Top 46 Political Science Scholarships for Students in December 2023

Are you a college upperclassman interested in ethics, either as they pertain to your own life or on a bigger scale? If so, we may have a great opportunity for you: the Elie Wiesel Foundation Prize in Ethics essay contest! The contest is open to college juniors and seniors attending a university in the U.S. who write an essay analyzing ethical issues in today’s complex world. The Elie Wiesel Foundation for Humanity offers this scholarship. The foundation honors Romanian-born American author of Night and Holocaust survivor Elie Wiesel by funding programs that reflect his values. Thus, the Elie Wiesel Foundation for Humanity is proud to host this annual essay contest to support young writers and encourage critical thinking on ethics. Contest winners can earn up to $10,000 to help pay for their educational endeavors. If you are passionate about ethics and want to put your thoughts into words, we encourage you to apply!

Are you a U.S. high school student with a love for U.S. history? If so, we may have the perfect opportunity for you: the JFK Profile in Courage Essay Contest! Each year, the contest awards up to $10,000 to winning applicants who submit 700 - 1,000 word essays following the year’s prompt. Each year's prompt relates to U.S. history, with this year’s being: “Describe an act of political courage by a U.S. elected official who served during or after 1917, the year John F. Kennedy was born.” The scholarship is offered by the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum in Boston, Massachusetts. If you love U.S. history and want to put your writing skills and history knowledge to the test, we encourage you to apply!

Are you an exceptional and motivated college junior who hopes to complete a graduate degree in the Arts, Humanities, or Social Sciences? If so, consider applying for the Beinecke Scholarship Program! The scholarship is funded by The Sperry and Hutchinson Company, an organization led by the Beinecke brothers who shared a deep affection and interest in leading a company that set the pace for corporate philanthropy. To honor Edwin, Frederick, and Walter Beinecke, the board of Directors of The Sperry and Hutchinson Company created this scholarship in 1971 to provide financial support and to encourage exceptional young students to pursue opportunities available to them in the field of arts, humanities, and the social sciences. Each chosen scholar will receive $5,000 immediately prior to entering graduate school and an additional $30,000 while attending graduate school. If you’re passionate about completing a graduate degree in the arts or social sciences and are looking for some help to fund your graduate study, we encourage you to apply!

Easy scholarship open to all high school and college students, as well as anyone looking to attend college or graduate school in the next year. Niche is giving one student $50,000 to help pay for tuition, housing, books and other college expenses — no essay required!

Sallie Mae will award $2,000 each month to eligible entrants. No essay or account sign-ups, just a simple scholarship for those seeking help paying for school.

Open to high school students, college students, community college students, and graduate students.

The Council of Overseas Research Centers Multi-Country Research Fellowship enables US scholars to carry out trans-regional and comparative research in countries across the network of Overseas Research Centers as well as other countries. The fellowship supports advanced research in the humanities, social sciences, and allied natural sciences for doctoral candidates, who are all but dissertation, and scholars who have earned their PhD. Applicants can either apply as individuals or as teams, but each participant must carry out research in two or more countries outside the US, at least one of which must host a participating Overseas Research Center. Minority scholars and scholars from Minority-Serving Institutions are especially encouraged to apply. If you're a doctoral candidate interested in conducting research in the humanities, social sciences, or natural sciences, we encourage you to apply! Keep on reading to learn more.

Are you a bachelor's degree holder pursuing a career that involves the use of an East or Southeast Asian language? If so, consider applying for the Blakemore Freeman Fellowship! The Blakemore Freeman Fellowship is open to college graduates pursuing a professional, business, or academic career that will require the regular use of East or Southeast Asian languages. Applicants should have already formally studied their target language for at least three years and be willing to partake in extensive language study during the term of the grant. The scholarship is offered by the Blakemore Foundation, a Washington-based charitable trust dedicated to encouraging the use of Asian languages and increasing the understanding of Asian art within the United States. Every year, the fellowship covers tuition, and awards a stipend for related educational expenses, and basic living and transportation costs for the language programs of each of the winning applicants. If you’re looking for some help to pay off your East or Southeast Asian language program, we encourage you to apply!

Are you an LGBTQ+ student looking for a generous scholarship opportunity? Further, are you a current or former resident of Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, or Washington? If so, consider applying for the Pride Foundation Scholarship! The scholarship is open to LGBTQ+ students who have faced systemic barriers to education or other systemic discrimination and are currently pursuing post-secondary education. With this scholarship, The Pride Foundation is proud to support students who are underrepresented and stand out as leaders in their lives, communities, fields of study, workplaces, and movements. Founded in 1985, the Pride foundation carries the belief that people should be able to live safely and openly. Each year, the Pride foundation awards up to $16,500 to multiple recipients to fund their educational expenses. If this sounds like a good opportunity for you, we encourage you to apply!

Are you a graduating high school senior pursuing a career in government service? If so, consider applying for the National Washington Crossing Foundation Scholarship! The National Washington Crossing Foundation Scholarship is open to college-bound high school seniors who are planning to pursue a career in local, state, or federal government. The scholarship is funded by the Washington Crossing Foundation, a nonprofit corporation dedicated to preserving the legacy of and promoting a greater appreciation of George Washington and his leadership throughout the American Revolution. Each year, the scholarship awards between $500 and $5,000 to help lucky students pay for the costs of college. Bear in mind that winners will be required to attend the Scholarship Awards Ceremony in Pennsylvania. However, their transportation, food, and housing for the event will be completely covered by the foundation. If this sounds like a good opportunity for you, we encourage you to apply!

