Details

• What’s provided: $30,000 towards graduate or professional school, cohort activities in Washington, D.C.
• Location: U.S.
• Field of Study/Work/Focus Area/Industry: Any
• Program Type: Graduate school funding and cohort opportunities
• Duration: Dependent on graduate program

Eligibility

• Any age
• College junior
• U.S. Citizens, U.S. National residents of American Samoa, or those expecting their citizenship by the date of the award

Timeline

How to Apply

Applying for the Truman Scholarship is a multi-stage process involving campus nomination for all prospective applicants. Interested students are encouraged to meet with a member of the Fellowships Team to explore the opportunity and receive feedback on their application materials.

Follow the steps below to apply for prospective nomination for the Truman Scholarship:

1. Review the Bulletin of Information on the Truman Scholarship website.
2. Complete the Truman Scholarship UFunds application, including:
   • Background information, provided on the first page of the Truman sample application form;
   • Full answers to essay questions 1-14 on the Truman sample application form. (Note: For the campus deadline, applicants are welcome to upload a separate Word doc or PDF with their responses to questions 1-14 on the Truman sample application form, should they wish to, rather than use the application form.)
   • A two-page policy proposal. (Note: For the campus deadline, applicants must use the sample proposal form available on the Truman Scholarship website.)
   • Three (3) letters of recommendation. Recommenders must be registered in UFunds and should be selected according to the following selection criteria:
     1. Intellect and Prospects for Continuing Academic Success: One letter must be written by a Brown faculty member familiar with the applicant’s academic abilities and prospects for success in graduate school;
     2. Commitment to a Career in Public Service: One letter must be written by someone – faculty member, supervisor, staff member – who can discuss the applicant’s commitment to a career in public service;
     3. Leadership Abilities and Potential: One letter must be written by someone who can attest to the applicant’s leadership abilities and can ideally speak directly about the leadership example the applicant uses in question 7.
   • An official Brown University transcript as well as an official transcript from any other school attended, either for study abroad or as a transfer student.
3. Submit your complete application through the UFunds application system by the campus deadline of 11:59 p.m. ET on November 16, 2026 for consideration in the campus nomination process.

After You Apply

Brown’s Truman Review Committee meets in December to review and nominate applicants. Each year, Brown is allowed to nominate 4 students and an additional 3 transfer students.

If you are nominated by Brown for the Truman Scholarship, you will:

1. Meet with a fellowship advisor one-on-one to discuss and revise your application, following committee feedback;
2. You will receive a link to the Truman Scholarship’s online application system to submit your application before the national deadline of 11:59pm in the applicant's time zone on February 3, 2027.

The Fellowships Team will submit your application with an endorsement letter by the national deadline.

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