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Top 46 Political Science Scholarships for Students in June 2023
There’s no doubt about it: politics is an exciting field to be in. Whether you are right, left, or center, political science can be a great major to consider if you aspire to work in the political arena. Political science can open up many doors, whether you want to go to law school, run for office, work in media, or conduct research in a think tank. It’s no surprise that political science is a very popular major among students.
If you are a current or prospective political science major, you are probably also thinking about how to pay for your degree! Luckily, there are a number of scholarships to help you fund your political science degree (and if you are a college student looking for law school scholarships, we’ve got them too!)
Jump ahead to:
- Top political science scholarships
- How to win political science scholarships
- Resources for political science students
- Frequently asked questions about political science scholarships
- Explore these other scholarship categories
Keep on reading to learn more about the top political science scholarships to apply for!
The Scholarships360 Research Team reviews all scholarships individually and strives to exclude any scholarship where any of the below applies: If you believe a scholarship has been published in error, please reach out to [email protected] and we’ll take a look!
* There are certain exceptions to this, for example if the sponsoring organization is a major corporation or nonprofit with its own scholarship application system.
The Scholarships360 $10,000 “No Essay” Scholarship is open to all students who want some extra help paying for their education. Whether you are a high school student who hopes to… Easy scholarship from Nitro College open to all high school, college, community and graduate students. Open to all high school and college students, as well as anyone looking to attend college or graduate school in the next year. The FMAA Scholarship Program is funded by the Flag Manufacturers Association of America, an organization that educates the American public on issues pertaining to the construction and sale of the… The Fund For Latino Scholarship is funded by the American Political Science Association, an organization that supports excellence in scholarship and teaching and informed discourse about politics, policy, and civic… Are you an undergraduate student in the U.S. with a love of history and writing? If so, consider applying for the Platt Family Essay Contest! Each year, the contest awards… The Fulbright Distinguished Chair in Applied Public Policy (Democratic Resilience) is funded by Flinders University. It is designed to increase awareness of the field of applied public policy in Australia,… "Fulbright-National Science Foundation Distinguished Scholar Award in Cybersecurity and Critical Infrastructure" recipients may conduct research and/or teach a course at the university level or deliver seminars/workshops. The Distinguished Scholar may… The Fulbright Pembroke College Oxford Visiting Professorship contributes to the intellectual life of the college through seminars, public lectures, and curriculum development in any discipline related to politics and international… The Fulbright-Schuman Postdoctoral Award at the European University Institute in Florence, Italy will select one American scholar. The scholar selected for this award is expected to conduct their own research… The "Fulbright-Uppsala University Distinguished Scholar Award in American Studies" recipient will teach one introductory course for undergraduates, as well as a more specialized course for senior or graduate students (or… "Laszlo Orszagh Distinguished Award in American Studies" Scholars will teach one lecture or seminar course per semester (three hours per week) at undergraduate and/or graduate levels. Scholars may also offer… The Fulbright Public Policy Fellowship provides opportunities for U.S. early and mid-career professionals and practitioners to serve in placements in a foreign government ministry or institution around the world. The… At the American Studies Center at the University of Warsaw, the award holder will teach one graduate course per semester on a topic of their choosing. The Distinguished Scholar will… 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… 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… 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… 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… Are you a rising high school junior or senior who holds a leadership role within your school's government or honors society? If so, consider applying for the United States Senate… Wilma Hoyal-Maxine Chilton Memorial Scholarship applicants must complete at least 12 hours with a grade average of "B" or better. Applicants must submit three letters of reference from persons who…Top 39 Political Science Scholarships for Students in June 2023
** Lead generation scholarships will require students to sign up for an app or website and require minimal (if any) application requirements.
***Idea harvesting scholarships will require students to submit blog posts or other materials that companies may use for marketing purposes.
