Fellowships & Scholarships for Undocumented Students

Undocumented or DACAmented students are eligible to apply for some scholarships, and we are here to support you. Please reach out for help with selecting a fellowship that matches your interests and goals, for tips and advice, and application feedback (tscholar@uw.edu). 

Below you will find a few examples of fellowships that are open to undocumented students as well as databases with scholarship opportunities for undocumented students.

Fellowships Examples 

  • Mary Gates Research Scholarship: Competitive scholarship for undergraduate UW students who’re engaged in or plan to pursue faculty-guided research or scholarly work in any field. Open to all undergraduate students regardless of citizenship status. Deadlines: fall and winter quarters. 

  • Soros Fellowship for New Americans: Highly selective fellowship that supports up to two years of graduate study in any field for new Americans who demonstrate creativity, originality, initiative, and sustained accomplishment. Open to DACA recipients. Deadline: late October/early November. 

  • Ford Foundation Fellowship: Graduate fellowships that seek to increase the diversity of the nation’s college and university faculties. Funds research-based Ph.D. or Sc.D. programs. Open to DACA recipients. Deadline: December.

Fellowships Databases 

  • The UW fellowships database includes scholarships and fellowships for undocumented students. Students can select “undocumented” under “Citizenship”. This database was developed by the Office of Merit Scholarships, Fellowships & Awards on the UW Seattle campus. 

  • Beyond Dreaming: Scholarship List for Undocumented Students in Washington State provided by the Beyond Dreaming Conference. The list hasn’t been updated in a few years.  

  • Immigrants Rising, a Bay Area-based organization that supports undocumented students, publishes lists of scholarships for undocumented students. 

You are also welcome to review the following video, which provides an overview of the Washington Application for State Financial Aid (WASFA) and fellowships & scholarships for undocumented students. The video was co-presented by the Office of Student Financial Aid, Student Fellowships, and the Center for Equity & Inclusion in November 2021.