Beinecke Scholarship
Award: Up to $35,000 towards the cost of graduate study. The student must have plans for a research-focused master's or doctoral degree in the arts, humanities, or social sciences (graduate study in neuroscience does not qualify)
Number of awards: up to 20 (each institution can nominate up to 1 student per year)
UC San Diego Student Applicant Deadline: March 13, 2026 (deadline updated on 1/27/2026)
Agency deadline for Nomination by UC San Diego Dean David Artis: last Friday in March (next deadline: March 27, 2026)
- Demonstrate superior standards of intellectual ability, scholastic achievement, and personal promise during their undergraduate career.
- Be a college junior pursuing a bachelor’s degree during the 2025-2026 academic year. “Junior” means a student who is currently enrolled, plans to continue full-time undergraduate study, and expects to receive a bachelor’s degree between December 2026 and August 2027.
- Plan to enter a research- or creative-focused master’s or doctoral program in the arts, humanities, or social sciences. NOTE: Students in the social sciences who plan to pursue graduate study in neuroscience or clinical psychology should not apply for a Beinecke Scholarship.
- Be a U.S. citizen or U.S. national from American Samoa or the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.
- Have a documented history of being eligible to receive need-based financial aid during their undergraduate years, with a slight preference for Pell Grant recipients. Other evidence of meeting this criterion is a student’s history of receiving need-based institutional, state, or federal grants-in-aid. The nominated student will be required to complete and submit a Financial Aid Data Sheet outlining how the student meets this criterion. During the selection process, the amount of financial need will be one of the factors considered, with preference given to candidates for whom the awarding of a Beinecke Scholarship would significantly increase the likelihood of the student’s being able to attend graduate school.
- Resume or C.V.
- A statement of 1,000 words or less from the nominee devoted to describing their research or creative interests for graduate study and career aspirations beyond these studies.
- Three letters of recommendation from faculty members
- Transcript (if nominated, UC San Diego nominator will provide an official transcript from the university)
- Optional: Artist's supplement
Beinecke Scholarship
The Beinecke Scholarship requires an endorsement from the UC San Diego Institutional Advisor. It is recommended that applicants review the requirements and meet with the institutional advisor before applying. Please contact URH staff member, Dr. Sophia Tsai Neri, for an initial consult before meeting with the campus nominator (see contact info below).
Apply to Beinecke
