send the following to the Director of Undergraduate Studies (DUS) of the Department of Religious Studies: 

  • A cover letter explaining the goals of the research and the need for travel.
  • A letter of support from a faculty advisor. 
  • An estimated budget detailing travel costs (e.g., hotel, flight, meals). 
  • A list of other sources of funding that you have applied for, or intend to apply for, to support this research

To apply for funding to participate in a conference, send the following to the DUS:  

  • The name of the conference as well as its location and dates. 
  • A title and abstract of the conference paper to be presented.
  • Evidence the conference paper was accepted.
  • A letter of support from a faculty advisor.
  • An estimated budget detailing travel costs (e.g., hotel, flight, meals, conference fees).
  • A list of other sources of funding that you have applied for, or intend to apply for, to support your conference participation

Deadlines for applications are October 30, January 31, and April 1.  

Asian Studies Center, Chinese Summer Language Studies Scholarships

This scholarship provides a $5000 award for an approved program of Chinese language study in the United States or China. Students must have completed at least 2 years of Chinese language study or the equivalent by the inception of the award period. For summer 2012, one Chinese Summer Language Study Scholarship will be awarded. The deadline is January 30.

Asian Studies Center, Indo-Pacific Area Studies Undergraduate Awards

The purpose of this award is to provide funding for undergraduate students conducting research on the INPAC region. Awards will be approximately $500-$1,000 depending on the quality and number of requests. Students must be enrolled in an approved degree program at the University of Pittsburgh. Awards must be used in conjunction with a specific research project on the INPAC region. The deadline is March 15.

Asian Studies Center, Japanese Studies Undergraduate Scholarships

This provides a $4,000 tuition award to a Pitt undergraduate student who has compiled a strong record in Japanese language (at least two years of study) and in area studies courses on Japan. The award can be used only at the University of Pittsburgh’s Oakland campus during the academic year (fall and spring) while the student is in residence at the Oakland campus. The deadline is January 30.

Asian Studies Center, Japanese Summer Language Study Scholarships

These scholarships provide $2,000 tuition awards to Pitt undergraduate students to study the language during the summer at an approved program of study in the United States or Japan. This award cannot be applied to SEALS Japan courses at the University of Pittsburgh. (See "Intensive Summer Japanese Program Scholarships" for financial aid for Summer Intensive Japanese at Pitt.) Preference will be given to applicants who will have completed at least one year of Japanese language study or the equivalent by the inception of the award period. The deadline is January 30.

Asian Studies Center, Korean Studies Grants

The Korea Council is accepting applications for the Korean Studies Grant. This grant provides up to $3,000 per academic year to encourage and develop Korean studies at the University of Pittsburgh. All Pitt faculty, students, staff, and related personnel are eligible to apply. Applications may be for any amount up to $3,000 and multiple applications by the same person are allowed. All applications will be considered by the Korean Council. There is a rolling deadline for applications.

Asian Studies Center, Korean Studies Tuition Remission Scholarships

The Korean Studies Tuition Remission Scholarship covers in-state tuition expenses for one semester of full-time study at the University of Pittsburgh.  Applicants must be currently-enrolled students at the University of Pittsburgh at the time of application, and must have completed one academic year of study by the inception of the award. This award is available to (1) undergraduate or graduate students, of any nationality, with a demonstrated interest in Korean studies; or (2) undergraduate or graduate students, in any field, from Korea. The deadline is January 30.

Asian Center Center, Summer East Asian Language Study (SEALS) Japan Tuition Reduction Scholarships

All applicants to SEALS Japan are eligible to apply for additional financial support. To find out term dates and more information, visit the SEALS website. The deadline is March 15.

Asian Studies Center, Summer East Asian Language Study (SEALS) Japan Tuition Remission Scholarships

A small number of full-tuition scholarships are available for summer SEALS Japan students who will be enrolled in JPNSE 1061 or JPNSE 1062. For more information visit the EALL’s SEALS Japan site. The deadline is March 15.

