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Graduate Education

Many graduate school opportunities exist not only for midshipmen but also for alumni of the Naval Academy. Below are a few of the scholarships available to alumni. Naval Academy graduates applying for these scholarships should be familiar with the age requirements and other restrictions for these scholarships, and be aware that select scholarships do require institutional endorsement.

If you are a Naval Academy alum applying for a graduate school scholarship, we ask that you reach out to the USNA Graduate Education Program so that we may add you to our graduate education alumni database and lend our support.

UK Scholarships
Rhodes Scholarship to University of Oxford, England
  • Degree available: M.A., M.Phil. or M.Sc.
  • Quota available: 32 awarded annually in the U.S.
  • Duration of course: 1-2 years
  • Qualifications:
    • a citizen of the United States OR a lawful permanent resident of the United States OR a U.S. resident with DACA status on April 15 in the year of application.
    • eligible to apply through one of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, or one of the U.S. territories: either in the state or territory where the applicant was legally resident on April 15 in the year of application, or where the applicant will have received at least two years of college training and a bachelor’s degree before October 1 in the year following election.
    • at least 18 but not yet 24 years of age (i.e., the applicant must still be 23 on October 1 in the year of application).
  • Reference: www.rhodesscholar.org


Marshall Scholarship to any British University. 
  • Degree available: M.A., M.Phil. or M.Sc.
  • Quota available: 40 awarded annually
  • Duration of course: 1-3 years
  • Qualifications: 
    • be citizens of the United States of America (at the time they apply for a scholarship);
    • (by the time they take up their scholarship ie September 2020) hold their first undergraduate degree from an accredited four-year college or university in the United States;
    • have obtained a grade point average of not less than 3.7 on their undergraduate degree.  (Applicants must have a GPA of 3.7 at the time of application). We do not accept rounded GPA's.
    • have graduated from their first undergraduate college or university after April 2017.
    • not have studied for, or hold a degree or degree-equivalent qualification from a British University or GCSE or A Levels taken at school in the UK.
  • Reference: www.marshallscholarship.org

Gates-Cambridge Scholarship to the University of Cambridge, England
  • Degree available: M.A. or M.S.
  • Quota available: 50-60 awarded annually in the U.S. 
  • Duration of course: 1-3 years
  • Qualifications:
    • a citizen of any country outside the United Kingdom
    • applying to pursue one of the following full-time residential courses of study at the University of Cambridge: PhD (three year research-only degree), MSc or MLitt (two year research-only degree), One year postgraduate course (e.g. MPhil, LLM, MASt, Diploma, MBA etc.)
  • Reference: www.gatescambridge.org 
    • Made available by the Gates Cambridge Trust and is funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation


George J. Mitchell Scholarship to one of seven universities in the Republic of Ireland
  • Degree available: Various
  • Quota available: 12 awarded annually
  • Duration of course: 1 year
  • Qualifications:
    • Be a U.S. citizen
    • Be 18 years of age or older, but not yet 30, on September 27 of the year of the application (those who turn 30 on September 28th are not eligible).
    • Have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university before beginning study as a Mitchell Scholar. Degrees from international accredited universities are acceptable, if all other conditions are met.
  • Reference: www.us-irelandalliance.org/mitchellscholarship

 

Other International Scholarships
Schwarzman Scholarship to Tsinghua University in Beijing, China.
  • Degree available: Master's in Global Affairs, with concentrations in Public Policy, Economics and Business, or International Studies
  • Quota available: Up to 200 scholars annually from around the world
  • Duration of course: 1 year
  • Qualifications:
    • Candidates must be at least 18 but not yet 29 years of age as of August 1 of their Schwarzman Scholars enrollment year
    • Applicants must demonstrate strong English skills, as all teaching will be conducted in English. If the applicant’s native language is not English, official English proficiency test scores must be submitted with the application. This requirement is waived for applicants who studied at an undergraduate institution where the primary language of instruction was English for at least two years of the applicant’s academic program.
    • Academic excellence is a requirement for successful applicants, but there is no minimum GPA or class rank required to apply.
    • There are no citizenship or nationality requirements.
    • Applicants who are currently enrolled in undergraduate degree programs must be on track to successfully complete all degree requirements before August 1 of their Schwarzman Scholars enrollment year.
  • Reference: www.schwarzmanscholars.org

University of Southampton Scholarship for study at University of Southampton
  • Degree available: M.A. or M.S.
  • Duration of course: 1-2 years
  • Qualifications: Different programs will have their own application requirements


Anna Sobol Levy Fellowship to the Interdisciplinary Center Herzliya, Israel (IDC Herzliya)
  • Degree available: M.A. in Government with specialization in Counter-Terrorism and Homeland Security or Diplomacy and Conflict Studies.
  • Quota available:  3-6 per year, nationally
  • Duration of course: 1 year
  • Qualifications: Candidates must be U.S. citizens under age 30 at the time application and should have studied in the fields of military studies, economic geography, international relations, political science, history, or similar fields.
  • Reference: www.annasobollevyfoundation.org

