Fellowships
Named after former U.S. senator and advocate for science education Barry M. Goldwater, the Goldwater Scholarship supports undergraduates in STEM pursuing research-intensive academic and professional careers in the natural sciences, mathematics, or engineering. Colleges and universities can nominate four students each year, in addition to one transfer student and one U.S. veteran.
- What’s provided: Cost of undergraduate tuition until graduation (for sophomores, up to two years/four semesters, for juniors, up to one year/two semesters), including mandatory fees, books, and room and board, up to a maximum of $7,500 per full academic year
- Location: U.S.
- Field of Study/Work/Focus Area/Industry: STEM
- Program Type: Undergraduate funding
- Duration: One to two years depending on status as sophomore or junior
Eligibility
- U.S. Citizen or permanent resident
- Current sophomore or junior
- Must have a B average or GPA equivalency of 3.0
- Must be concentrating in STEM. Students interested in medicine are only eligible if they plan to pursue a research career (MD-PhD) rather than a clinical one.
Timeline
| Pre-Application Deadline | October 13, 2025, 11:59 pm ET |
|---|---|
| Application Advising | October 14, 2025 - November 7, 2025 |
| Campus Deadline | November 7, 2025, 11:59 pm ET |
| National Deadline | January 30, 2026, 5pm CT |
How to Apply
The Goldwater Scholarship has a two-stage application process.
First, interested students should complete and submit a pre-application in the Goldwater Scholarship application portal by the pre-application deadline of November 4. The pre-application asks for names and contact information for three research mentors, a brief description of your research experience, and demographic information.
After submitting the pre-application, students must sign up for an appointment with Dean Joel Simundich to discuss the identified research mentors. Appointments can be made on the Fellowships at Brown open hours calendar.
Once their three research mentors are finalized and letters of recommendation are requested, students must send an email to fellowships@brown.edu indicating that they are ready to proceed with the application. Pre-applications are approved on a rolling basis from now until October 13. Once your pre-application is approved, you will be invited to complete the application by November 7.
The Goldwater Scholarship requires the following:
- A complete application listing activities and accomplishments, research projects and skills, and current coursework
- A research essay of no more than 3 pages, with figures, captions and citations included
- Official transcript(s)
- Short responses on career goals/professional aspirations and research experience
- (Note: MD-PhD applicants are required to submit a supplemental essay on the importance of a medical degree to achieve their research goals.)
- Three letters (3) of recommendation
Submit your complete application in the Goldwater Scholarship application portal by the campus deadline of 11:59pm ET on November 7, 2025 for consideration in the campus nomination process.
For one-on-one support with this fellowship, sign up for open hours.