Scholarships for English Majors

Emerging and established writers who publish on contemporary visual art may apply for the Andy Warhol Foundation Arts Writers Grant. Projects may address general or specialized art audiences, including interdisciplinary criticism and experimental literary styles, as long as eligibility and publishing requirements in the annual guide are met. Applicants must be U.S. citizens, permanent residents, or O-1 visa holders per that guide. Grants range from $15,000 to $50,000 across article, book, and short-form writing categories (and related supported project types stated in the annual call). Apply during the open period each year. Selection uses a two-tier process with evaluators and panelists experienced in contemporary arts writing. Launched in 2006, the program has supported hundreds of writers with direct funding for art writing.

The Frederick Douglass and Susan B. Anthony Award in Humanities and Social Sciences recognizes high school juniors committed to understanding and addressing difficult social issues through study, action, and dialogue. Counselors, teachers, or administrators nominate one qualified junior per school each year through Rochester's High School Awards Program. Nominees receive an application fee waiver and, if admitted to the College of Arts, Sciences and Engineering, may be selected for a merit scholarship of $10,000 to $35,000 per year. Selection weighs leadership, community action, and strong grades in humanities and social science coursework.

The Hassett Family Creative Writing Scholarship is a competitive full-tuition award for incoming Canisius University freshmen or transfer students who declare a creative writing major and demonstrate outstanding writing talent. Applicants must apply to Canisius, select creative writing as their intended major, submit a writing sample of up to ten pages, and include one letter of recommendation addressing their potential as a creative writer. The scholarship is renewable for up to four years while the recipient remains a declared creative writing major with a minimum 3.0 GPA and files FAFSA and TAP applications annually.

Late-stage Ph.D. candidates in the humanities and social sciences at accredited U.S. graduate schools whose dissertation addresses religious, ethical, or moral questions may apply for Charlotte W. Newcombe Doctoral Dissertation Fellowships. Twenty fellows each receive a $31,000 stipend for 12 months of full-time dissertation writing. Applicants must have completed coursework, passed preliminary exams, received dissertation proposal approval, and be actively writing their dissertation by the application deadline. Professional degrees such as D.Min., law, Psy.D., and Ed.D. are not eligible.

The Humanities Scholars Program at UMBC provides four-year scholarships to first-year students majoring in humanities fields such as Africana Studies, Anthropology, English, Gender Women's and Sexuality Studies, Global Studies, History, and Media and Communication Studies. In-state students may receive $5,000 to $15,000 per year and out-of-state students $10,000 to $22,000 per year. Scholars take interdisciplinary seminar courses, may study abroad, and live in a scholars community. A separate application is due January 15, and students must also apply for UMBC admission by the early action deadline.

U.S. citizens who are Intercollegiate Studies Institute members enrolled full time in a graduate humanities or social sciences program and intend to teach at the college level may apply for the Richard M. Weaver Graduate Fellowship. Pre-professional programs in business, divinity, medicine, or law are ineligible. Fellowships range from $5,000 to $15,000. ISI awards up to 15 fellowships annually for tuition and living expenses. Apply by the March deadline through ISI. The fellowship honors Richard M. Weaver and supports graduate students who will use advanced degrees to teach and uphold academic excellence.

Public high school seniors in the U.S. and territories who are age 21 or under and planning full-time enrollment at a two- or four-year college may submit an original memoir or personal essay for the Penguin Random House Creative Writing Awards' Michelle Obama Award for Memoir. One $10,000 college scholarship is awarded. Applications open October 1 and close January 15, or when 1,000 entries are received. Early submission is advised. The award recognizes Michelle Obama's commitment to mentorship and encouraging young people to tell their own stories.

The Robert B. and Helen P. Jewell Foundation Scholarship provides eight thousand five hundred dollars per year to full-time incoming freshmen at the University of Kentucky majoring in mathematics, biology, or English who demonstrate financial need. Applicants must have a minimum 2.75 GPA and apply through Scholarship Universe by the College of Arts and Sciences March 1 deadline. The Pigman College of Engineering also directs Kentucky high school graduates with financial need to this fund alongside the Lighthouse Beacon Foundation Scholarship. Recipients must file a FAFSA so need can be verified. The award is renewable when academic progress and need criteria continue to be met.

Endowed undergraduate scholarship for declared UW Seattle English majors who meet department GPA and credit requirements and submit the annual English Department Undergraduate Scholarship application. Applicants need a 3.5 UW GPA, 3.7 English GPA, at least 10 credits of UW English coursework by winter quarter, a faculty letter of recommendation, a 250-word biography, and a best scholarly essay from an English course. Awards of up to $6,000 are announced before the end of spring quarter for use in the following academic year.

Jewish high school seniors, undergraduates, or graduate students with permanent residence in the greater San Francisco Bay Area may apply if they are majoring in or plan to major in library science, English, literature, education, or a related field with the intention of working with underserved children. Financial need is required. Awards are up to $5,000, and past recipients may reapply. Apply through the Jewish Federation of the San Francisco Bay Area's unified college scholarship application.