Fulbright Scholarships to universities in over 140 countries, including the UK
  • Degree available: Master's in any field
  • Quota available: Dependent upon desired university
  • Duration of course: 1-2 years
  • Qualifications:
    • Applicants must be citizens or nationals of the United States of America at the time of application.  Permanent residents are not eligible. Please review the Ineligibility section below in relation to the eligibility of dual citizens.
    • Applicants must have a conferred bachelor's degree or equivalent before the start of the grant (in the creative and performing arts, four years of professional training and/or experience meets the basic eligibility requirement).
    • In the creative and performing arts, four years of professional training and/or experience meets the basic eligibility requirement.
    • Applicants must be in good health. Grantees will be required to submit a satisfactory Medical Certificate from a physician.
    • Applicants must have sufficient proficiency in the written and spoken language of the host country sufficient to communicate with the people and to carry out the proposed study/research. This is especially important for projects in the social sciences and the humanities.
  • Reference: us.fulbrightonline.org

Rotary Scholarships to universities both domestic and international, including the UK
  • Degree available: Various
  • Quota available: Varies from year to year
    • Local and national competitions available
  • Duration of course: 1-2 years
  • Qualifications:
    • Proficiency in English, with proficiency in a second language strongly recommended
    • Strong commitment to international understanding and peace as demonstrated through professional and academic achievements and personal or community service
    • Excellent leadership skills
    • For master's degree candidates, a bachelor's degree and at least three years of related full-time work or volunteer experience
    • For certificate candidates, at least five years of related full-time work or volunteer experience
  • Reference: www.rotary.org/en/our-programs/scholarships

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Domestic Scholarships
National Science Foundation (NSF) Fellowship to choice of domestic institution
  • Degree available:  M.S. or M.A. in the mathematical, physical, biological, engineering, and social sciences, and in the history and philosophy of science
  • Quota available:  Varies from year to year - about 2,000 in the U.S. annually 
  • Duration of course:  1-3 years
  • Qualifications: 
    • The NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP) is intended to provide support for those at the beginning of their graduate career and individuals seeking to reenter graduate studies following an interruption of at least two consecutive years.
    • The program recognizes and supports outstanding graduate students who are pursuing research-based master’s and doctoral degrees in fields within NSF’s mission.
  • Reference:  www.nsfgrfp.org
Dr. John J. McMullen Fellowship to University of Pennsylvania
  • Degree available:  M.S. in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Systems Engineering, Robotics, Computer Science, Information Technology, or related discipline. 
  • Duration of course:  1 year, 2 two summer terms

Dr. John J. McMullen Fellowship to Boston College
Knight-Hennessy Scholarship to Stanford University
  • Degree available:  Any graduate degree at Stanford
  • Quota available:  About 50 awarded per year from the U.S.; 100 worldwide, and growing
  • Duration of course:  1-2 years per degree
  • Qualifications:
    • You must hold the equivalent of a U.S. bachelor's degree from a college or university of recognized standing.
    • If you graduated with your first bachelor's degree more than five years ago (in 2013 or earlier), then you are not eligible for consideration as a Knight-Hennessy Scholar. This applies even if you have earned an additional degree in 2014 or later. 
  • Reference:  knight-hennessy.stanford.edu
Information Technology Strategy at Carnegie Mellon University
  • Degree available:  Master of Information Technology Strategy (MITS)
  • Duration:  3 years
  • Qualifications:
    • Minimum qualification for admission to the MITS program includes previous coursework, demonstrated ability or equivalent work experience in the following areas: Algorithms and data structures; Proficiency in programming in at least one of the following languages: C, C++, or Java; Analytical ability, including topics such as probability, statistics, research methods, and economics.
    • Three-year undergraduate degrees from outside the United States (i.e., United Kingdom, India, etc.) are generally not considered to be the equivalent to a U.S. bachelor degree.  A bachelor degree from an accredited institution is the minimum requirement for admission to our professional master's program.
  • Reference:  https://www.cmu.edu/mits/
Purdue University Military Research Initiative (PMRI)
  • Degree Available:  M.S.
  • Quota available:  3 per year - 100% tuition
  • Duration:  3 semesters 
  • Qualifications: 
    • No-cost graduate education (PhD preference, but Master’s degrees as well) for up to 10 officers annually across the Army, Marines, Navy, and Air Force active duty corps (30 officers total).
    • It is anticipated that Services will allow PhD candidates 3 years to complete their program and MS candidates 2 years.
  • Reference:   https://www.purdue.edu/research/defense-innovation/pmri/

 

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