$10,000 “No Essay” Scholarship
$2,000 Nitro College Scholarship – No Essay
Niche $15,000 No Essay Scholarship
FMAA Scholarship Program
Fund For Latino Scholarship
Platt Family Essay Contest
Fulbright Distinguished Chair in Applied Public Policy (Democratic Resilience) (Flinders University and Carnegie Mellon University Australia)
Fulbright-National Science Foundation Distinguished Scholar Award in Cybersecurity and Critical Infrastructure
Fulbright-Oxford-Pembroke Distinguished Scholar (Politics and International Relations)
Fulbright-Schuman Postdoctoral Award at the European University Institute (Florence, Italy)
Fulbright-Uppsala University Distinguished Scholar Award in American Studies
Laszlo Orszagh Distinguished Award in American Studies
Fulbright Public Policy Fellowship
Distinguished Scholar in Humanities and Social Sciences at the American Studies Center, University of Warsaw
Voice of Democracy Audio-Essay Contest
Blakemore Freeman Fellowship
National Washington Crossing Foundation Scholarship
Georges Lurcy Fellowships
United States Senate Youth Program Scholarship
Wilma Hoyal-Maxine Chilton Memorial Scholarship
How to win political science scholarships
If you’re on the hunt for political science scholarships, fortunately there are a couple things you can do to boost your chances of receiving a congratulations letter.
Write a strong essay
Writing a knockout essay is one of the best ways to get noticed by scholarship committees. Grades and test scores are important, of course, but essays are an opportunity to demonstrate who you are, what you’re passionate about, and what you aim to achieve. Because scholarship committees go through so many applications, it’s crucial to write an essay that stands out from the crowd. For tips on how to write a great scholarship essay, check out the following resources:
- How to write a 250 word essay
- How to write a 500 word essay
- How to write an essay about yourself
- Overview of common scholarship essay prompts
- How to start a scholarship essay (with examples)
- How to write a winning scholarship essay
- How to end a scholarship essay
Search for local scholarships
Don’t overlook your local community during your scholarship search. While they may take some more digging to discover, local scholarships are great because they’re typically less competitive and easier to win! Check out our guide on how to win local scholarships to learn more.
Resources for political science students
American Political Science Association
This website offers political science majors a wealth of resources, including internships, career advice, publications, and opportunities to connect with other students. Bookmark this one!
International Political Science Association
For students looking to contextualize their view of legal systems within the frame of the larger world, this is a great resource. It’s especially for students interested in international law or politics.
Midwest Political Science Association
For students studying or hoping to focus on the Midwest, this is a great resource. It’ll help familiarize you with research and changes in law in Midwestern states and could help you connect with political scientists in the area. You could find the co-author of your first book through this organization!
Frequently asked questions about political science scholarships
Is political science a good major for law school?
Political science is a great major to prepare you for law school! CUNY cites two reasons why political science helps prepare students for law school. The first is that it helps develop students’ analytical and research abilities in a way that compliments the study of law. The second is that it helps familiarize you with “the context in which law is practiced.”
However, political science is not the only major that you can use to go to law school. Law school is a common grad school destination for students across the social sciences and humanities spectrums. Don’t feel like you have to major in political science to go to law school!
Can I earn political science scholarships if I major in something else?
The answer to this question varies on a scholarship-by-scholarship basis. Generally, political science-oriented scholarships for high schoolers do not require that you go on to major in the field. But oftentimes, political science scholarships for current college students will require that you major or minor in the field.
Ultimately, you should make sure to read the terms and conditions of any scholarship opportunity very carefully before applying. It never hurts to reach out to the organization to be sure that you are eligible. In fact, making this contact with an organization might even help your chances by demonstrating your interest in the scholarship.
What does the political science major entail?
Good question! Political science covers a very wide range of topics, pertaining to the distribution of power, how governments and laws work, and how we function as a society. Our political science major overview can go into more detail about your classwork and future prospects as a political science major.
Do my political views affect my chances of winning a political science scholarship?
Yes and no! There are many political science scholarships out there that do not have an explicit political leaning. They will probably make their choices strictly based on students’ demonstrated analytical and argumentative skills. In this way, they are like any other scholarship.
However, some scholarships, such as those offered by institutes with an explicit political standpoint, might only cater to students who advance specific political beliefs. For example, the libertarian think-tank called the Cato Institute in DC offers a scholarship to “identify and educate the future minds of the liberty movement.” In this case, you will need to have similar views to qualify.
