Scholarships for Specific Ethnicities and Nationalities
Unless otherwise noted, the Office of Special Scholarship Programs at the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) does not administer or sponsor the programs listed on its website. The content of these pages are merely a guide for current undergraduate and professional school students at UIC. For questions or contact information, please refer to the website that the short description is linked to.
Deadline varies or is not available:
Robert B. Bailey Scholarship for Study Abroad - for undergraduate students participating in a CIEE study abroad program; must self-identify as a member of a minority group or a group traditionally underrepresented in study abroad
The Fund.org - theological education, African-American PhD and ThD students, minorities pursuing PhD's related to racial identity/racial issues
Indian Health Service Scholarship Fund - documented Native American Indian and Alaskan Native undergraduate students pursuing degree programs leading to the health fields
Indicorps - students of Indian (South Asian) origin who have completed a bachelor's degree or 5 years work experience; for community and identity development in India
Japanese American Citizens League (JACL) Fellowships - for recent college graduates interested in developing leadership and public policy experience
Japanese American Citizens League (JACL) Scholarship - various fields; requires student membership in JACL and submission of materials through a local JACL chapter
Kosciuszko Foundation Scholarships - various fields; for undergraduate, professional and graduate students who are Polish-American
LatinoCollegeDollars.org - a website and scholarship search engine dedicated to scholarships for Latino college students
Turkish Coalition of America Study Abroad in Turkey Scholarships for Minority Students (for semester, summer or academic year) - must be an African American, Hispanic/Latino or Native American undergraduate students and a U.S. citizen; have already applied and been accepted to participate in a study abroad program at a Turkish university through an American educational institution or study abroad provider; graduate students granted awards on a case by case basis; sponsored by DiversityAbroad.com
Turkish Coalition of America Study Abroad in Turkey for Armenian American Students (for semester, summer or academic year) - up to 100 scholarships per year for American students of Armenian descent to study abroad in Turkey
UIC Everett and Florence Drumright Scholarships - for UIC undergraduate students only, in all majors, who are American-born of Chinese descent; all majors (offered in both spring and fall semesters)
UIC Latin American Recruitment and Educational Services Program (LARES) - scholarship listings for UIC Latino and Latina students
United Macedonian Diaspora - scholarships for Macedonian Americans to study abroad in Turkey; competitive internships with the UMD in Washington, DC; and competitive internships with the Macedonian internships in Washington, DC
August:
Polish American Association Lyczko Scholarship - for students of Polish descent pursuing undergraduate degrees at an accredited university
National Medical Fellowships - merit-based awards recognizing outstanding minority medical students, recommended by their medical schools; offered primarily to third- and fourth-year medical students
September
Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund Scholarships - for Mexican American students already enrolled in law school
Xerox Technical Minority Scholarship Program - for minority students pursuing a technical degree program; undergraduate and graduate students who are of African American, Asian, Pacific Islander, Native American, Native Alaskan, or Hispanic descent
October:
American Political Science Association Minority Fellowship Program - for pursuit of doctoral degrees in political science; African Americans, Asian Pacific Americans, Latinos/as, and Native Americans
Illinois Legislative Latino Caucus Foundation Scholarship - (FOR STUDENTS IN THE STATE OF ILLINOIS ONLY) for full-time undergraduate Latino students whose home residence is in Illinois and are attending an Illinois college or university; awards of $2,000
Merage Foundation for the American Dream Fellowship - (APPLY THROUGH UIC ONLY) graduating seniors; immigrant students studying business, the arts, science, education or public service
November:
Consortium for Graduate Study in Management - business students who have completed a bachelor's degree; allows African American, Hispanic or Native American students to apply to MBA programs within the consortium (schools listed on website)