Asian Studies Center, Study-in-Japan Scholarships

These scholarships provide tuition awards ($5,000 for one semester, or $10,000 for one year) to Pitt undergraduate students who have demonstrated a strong record in Japanese studies and who will study in Japan for one semester (fall or spring semester), or a year (fall and spring semester). Preference is given to applicants who will have completed at least two years of language study or the equivalent by the inception of the award period. The deadline is January 30.

Center for Latin American Studies, Undergraduate Seminar/Field Trips

The CLAS Undergraduate Seminar/Field Trip involves a preparatory seminar on the country to be visited, followed by a six-week field trip to that country. The seminar/field trip is offered annually. CLAS heavily subsidizes the cost of the trip to place it within the means of virtually all students. Student participants register for a seminar in the spring term (January-April) that prepares them for the field trip through study of the culture, economics, geography, history, and politics of the area to be visited. Students also are introduced to research methodology and are guided through the development of a project, which forms the basis for research they conduct while in the field. In the summer session (mid-May through mid-June), the students travel to Latin America where they reside with host families and undertake their research projects under the direction of a CLAS faculty member. (In past years, groups have gone to Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guatemala, Mexico, Uruguay, and Venezuela.) For information on the most recent field trip, please click here.

Center for Latin American Studies, Undergraduate Study Abroad Awards

Four separate scholarships (ranging from $500 to $1000) are available for undergraduates to support the pursuit of study abroad in Latin America. For more information on the scholarship, please click here.The deadline is March 1.

Center for Russian and European Studies, Summer Study Abroad/Internship Awards for Undergraduates

Summer Study Abroad/Internship Awards for Undergraduates support study or a for-credit internship in East/Central Europe or the countries of the former Soviet Union. Grants will be awarded on a competitive basis. Students may combine REES awards with study-abroad funding from sources internal or external to the University. Preference will be given to applicants whose projects include language training along with the study program or internship abroad. Applicants must be enrolled in the Russian and East European Studies Certificate Program, unless applying for a REES faculty-led short-term trip abroad. The deadline is January 15.

Center for Russian and European Studies, Undergraduate Student FLAS Fellowships

The FLAS Fellowship is a prestigious award that enables the recipient to devote full time to undergraduate study. FLAS-eligible languages include: Russian, Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian (BCS), Hungarian, Polish, Slovak, Turkish, and Ukrainian. The application deadline is February 15.

European Center for Excellence/European Union Center, Friedl E. Kessler Memorial Fellowship

To help defray the costs of studying abroad, the European Studies Center/European Union Center of Excellence offers the Kessler Fellowship for study or research in Germany. The award is offered to a West European Studies or European Union Studies Certificate Program student in the amount of $2,000 on a competitive basis. To be eligible to apply, the student must be studying German and have at least a 3.0 QPA. The deadline is March 26.

European Center for Excellence/European Union Center, Mark Nordenberg Internship Abroad Scholarships

The Mark Nordenberg Internship Abroad Scholarships are available to students planning an internship in Europe. Two awards of $2,500.00 are given each academic year. While preference will be given to students who belong to the European Union or West European Studies Certificate Programs, any University of Pittsburgh Oakland Campus undergraduate student is welcome to apply. All types of internship are eligible.  Whether it’s part of a study abroad program or not, for credit or not, the only thing to keep in mind is that it must be relevant to your major or pre-professional program, and be at least 6 weeks in length. The deadline is March 26.

Nationality Room Scholarships

These scholarships for summer study abroad are available to undergraduate students who will have earned 60-90 credits by April and range from $1,000 to $4,000. Applicants must be full-time students on the Oakland campus, American citizens or permanent residents, and be on campus for two semesters prior to the study abroad and two semesters immediately following the summer experience. The minimum stay is five weeks and students must be earning University of Pittsburgh credit while abroad. A variety of scholarships for research and language study are open to undergraduate students in the following areas: Africa, Austria, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Poland, and Scotland. Other scholarships treat study abroad more broadly or are only open to women undergraduates. Students may apply for two scholarships but accept only one. Check the Nationality Room homepage for details and conditions for each country/award. Contact the Nationality Room Program at 412.624.6150. The deadline for picking up an application is January 14; completed applications are due on January 20.

