Top 60 Scholarships for History Majors in September 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 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.

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 Study.com Scholarship for Future Teachers is open to any student pursuing an undergraduate college degree to become a future teacher. Selection will be based on academic history and extracurricular activities. Financial need will not be considered. Applicants must have a minimum of 30 semesters or 45 quarter hours still to be completed to be eligible. If you're a post-secondary student passionate about teaching, we encourage you to apply!

OAH President's Travel Fund for Emerging Historians provides travel stipends to five graduate students and recent PhDs in history (no more than four years from date of degree) whose papers or panels/sessions have been accepted by the OAH Program Committee for inclusion on the OAH Conference on American History program. Preference will be given to those who are presenting at the conference for the first time. Please submit your paper title or panel title, with an abstract and a CV, and a paragraph describing why it is important for you to attend the conference (besides presenting your paper if you are doing so) as a PDF. Please visit the scholarship's website for more information.

This John Higham Research Fellowship is open to all graduate students writing doctoral dissertations for a PhD in American history. Applicants pursuing research in those fields most congenial to the research and writing interests of John Higham will receive special consideration. These topics include U.S. social and intellectual history broadly considered, with preference given to research projects on American immigration and ethnic history as well as American historiography, and the cultural history of the nineteenth-century U.S. Applications should include the following components: 1. Project proposal of no more than 1,000 words describing the applicant's research project and detailing how the funds will be used. 2. An updated curriculum vitae with a list of the names and addresses of references. 3. Two signed letters of recommendation on official letterhead submitted independently by referees. Please visit the scholarship's website for more information.

The History of Art Institutional Fellowships are awarded to six pre-doctoral candidates studying the history of art and related disciplines, each year. Applicants' dissertation research must focus on European art from antiquity to the early 19th century and applicants must be ABD by the time their fellowship begins. Each fellowship provides a two-year research appointment hosted by one of the European art history research centers listed on the scholarship's website. This scholarship is restricted to candidates in the history of art and related disciplines (such as archaeology, architecture, or classics). Candidates must be nominated by their academic department. Submission of three recommendation letters and a Curriculum vitae are required. Please visit the scholarship's website for more information about the requirements.

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 interested in your personal family history and genealogy? If so, consider applying for the Rubincam Youth Award! The Rubincam Youth Award is open to middle and high school students who submit an appropriately prepared genealogy. The scholarship is offered by the National Genealogical Society, a genealogical interest group founded in 1903 in Washington, D.C. They were the first national genealogical organization and have long paved the way in the field of genealogy. The Rubincam Youth Award honors Milton Rubincam, a passionate genealogist with many years of service contributing to the National Genealogical Society and the field of genealogy. To honor his legacy, this award aims to encourage and recognize our youth as the next generation of family historians. Each year, the scholarship awards a $500 cash prize to one (1) high school student and a $250 cash prize to one (1) middle school student. It also includes a plaque and a one-year NGS membership. If this sounds like a good opportunity for you, we encourage you to apply!

Introducing the Christopher T. Muschalek Memorial Scholarship, a heartfelt tribute to a remarkable individual and cherished father, husband, son, brother, grandfather, and above all, true friend. In May 2023, he passed after valiantly battling pancreatic cancer for two years. Christopher's legacy encompasses his roles as an educator, architect, history enthusiast, and unwavering champion of education. His architectural creations grace the Texas coast and the entirety of south Texas. This scholarship, generously supported by Chris's family and friends, seeks to commemorate his life by empowering Texas students who share his passions. If you are a high school, undergraduate, or graduate student in Texas pursuing history or architecture, seize this opportunity. Share your profound connection to these fields and the moment you realized that this path was destined for you. Apply and let Christopher's spirit inspire your educational journey.

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 high school senior interested in majoring in history? If so, consider applying for the Lucinda Beneventi Findley History Scholarship! The scholarship is open to graduating high school seniors who will be pursuing an undergraduate history degree. A non-profit organization called the Daughters of the American Revolution offers this scholarship and others to promote the study of American history. The organization is known for its lineage-based membership and history. The organization is dedicated to the "historical preservation, promotion of education, and encouragement of patriotic endeavor.” Every year, their Lucinda Beneventi Findley History Scholarship awards $2,000 scholarships to two lucky applicants to help fund their college or university tuition. If you are interested in pursuing a degree in history and are looking for some help with costs, we encourage you to apply!  

Phi Alpha Theta's annual Doctoral Scholarship program is open to graduate student members who are pursuing a Ph.D. in History or Library Science-Archives and who have passed their general examinations at least two weeks before the scholarship application deadline. The applicant must be a verified member of Phi Alpha Theta and will be considered for one of the three awards available. A curriculum vitae or resume and three letters of recommendation are required. Submit the application and supporting materials either via email or by mail to apply.

Phi Alpha Theta offers three graduate scholarships available to its student members. To be eligible, members must be entering graduate school for the first time in the upcoming Fall semester and must be pursuing a Master's degree in History or Library Science-Archives. Students currently enrolled in a graduate program are not eligible to apply. A curriculum vitae or resume, GRE scores, and three letters of recommendation are required. Submit the application and supporting materials either via email or by mail to be considered.

The New England Regional Fellowship Consortium, a collaboration of 31 major cultural agencies, will offer at least two dozen awards in the current application cycle. Each grant will provide a stipend of $5,000 for a minimum of eight weeks of research at participating institutions. Awards are open to U.S. citizens and foreign nationals who hold the necessary U.S. government documents. Grants are designed to encourage projects that draw on the resources of several agencies. NERFC grants support work in a broad array of fields, including but not limited to: history, literature, art history, African American studies, American studies, women's and gender studies, anthropology, sociology, philosophy, religious studies, environmental studies, oceanography, and the histories of law, medicine, and technology. If you have an interest in conducting research in any of these fields, we encourage you to apply!

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!