Ford Foundation Fellowships - meant to increase the number of professors who can and will use diversity as a resource for enriching the education of all students; Alaska Natives (Aleut, Eskimo and other Indigenous People of Alaska); African Americans; Mexican Americans or Chicanos(as); Native American Indians; Native Pacific Islanders (Hawaiian/Polynesian/Micronesian); and Puerto Ricans
The National GEM Consortium Fellowship - engineering, natural and physical sciences; for master's and PhD-level work; African American, Native American Indian, and Hispanic students
National Physical Science Consortium (NPSC) Fellowships - emphasizes recruitment of women and underrepresented minorities into doctoral degree programs within the physical sciences, biochemistry, computer science, and related fields of science and engineering
December:
AANAPISI Scholarships for Spring Semester - for current undergraduate Asian American and Pacific Islander students at UIC; must have a 2.25 GPA or higher and some level of financial need
Barbara Jordan Health Policy Scholars Program - summer internship for minority college seniors and recent graduates studying health policy and other issues affecting racial and ethnic minority and underserved communities
Hispanic Scholarship Fund - various fields, awards and deadlines, for Hispanic students in high school, community college, or at a four-year university
NCAA Ethnic Minority and Women's Enhancement Postgraduate Scholarships for Careers in Athletics - applicants must be seeking admission or have been accepted into a sports administration or other program that will help the applicant obtain a career in intercollegiate athletics, such as athletics administrator, coach, athletic trainer or other career that provides a direct service to intercollegiate athletics
UNCF Merck Science Initiative Scholarship Program - for African American college juniors majoring in the life or physical sciences and biomedical research
January:
American Architectural Foundation Scholarships for Minority and Disadvantaged Students - for high school seniors, college freshmen and technical/community college transfer students who would have otherwise not been able to enter into a professional architecture program for finanical reasons
American Psychological Association Minority Fellowships Program - minority students with a dedication to a career in mental health research or services relevant to ethnic and racial minority groups
American Sociological Association Minority Fellowships Program - supports the development and training of sociologists of color in mental illness and disorders and related co-morbidities (i.e. alcohol and drug abuse)
Cintas Fellowship in Visual Arts and Music Composition - visual photography, arts, literature; artists with Cuban citizenship or of direct descent (Cuban parent or grandparent)
Institute for Responsible Citizenship - summer fellowships in Washington, DC, and NYC for African-American males; college sophomores only
Kay Kongcope Scholarship | National Lesbian & Gay Journalists Association - for tuition assistance to an LGBT student of color who plans a career in journalism and is committed to furthering NLGJA’s mission of fair and accurate coverage of the LGBT community
Kosciuszko Foundation | Dr. Marie E. Zakrzewski Medical Scholarship - awarded annually to one young woman of Polish ancestry in her first, second, or third year of medical studies at an accredited school of medicine in the United States; award of $3,500; first preference given to residents of Massachusetts or New England at-large
NIH Heart, Lung & Blood Institute Biomedical Research Training Program - for underrepresented undergraduates and graduate students, paid research training at NIH over 2 years
Pan-Hellenic Scholarship Foundation - awards for Greek American students attending or planning to attend four-year universities in pursuit of a bachelor's degree
Udall Congressional Summer Internship for Native Americans - internship positions for Native American Indians and Alaska Natives in Washington, DC, for a summer; college juniors, seniors or recent graduates and graduate or law students
February:
American Meteorological Society Scholarships and Graduate Fellowships - outstanding undergraduate and graduate students pursuing a career in the atmospheric and related oceanic or hydrologic sciences
CIC Summer Research Opportunities Program (SROP) - all majors, paid summer research, underrepresented students are encouraged to apply
Daughters of the American Revolution Francis Crawford Marvin Scholarship - awards for Native American college students; all majors welcome; D.A.R. membership not necessary
Hellenic Times Scholarship Fund - for undergraduate or graduate students of Greek descent between the ages of 17 and 25; enrolled at an accredited college or university