Are you an aspiring filmmaker? If so, consider applying for the StudentCam scholarship! The StudentCam Scholarship is open to students in grades 6-12 who create a short 5-6 minute video documentary on a topic that relates to the year’s competition theme. The scholarship is offered by Cable-Satellite Public Affairs Network (C-SPAN), a non-profit organization that televises many proceedings of the United States federal government, as well as other public affairs programming all without editing, commentary or analysis. Each year, the scholarship awards cash prizes totaling $100,000 to the top 150 student documentaries. If you’re a middle or high school student passionate about filmmaking who is looking for some help funding your education, we encourage you to apply!

Are you a high school senior looking to pursue a degree in American History or Government? If so, consider applying for the Dr. Aura-Lee A. and James Hobbs Pittenger American History Scholarship! The scholarship is open to prospective college students wanting to earn an undergraduate degree with a concentration in American History or American Government. A non-profit organization called the Daughters of the American Revolution offers the scholarship to promote the study of American history. The organization is known for its lineage-based membership and dedication to the "historical preservation, promotion of education, and encouragement of patriotic endeavor.” Recipients will earn $2,000 each year for up to four years to help with the costs of their postsecondary education. If you are passionate about earning a degree in American history or American Government, we encourage you to apply!

Are you a Pi Gammu Mu member pursuing a graduate degree in a social science field? If so, consider applying for the Pi Gamma Mu Scholarships! The scholarships are open to Pi Gammu Mu members attending graduate school to study a social science, social work, or related interdisciplinary fields. The scholarship is funded by Pi Gamma Mu, the oldest and preeminent interdisciplinary social science honor society and a nonprofit organization. Since 1924, they have encouraged and promoted excellence in the social sciences field and uphold scholarship, leadership, and service. Thus, every year, they award scholarships worth up to $2,000 to help students attend graduate school. If you are a Pi Gammu Mu member looking for help funding your graduate degree, we encourage you to apply!

Are you a high school student passionate about the U.S. Constitution? If so, you may be interested in the American Legion Oratorical Contest! The contest is open to high school students age 20 or younger who write and recite a speech related to the U.S. Constitution.  The American Legion created the contest to encourage appreciation for the U.S. Constitution among high school students and invite a deeper understanding of it. Participating students will first partake in the contest at the post level, with those making it past moving to the state competition. Those making it past the first round of the state level will earn at least $2,000, and the winner of the national competition will make $25,000. If you are passionate about the U.S. Constitution and want to enter a speech contest to earn money for college, we encourage you to apply! Bear in mind that each state has its own deadline, so we recommend checking your state's American Legion website before applying.

Are you a student in France interested in studying abroad in the U.S.? If so, consider applying for the Georges Lurcy Fellowships! These scholarships are open to French students wanting to study abroad at American universities for a year. The Georges Lurcy Charitable and Educational Trust have funded and awarded the scholarship since 2001 in an effort to promote teamwork between America and France and support the global education of students in both countries. The goal for students is to receive an education in the field of their choice (and how it pertains to the United States) and to experience life on an American campus. Each year, scholarships worth approximately $20,000 are awarded to six (6) lucky applicants to help pay for tuition, room and board, books, and the round-trip ticket between France and the United States. If you are a French student looking for a study abroad opportunity in the U.S., we encourage you to apply!

Are you a young woman passionate about politics and public service? You might consider applying for the Zonta Young Women In Public Affairs scholarship! Believing in the importance of women’s involvement in public service, Zonta International established the scholarship in order to encourage young women’s participation in public and political life. Each year, the scholarship awards up to $5,000 to a few lucky, altruistic young women. If this sounds like you, we certainly encourage you to apply to the Zonta Young Women In Public Affairs Scholarship! Just bear in mind that you must be part of a Zonta club to apply, as all application materials should be submitted directly to your club. Good luck! 

Are you a high schooler in the U.S. who is passionate about democracy and wants to put that feeling into (spoken) words? Further, are you planning on attending a postsecondary institution in the U.S.? If so, consider applying for the Voice of Democracy Audio-Essay Contest! Each year, the scholarship awards between $1,000 and $35,000 to multiple applicants who submit a 3-5 minute audio-recorded essay answering the year’s democracy or patriotism-related theme. The scholarship is offered by Veterans of Foreign Wars, an organization dedicated to “serving our veterans, the military, and our communities.” If you believe in serving veterans and want to put both your verbal and written skills to the test, we encourage you to apply!

The Fulbright Distinguished Chair in Applied Public Policy (Democratic Resilience) is funded by Flinders University and designed to increase awareness of the field of applied public policy in Australia. In addition, it's meant to promote comparative and collaborative research between Australia and the United States in the field of applied public policy, especially as it relates to enhancing democratic resilience. The scholarship committee is looking for research that contributes to an advancement in the understanding of the use and regulation of emerging technology for positive social impact. This may include the way that technological changes can shape policy, laws, and political behaviors to enhance national security, governance of society, and democracy. Alternatively, it may address the risks of such technological changes. For more information on how to apply, keep on reading!

This “Fulbright-National Science Foundation Distinguished Scholar Award” is open to Ph.D. and Terminal Degree holders interested in both conducting research and teaching courses in cybersecurity and critical infrastructure at select Icelandic universities. Selected scholar(s) may conduct research and/or teach a course at the university level or deliver seminars/workshops. Research projects must focus on cybersecurity or critical infrastructure related to any of these areas: (1) pure and applied research, (2) research coordination, (3) transitioning research into practice, (4) workforce, curriculum, and capacity development, (5) enterprise risk management, or (6) law, policy, and international relations. Scholars may also participate in consulting, developing training curricula, and assisting with evaluations. Participating institutions are the University of Iceland, Reykjavik University, and the University of Akureyri. If this sounds like a good opportunity for you, keep on reading to learn more!