Provost's Scholarship for Study Abroad

All full-time degree-seeking undergraduate students, who are minorities, or studying either in the following Colleges/Schools; Business, General Studies, Engineering, Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Information Science, Nursing, and Pharmacy, are eligible to apply. Students from the Pitt regional campuses are also eligible for the Provost's Scholarships. Each year, 10-$1,000 scholarships are awarded to qualified students, with a QPA of 2.75 or higher. Scholarships are for summer, semester, or year-long programs. Deadlines: Summer, January 25; Fall Term, February 22; Spring Term, September 25; Academic Year, February 22.

Study Abroad Language Scholarships, External

See Global Studies

Study Abroad Scholarship Fund

All full-time degree-seeking undergraduate Pitt students (including those from the regional campuses) who have a 3.00 QPA or higher are eligible to apply to the Study Abroad Scholarship Fund. Scholarships are available for summer, semester, and full-year programs. Awards range from $500 - $1,500 for each scholarship. Deadlines: Summer, January 25; Fall Tem,: February 22; Spring Term, September 25; Academic Year, February 22.

Vira Heinz Scholarships

Awards are available to women undergraduates for study abroad.

University Center for International Studies, International Studies Fund

The International Studies Fund (ISF) is intended to help students at the University of Pittsburgh to conduct research on international issues or in international settings. “International” is defined as relating to another country or culture, comparative analysis covering more than one country or culture, studies of international relations or of transnational activities, or studies which examine topics related to global issues. The application deadline is March 15.

Fellowships for Research and Conference Participation

Brackenridge Summer Research Fellowships

This fellowship supports University of Pittsburgh undergraduates conducting independent research projects and a round-table discussion of progress in a weekly seminar in the summer months. Students also are encouraged to participate in informal workshops, typically initiated by the fellows themselves, which allow the fellows to further discuss their research projects. All participants receive a stipend of $3,500 to assure their freedom from employment, so that major commitments to seminar responsibilities in the summer can be assured. The fellowship is open to undergraduates from any field. Application deadline is March 2.

Chancellor's Undergraduate Research Fellowships

The Chancellor's Undergraduate Research Fellowship is intended to support student involvement in independent research under the direction of a faculty mentor. Up to ten $800 fellowships, administered by the University Honors College (UHC), are offered to encourage the enrichment of the students' experience in defining objectives and selecting methodologies appropriate to original research in their chosen field of study. The fellowships are available for one term, either fall or spring. Deadline: November 18 for the following spring term; the last working day of March for the following fall term.

Fall/Spring Brackenridge Research Fellowships

The Brackenridge Fellowship supports University of Pittsburgh undergraduates conducting independent research projects and a discussion of progress in a weekly seminar. The fellowship awards a stipend of $800; in addition, it requires students to register for 1 credit of research and participate in one or two weekly seminars: a mandatory one in which students discuss each other's research progress, and an optional one in which faculty mentors present their work to the assembled students. Deadline: November 18 for Spring Term awards;the last working day of June for Fall Term awards.

Fred W. Clothey Fund for the Study of South Asia and Ritual

This fund honors Dr. Fred W. Clothey, Professor Emeritus of the Department of Religious Studies and a pioneer in the ethnographic study of South Asian religion and ritual studies. Small grants up to 750 dollars are available to students to help defray costs involved in conference participation or research-related travel. Religious Studies undergraduates whose project involves South Asia are welcome to apply. Along with an online letter of support from the student's project advisor, an online application should be submitted to Dr. Clark Chilson, DUS, at 412.624.5977. When applying for conference funds, the cover letter should include the title of the conference paper, a brief abstract of the paper, the conference and panel names, and the location and date(s) of the conference. Evidence of conference paper acceptance should also be attached. When applying for research funds, the cover letter should include the title of the project and a 2-3 page research proposal addressing the topic of research, specific goals and time frame of the trip, pre-trip preparation, evidence of research feasibility and/or other justification for the trip, and the location(s) of the proposed research. Applications for both conference and research travel should also include an estimated budget (travel, hotel, meals, conference registration, or library or institutional fees). Applications must be made in advance of travel to conferences or research sites. Priority is given to first time applicants. Deadlines for application are October 30, January 31 and April 1.