HIAS Chicago Undergraduate Scholarship - for full-time students who are Jewish immigrants to the U.S. and applied for Permanent Residency (i.e. a “Green Card”) or Citizenship with the assistance of HIAS Chicago between January 1, 2001 and the present; must have lived in the U.S. since March 1, 2010 or earlier and demonstrate academic excellence, financial need, assistance to your community, and a well thought out educational plan
HIAS Chicago Graduate Scholarship - for full-time graduate or professional students who are Jewish immigrants to the U.S. and received assistance from HIAS Chicago at any time; must have lived in U.S. for at least two years and demonstrate financial need
International Leadership Foundation Programs - summer internships and extended fellowships for young Asian Pacific Americans in public service and civic leadership
Jewish Federation Academic Scholarship Program - for Jewish college and graduate students pursuing degrees in the "helping" professions
Lagrant Foundation Scholarship for Graduate Students - for African American, Asian American or Pacific Islander, Hispanic and Native American students enrolled in a graduate program concentrating in advertising, marketing or public relations
Lagrant Foundation Scholarship for Undergraduates - for African American, Asian American or Pacific Islander, Hispanic, and Native American continuing undergrads studying advertising, marketing or public relations or minoring in communications
Microsoft Scholarships - undergraduate students with demonstrated interest in computer science and from other relevant fields, such as electrical engineering, math, or physics; students also complete an internship with the company; general, women's, minority and students with disabilities scholarships
Semiconductor Research Corporation GRC Master's Scholarship - for women and underrepresented minority groups (African American, Hispanic, Native American) pursuing graduate study in microelectronics
Udall Scholarship for Undergraduates - (APPLY THROUGH UIC ONLY) for Native American or Alaska Native college juniors who have demonstrated commitment to careers related to tribal public policy; or who have demonstrated commitment to careers related to Native health care
Wellstone Fellowship for Social Justice - social justice and health care advocacy and policy; seeks to increase the number of low-income, African American, Latino, Asian American, Native Pacific Islander, and Native American Indian and Alaska Native social justice leaders
Weyerhaeuser/UNCF Corporate Scholars Program - for undergraduate sophomores and juniors interested in learning more about the Weyerhaeuser Corporation, who are majoring in business, engineering and forestry
March:
AANAPISI Scholarships for Summer, Fall or Academic Year - (FOR CURRENT UIC STUDENTS ONLY) funding for current undergraduate Asian American and Pacific Islander students at UIC; must have a 2.25 GPA or higher and some level of financial need
American Chemical Society Minority Scholars Program - high school seniors and continuing undergraduate students intent on majoring in chemistry, biochemistry, chemical engineering, or a chemically related field; African American, Hispanic and Native American students
Asian Pacific Fund - various fields; 16 different scholarships supporting undergraduate and graduate students of Asian & Pacific Islander backgrounds
Conference on Asian Pacific American Leadership (CAPAL) - funding for Asian American students to complete summer internships in Washington, DC
Hispanic College Fund College and Career Institute Scholarship Program - awards for Hispanic students who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents in a wide variety of fields; funding from $500 to $10,000
Hispanic College Fund College and Career Institute Scholarship for Puerto Rican students - preference for students in Puerto Rico; must be a U.S. citizen with a 3.0 GPA or better and Puerto Rican or of Puerto Rican descent; scholarships from $500-$5,000; must be full-time undergraduate
Illinois DREAM Act Scholarship Fund - awards through the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights; students holding F-1 student visas and international students are not eligible
League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) National Scholarship Fund - Hispanic students; must apply through a local LULAC council (info on website)
IIPP Fellowship - undergraduate sophomores interested in international relations, public policy and language training; African American, Hispanic, Asian American, Native American Indian, Native Pacific Islander, and Alaskan Native students
NAACP Scholarships - several scholarships, variety of fields; some require membership in the NAACP
National Association of Black Journalist Scholarships - must be a student member of NABJ; for journalism majors or those pursuing careers in journalism
National Italian American Foundation Scholarships- Italian American college students, various fields
