Beinecke Scholarships are awarded to undergraduates in their junior year to support graduate study at a university in the United States or abroad. The program “seeks to encourage and enable highly motivated students to take fullest advantage of graduate opportunities available to them and to be courageous in the selection of graduate study programs.”   This year, twenty Beinecke Scholarships will be awarded to college juniors who have demonstrated unusual ability in fields of study they intend to pursue at the graduate level in a masters or doctoral program.     

There are no geographic restrictions on the use of the scholarship, and recipients are allowed to supplement their award with other scholarships, assistantships, and/or research grants. A Beinecke Scholar must utilize all funding within five years of graduation from Brown. A Scholar who receives a Fulbright, Marshall, Rhodes or similar scholarship is allowed to postpone receipt of the Beinecke award until he or she completes study under that program. However, students who become Truman Scholars will not be selected to receive a Beinecke award. United States citizenship at the time of nomination is required.

Brown can nominate one junior to the national competition. Juniors who plan to attend graduate school in the arts, humanities, and social sciences are eligible. Students in the social sciences who plan to pursue graduate study in neuroscience are not eligible. Candidates are considered for superior strength of character, intellectual ability, and sense of purpose. They must demonstrate creativity and leadership and are expected to have well-formulated, although not necessarily completely fixed, ideas about the direction of their future studies and subsequent careers. Financial need is a criterion for selection. Candidates need to have a documented history of receiving need-based financial aid during their undergraduate years. Preference is given to candidates for whom the scholarship would make a significant difference in their ability to attend graduate school.         

$35,000; Each scholar receives a $5,000 grant immediately prior to entering graduate school and an additional $30,000 while attending graduate school.     

All applicants must submit a complete application by the campus deadline. We require one copy of the following:     

Please click here to access the forms for the Beinecke scholarship

• A completed Application form signed by the applicant.
• A completed Financial Information form to be completed by a Financial Aid officer at Brown. 
• A one to two-page resume or curriculum vitae.
• A personal statement of 1,000 words or less describing the applicant's background, interests, plans for graduate study and career aspirations. The statement should include a discussion of some experiences and ideas that have shaped those interests, plans and aspirations.
• Three letters of recommendation.  Please have letters addressed to Joel Simundich, Assistant Dean of the College for Fellowships.
• An unofficial transcript from Brown and transcripts from any other institutions you have attended for more than one semester  (If selected to move forward in the competition an official transcript from Brown will be required).
  

All applicants must submit a complete application to UFunds, Brown's online application system by February 2, 2024 @ 11:59pm EST.

UFunds will OPEN in early October 2023 for students interested in applying.