Mary Ellen Callahan Undergraduate Student Research Fund

The Callahan Research Fund supports University of Pittsburgh undergraduates conducting independent research projects in the social sciences. All participants receive a stipend for their work to encourage commitment to their research. Students may also receive reimbursement for travel and other research-related expenses. The fellowship is open to undergraduate social science researchers who can be from any class, including freshmen and seniors.

Off-Campus Research Awards

The Off-Campus Research Awards are intended to support undergraduate scholarship under the direction of a faculty mentor for research projects conducted outside of the University of Pittsburgh. Awards may be used for international projects or for projects in the United States. Applications for the Fall Term are due May 31.

Office of Experiential Learning, Small Grants for Undergraduate Research

OEL Small Grants for Undergraduate Research fund original research or creative projects that students complete independently or with other undergraduate students. Grants of up to $500 are available. They can also be used to help fund travel to conferences where a student is presenting a paper or exhibiting their own original work, performing as part of an artistic event, or participating on a panel. No deadline.

Summer Undergraduate Research Awards

Arts and Sciences is looking for applicants to join a diverse community of undergraduate scholars and researchers from the humanities, natural sciences, and social sciences. Awardees receive $3,000 to support a summer term of independent research and scholarship. Awardees participate in the Honors College Brackenridge Summer Fellowship program weekly round table discussions and Johnstown retreat. Awardees present their finished projects at the Brackenridge presentations. Awards are provided by the USS Foundation, Christine Toretti Fund, Leonard Baxt Fund, James Harrison Fund, and NASA. The deadline for application is February 27.

Women's Studies, Student Research Funds

Awards from $25 to $1,000 are given to graduate and undergraduate students demonstrating a need for funds to conduct research on issues relating to women and gender. Funds may be used for travel expenses, secretarial costs, research materials or other direct costs related to research. Priority is given to students who have not received women's studies funding in the past and also to those enrolled in a Women's Studies Certificate Program who have made significant progress toward their certificate. The deadlines for application are February 1, May 1 and October 1 and are subject to available funds.

Internship and Teaching Opportunities

Academic Internships

Arts and Sciences faculty members provide opportunities for undergraduates to learn outside a classroom setting by taking part in academic internships. Academic internships offer students the opportunity to gain practical experience and to reflect on academic subject within different settings outside the classroom. They provide the flexibility to learn aspects of the subject or field that may not arise during classroom discussion. Students can earn between 1-3 credits for an academic internship approved through the School of Arts and Sciences.

Center for Latin American Studies, Ambassador

Undergraduates enrolled in the CLAS certificate or related concentration may apply.  The recipient of the fellowship will be required to work a maximum of fifteen hours per week during the fall and spring terms.  In return, she or he will receive full tuition.  The role of Student Ambassador to the Center is an important and rewarding one for the right candidate who possesses strong organizational skills, self-direction and professionalism. The deadline is March 30.

Center for Latin American Studies, Undergraduate Teaching Awards

The Undergraduate Teaching Award offers undergraduates the opportunity to enrich their educational experience, enhance their resumé, and receive a cash award of $750. The Award is given to an outstanding undergraduate (currently enrolled in Latin American Studies) to assist a professor in a Latin American course and is generally available each term. The Fall Term deadline is March 30.

Center for Russian and European Studies, Undergraduate Internships

REES offers several internship awards for undergraduates to support a non-credit internship in Russian and East European Studies. Students receiving these awards will be paid during the term, and are required to work 130 hours. Students are encouraged to meet with REES Undergraduate Advisor Vera Sebulsky to apply for an appropriate internship placement. Please note that you may pursue an internship opportunity either at the University of Pittsburgh or in the community. Applicants must be enrolled in the REES Certificate Program and have completed two years of REES-area language study, or be a native speaker of Russian or another East European language. The deadline for a Fall 2012 award is March 16.