Yivo Institute-Bard College Summer Yiddish Program - summer study program of Yiddish language, and an in-depth exploration of the literature and culture of East European/American Jewry
April:
Chinese American Medical Society Scholarship - awards 3-5 scholarships annually to medical students, dentistry students or scientists of Chinese descent
Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute Scholarships - Latino students in the United States who have a history of performing public service-oriented activities in their communities, demonstrate a desire to continue their civic engagement in the future; no GPA or academic major requirement
Daughters of the American Revolution American Indian Scholarship - awards for Native American college students; all majors welcome; D.A.R. membership not necessary
HACU-Southwest Airlines Lanzate Travel Grant - funding air travel for undergraduate and graduate students who go to school away from home
Islamic Scholarship Fund - awards for Muslim students studying social sciences, humanities and law, and are active in their communities
UIC Martin Luther King, Jr. Scholarship - (FOR UIC STUDENTS ONLY) any discipline; undergraduate and graduate/professional school students; African American, Hispanic and Native American Indian or Alaskan Native students
Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund Scholarships - general awards for Mexican American undergraduate students as well as for Mexican Americans already enrolled in law school
National Hispanic Caucus of State Legislators (NHCSL) STEM Targeted Majors Scholarship Fund - a one-time educational grant of $2,500 and an opportunity to intern with a corporate NHCSL partner; must be at least a sophomore, a U.S. citizen, and of Hispanic descent
National Society of Hispanic MBA's Scholarship - for students of Hispanic descent either planning to enroll or already enrolled in a master's program related to business or management
Polish National Alliance Scholarship Program - any field, for current undergraduate students of Polish descent, who are members of the alliance
Worldstudio Foundation Scholarships - students in studio design and the visual arts; minority students are particularly encouraged to apply
May:
Adelante! Scholarships - for current Hispanic undergraduate students majoring in international business, general business, economics, finance, accounting, marketing, public relations, communications or sales
Cirilo McSween (New York Life) $2,500 Scholarship - business majors, sponsored by the Rainbow-PUSH Coalition
Iranian-American Scholarship Fund - for current undergraduate and graduate students (no freshmen or PhD students) with verifiable Iranian heritage who are current U.S. citizens or permanent residents; demonstrated financial need and commitment to community service
Korean American Community Services (KACS) Sei Won Kim Scholarship - for Korean American students in the Chicago area planning careers in human services, public health or other related fields
Korean American Scholarship Foundation - various fields; for high school seniors, undergraduates and graduate/professional school students
National Bar Institute African-American Law Student Fellowship - African American students currently enrolled in law school
OCA-Verizon College Scholarship - for Asian American or Asian Pacific Islander college students majoring in business, computer or engineering-related fields
Ora Lee Sanders $1,000 Scholarship - any field, sponsored by the Rainbow-PUSH Coalition
Ozyegin University Summer Program in Turkey (NOT affiliated with UIC Study Abroad) - four-week summer program in Istanbul designed to provide international students (e.g. Americans) an opportunity to learn about Istanbul’s pivotal role in history, as well as the Ottoman Empire and Turkish literature with an analysis of formation of modern Turkish identity; scholarships for program costs available to minority students (African Americans, Latinos and Native Americans)
June:
Diageo Celebrate the Future Hispanic Scholarship Fund - $7,500 award for Hispanic students 21 and older; must be and Illinois resident AND a U.S. citizen or permanent resident; pursuing a degree relating to the hospitality industry
Illinois Latino Council on Higher Education (ILACHE) Scholarship - various fields; Hispanic students currently enrolled full-time at a four-year college or university in Illinois
TCAdvance Scholarship - for Turkish American students (high school seniors, current undergraduate or graduate students) who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents; demonstrate leadership in the Turkish American community; and are pursuing law, public policy, public affairs, political science, international relations, communications, journalism or public relations