One main concern students express is how to finance their degrees. The following section includes tips and tricks to obtaining a scholarship and a list of external funding sources for prospective students of public health.
For more information on applying to a school or program of public health through the centralized application process visit: www.sophas.org.
This list is not exhaustive! Scholarships for graduate work are often more limited than those for undergraduate degrees. Students successful at obtaining funding say they designate approximately two hours per week to financial aid search. Start the process early. Many scholarship deadline dates are in October, November and December prior to the application deadline dates. Other tools—including search engines and smartphone apps—can provide additional opportunities.
When searching for scholarships, it is best to start with the broadest definition of your goals. From there, you can narrow down your personal attributes, geographic location, area of study, and other qualifying traits. Utilize the terminology listed in the description of potential scholarships to identify further search terms.
Additionally, it is helpful to create a comprehensive list of keywords—both general and specific—that applies to you. Keywords can include, gender, race or ethnicity, citizenship, volunteer or community service activities, research interests, or involvement in other organizations. Remember to view your work in its largest perspective.
Chances are faculty and current students have applied to similar scholarship opportunities: utilize their expertise! Have faculty, peers, and other professionals review the quality of your ideas and your scholarship applications.
Ask your friends and family to help you in the search process. Solicit organizations or groups with whom you affiliate (e.g., religious, social, and service) to inquire about potential scholarship opportunities.
Sponsors like to support recipients of other awards, no matter how small. Even the smallest award brings prestige to the applicant, demonstrating your potential for success.
After reviewing outside funding options, talk with your financial aid or admissions officer to see if they can provide additional suggestions or award institutional funds to help close the gap.
The following categories contain scholarship opportunities available to students. These broad opportunities were collected from external sources and are sorted based on specific qualifying criteria. Please take some time to search this list, keeping in mind that it is not exhaustive.
The following scholarships have qualifications based on citizenship. These scholarships include opportunities for international students looking to study in the United States, U.S. citizens wanting to study abroad, and scholarship opportunities based on nationality.
The following scholarships are for minority and underserved populations. Currently, these scholarships include opportunities for women, African Americans, American Indians, Hispanic/Latino, and LGBTQ. If the scholarship does not specify, it is located under general.
The following scholarships include opportunities based on the applicant qualifications. These can include, but are not limited to, medical history, volunteer activities, family status, military status, or other individual characteristics. Each scholarship describes the criteria in full detail.
The following scholarships include state and federal financial opportunities.
The following scholarships are awarded based on financial need.
The following scholarships are sorted by area of study. Keep in mind that you may qualify for one outside of your primary concentration.