Chancellor's Undergraduate Teaching Fellowships

Ten $800 undergraduate teaching fellowships, awarded for joint student-faculty teaching projects and administered by the University Honors College (UHC), are available for each term. These fellowships are offered to encourage the enrichment of course offerings and to improve teaching through the collaboration of faculty members with students in the planning and implementation of creative teaching projects. The fellowships are available for one term, either fall or spring. Deadlines are the last working day of October for the following spring term and the last working day of March for the following fall term.

First Experiences in Teaching

This program offers opportunities for Arts and Sciences undergraduate students to become involved in teaching projects as part of courses currently offered in the social sciences, humanities or natural sciences. Students work with a faculty member on a teaching related project for five or 10 hours per week. They also meet every other week with a group of other students involved in a teaching project. Students receive 1-2 credits depending on the number of hours they are engaged in their teaching activities. Students who qualify for Federal Work Study can opt for an hourly wage rather than credit. To participate, students must be in good academic standing and have successfully completed the course that they wish to support. Students should talk with their instructors about working with these faculty mentors on teaching projects for specific classes. Application details are posted early in the term preceding the term in which you would like to assist in teaching. A limited number of Chancellor’s Undergraduate Teaching Fellowships are available each term.

Global Studies, Student Ambassadors

Awardees are expected to begin their fellowship as soon as classes begin in the term, and are required to work a maximum of 10 hours per week. The scholarship amount will be credited to the student's PeopleSoft account for the award term. Applicant must be currently enrolled in, and must demonstrate progress towards completing, one of the following: Undergraduate Certificate, Graduate Certificate, or Bachelor of Philosophy in International and Area Studies (BPhil-IAS), Global Studies Track.
2. Minimum QPA: Undergraduate Certificate students: 3.0. Application deadline for Fall Term is April 20.

Women’s Studies, Teaching Internships

The Teaching Internship is designed to provide Women’s Studies Certificate students with the opportunity of working with a faculty member in teaching an undergraduate WOMNST or WS cross-listed course. Recommended for juniors and seniors who should apply in the semester prior to the one in which they wish to intern.

Major External Scholarships

The University Honors College provides assistance with the application process of the following fellowships.

Boren Awards for International Study

Undergraduates who are U.S. citizens and are interested in study abroad in areas other than Western Europe, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. Winners receive a maximum of $20,000/academic year. Deadline: February 13, 2013. Each campus sets an earlier campus deadline.

Critical Language Scholarships for Intensive Summer Institutes

Complete scholarship to study abroad in Arabic and Persian: Advanced beginning, intermediate and advanced levels; Azerbaijani, Bangla/Bengali, Hindi, Indonesian, Korean, Punjabi, Turkish, and Urdu: Beginning, intermediate and advanced levels; Chinese, Japanese, and Russian: Intermediate and advanced levels. Open to U.S.-citizen undergraduate, Master's, and Ph.D. students in any field. Applications available in the Fall Term for the following summer.

DAAD Fellowships

Fellows study and conduct research in Germany. Open to undergraduates, graduates, doctoral students, postdoctoral students, and faculty. U.S. or Canadian citizenship required. Postmark deadline is January 31.

Fulbright U.S. Student Program

Research/study grants or English teaching grants in over 150 countries for seniors, graduate students and alumni (US citizenship required). The Fulbright program promotes mutual understanding among nations through educational and cultural exchange. Deadline is October 17. NOTE: The Fulbright US Student Program has a campus-specific deadline that occurs prior to the national deadline. Though this deadline is not referenced on the program's official website, it is a mandatory portion of the application process.

Gates Cambridge Scholarship

Scholarships for graduate study for US students at the University of Cambridge. Award covers full cost of study at Cambridge plus airfare to and from the U.K.

Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship

Up to $5,000 to students in any field who have already been accepted to a study abroad program. $3000 Critical Need Language Supplements are available for students studying a critical need language for a total possible award of $8000. Students must receive a Federal Pell Grant to be eligible. U.S. citizenship required. Summer & Fall/Academic Year application deadlines are all March 1.

Humanity In Action

For sophomores, juniors, seniors, and recent graduates (up to 2 years after graduating) in all fields of study interested an intensive 5 weeks focused on human rights and minority issues. Assigned to Denmark, France, Germany, the Netherlands, or Poland. Non-U.S. citizens are eligible. Postmark is January 9. Click here.

Institute for International Public Policy

Upon acceptance and admission to the IIPP Fellowship Program, Fellows must commit to a multi-year education and training program that requires three consecutive summers of fellowship-related activities; study abroad for a minimum of one semester during their junior year of college; an internship; a summer language institute (if the Fellow is not competent/fluent in a foreign language); and application to and completion of a Master’s-level graduate program focused on international affairs. The junior year study abroad component must be completed before a Fellow graduates from college. An IIPP Fellow must complete all requirements of the program within seven years. Click here for more information about the International Affairs Fellowship for Minority College Sophomores.

Marshall Scholarship

Seniors and graduates who are U.S. citizens to study in the U.K. Award covers university fees, tuition, books, a thesis grant, research & daily travel, plus fares to & from the U.S. Click here for more information about the Marshall Scholarships. Applications are available in late spring. NOTE: The Marshall Scholarship has a campus-specific deadline that occurs prior to the national deadline. Though this deadline is not referenced on the award's official website, it is a mandatory portion of the application process.

George J. Mitchell Scholarship

Seniors, alumni, and graduate students no older than 30 to study in Ireland or Northern Ireland. Award covers tuition, housing, a $12,000 living expenses stipend, and international travel. Deadline is October 2.

Pitt Alumni Association Graduate Awards

These awards are open to Pitt graduate students who earned a BA degree from the University of Pittsburgh and offer a partial stipend. Deadline for application is early in the spring term.

Rhodes Scholarship Program

Seniors and graduate students who are U.S. citizens to study at Oxford. Award covers all educational costs, tuition, fees, and travel. Click here for more information about the Rhodes Scholarship Program. Deadline is October 3 NOTE: The Rhodes Scholarship has a campus-specific deadline that occurs prior to the national deadline. Though this deadline is not referenced on the award's official website, it is a mandatory portion of the application process.

Harry S. Truman Scholarship

Applicants must be juniors interested in a career in the public sector. Funding is for graduate or professional schools in the United States or foreign countries. Winners receive up to $30,000 for 2-3 years of graduate study. Each institution can nominate up to four candidates for this award. Click here for more information about the Harry S. Truman Scholarship Foundation. NOTE: The Harry S. Truman Scholarship has a campus-specific deadline that occurs prior to the national deadline. Though this deadline is not referenced on the award's official website, it is a mandatory portion of the application process.

Udall Scholarship

Sophomores and juniors are eligible (including those in the 4th year of a 5th year track from a variety of fields who have demonstrated a commitment to environmental or natural resource issues through a combination of coursework, research, internships, jobs, or extracurricular activities. Native American or Alaskan native students are also eligible for fields related to tribal health care or tribal policy. Each institution can nominate up to six candidates for this award. Winners receive up to $5,000 for tuition, room and board, or other educational expenses. Click here for more information about the Morris K. Udall Foundation. Deadline is March 5. NOTE: The Morris K. Udall Scholarship has a campus-specific deadline that occurs prior to the national deadline. Though this deadline is not referenced on the award's official website, it is a mandatory portion of the application process.

Related Links

Knowledge Exchange Institute

A good source for worldwide research, internship, and study programs.

National Conferences on Undergraduate Research

The National Conferences on Undergraduate Research (NCUR) is dedicated to promoting undergraduate research, scholarship, and creative activity in all fields of study by sponsoring an annual conference for students. The NCUR is a wonderful opportunity to meet peers and faculty from around the country working in similar research fields, learn about how research and scholarship is conducted in fields very different than your own, to learn about graduate school and employment opportunities, and to develop your presentation skills. Students presenting at the National Conference have the option of doing an oral or poster presentation. The application deadline is December 1.

Posters on the Hill

Supported by the Council on Undergraduate Research, 60 competitively selected students present their posters at the U.S. Capitol during one afternoon, typically in late March or April. The presentation is divided into two parts: the former is an opportunity to meet your Congressperson and Senators in person, and the latter is the actual poster presentation. The deadline is November 10.