Top 45 Social Science Scholarships 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!

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 US-Based high school students in the classes of 2024 and 2025 — no essay, minimum GPA, test score, or citizenship requirements.

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

Are you a minority student and NASP member pursuing a career in school psychology? If so, consider applying for the NASP-ERT Minority Scholarship Program! This scholarship is open to minority graduate students enrolled in or accepted for enrollment in a school psychology program that is NASP-approved. It is funded by the National Association of School Psychologists, one of the world’s largest organizations of school psychologists that works to advance effective practices to improve students' learning, behavior, and mental health. The program seeks to lower financial barriers to training and to highlight the accomplishments of promising future professionals by supporting culturally diverse graduate students who will eventually provide school-based services to diverse student populations. Each year, the program grants $5,000 awards to help lucky students pay for their graduate school costs. If you’re a minority student passionate about being a School Psychologist, we encourage you to apply!

The Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships program, named after Major-General Georges P. Vanier, the first francophone Governor General of Canada, helps Canadian institutions attract highly qualified doctoral students. Candidates must be nominated by a Canadian institution with a quota to host Vanier scholars. Candidates should only seek a nomination from the institution at which they want to study. A complete Vanier CGS application package also includes: two letters of reference, two leadership letters of reference, a research proposal, and project references. Please visit the scholarship's website for more information.

The Career Development Grants are funded by the American Association of University Women (AAUW), an organization that focuses on advocating for federal, state, and local laws and policies to ensure equity and end discrimination against women. Every year, their Career Development Grants award up to $20,000 to multiple women who currently hold a Bachelor's degree, but will be enrolling in another program for career advancement. Eligible applicants should be preparing to advance or change careers or re-enter the workforce in education, health and medical sciences, science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM), or the social sciences. Primary consideration will be given to women of color and women pursuing their first advanced degree or credentials in nontraditional fields. If this scholarship sounds like a fit for you, we encourage you to apply! Keep on reading for more application details.

Are you an academically outstanding student who wants to have a career in teaching and research at the university level? If so, you may be eligible for the Ford Foundation Predoctoral Fellowship! The Ford Foundation Predoctoral Fellowship is open to academically outstanding students who plan to or are enrolled in a research-based Ph.D. or Sc.D. program and plan to have a career in teaching and research at a university in the U.S. The scholarship is offered by The National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine, a private, nonprofit institution that provides expert advice on some of the most pressing challenges facing the nation and world. They are dedicated to "sparking progress" and advancing science, engineering, and medicine for the benefit of society. Thus, the Ford Foundation Predoctoral Fellowship grants $9,000 awards to help future, university-level educators pay for the costs of their graduate studies. If you’re passionate about teaching and are looking for some help to pay off your graduate studies, we encourage you to apply!

The YIVO Fellowship in East European Jewish Studies is funded by the YIVO Institute for Jewish Research, an organization that works to preserve, study, share, and perpetuate knowledge of the history and culture of East European Jewish people worldwide. Each year, their YIVO Fellowship in East European Jewish Studies awards $30,000 to multiple students conducting doctoral or post-doctoral research in Eastern European Jewish studies. If this scholarship sounds like a fit for you, keep on reading for more application details.

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 minority student enrolled in a sociology Ph.D. program? If so, consider applying for the Minority Fellowship Program (MFP) scholarship! The scholarship is open to students who want to receive a Ph.D. in sociology and come from an underrepresented minority group in the field. Such groups include Black/African American, Latine, American Indian or Alaska Native, and Asian or Pacific Islander. The scholarship is offered by The American Sociological Association, the national professional membership association for sociologists. Their mission is to create opportunities for sociologists to advance and contribute to society. The Minority Fellowship program was created to support remarkable students who want to study sociology, make their mark in the field, and take part in the network of recognized sociologists. The scholarship awards a stipend of $20,000 annually to help selected fellows fund their tuition costs. If you’re a minority student passionate about sociology, we encourage you to apply!

Are you a graduate psychology student or researcher interested in studying the prevention and treatment of traumatic sexual events? If so, consider applying for the APF Dr. Christine Blasey Ford Grant. The grant is open to graduate students and early career researchers conducting work focusing on the understanding, prevention and/or treatment of the consequences of exposure to traumatic events such as sexual assault, sexual harassment and/or rape. The grant is offered by the American Psychological Foundation, the largest scientific and professional organization of psychologists in the nation. APF focuses on providing grants to fund psychology studies analyzing important issues to improve people's lives. Recipients may earn up to $1,900 to support their proposed psychological study. If you are a graduate student interested in research concerning the prevention and treatment of traumatic sexual events, 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!

The George E. Meares Memorial Scholarship is funded by the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., a historically African-American fraternity that leverages its power, influence, and more than 100 years of commitment to uplift their people and communities. Every year, their George E. Meares Memorial Scholarship awards up to $5,000 to multiple Omega Psi Phi fraternity members pursuing graduate studies in social work, the social sciences, or criminal justice. If this scholarship sounds like a fit for you, keep on reading for more application details.

Are you an international student interested in studying and conducting research in the United States? If so, consider applying for the Foreign Fulbright Student Program! The program is open to young students, artists, and professionals from outside the U.S. looking to pursue their graduate degrees or conduct research at a university in the U.S. To find out if your country offers the program, check out this list of nations with FTLA programs. The program is jointly offered by the U.S. Department of State and Fulbright, an international educational exchange program that hopes to serve as a "catalyst for peace and an interconnected world". It offers international graduate students, young professionals, and artists opportunities to study, conduct research, or teach their native language in the U.S. through merit-based grants. If you are interested in studying, conducting research, or teaching in the U.S., we encourage you to apply!

Are you pursuing a science-related field of study in an American, Canadian, or European university? If so, consider applying for the Tocris Scholarship Program! The scholarship is funded by Tocris, a trusted and innovative life science reagents supplier. Each application cycle, Tocris awards $1,500 to one lucky applicant who writes the best 500-word essays on the impact they strive to make in their field and why they chose their field. The scholarship is biannual, with deadlines in July and December of each year. This means that, if you don’t get it the first time, you can improve your application and try again just a few months later!  With that said, if you want to put your writing skills to the test and earn some money to go towards your college education, we encourage you to apply!

The Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships Program aims to attract and retain top-tier postdoctoral talent, both nationally and internationally, to develop their leadership potential and to position them for success as research leaders of tomorrow, positively contributing to Canada's economic, social, and research-based growth through a research-intensive career. Application requirements include the significance of one's research and leadership contributions, a research proposal, a bibliography, an institutional letter of endorsement, and a supervisor's statement. If you have a passion for research and would like to conduct some in Canada, we encourage you to apply! Keep on reading to learn more.

The Fulbright Distinguished Chair in Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences (The Australian National University) will award one student who will then undertake collaborative research with faculty in the arts, humanities, and social sciences at The Australian National University (ANU). The scholar also will engage with faculty, staff, and students through guest lectures, seminars, and one-on-one interactions and will explore long-term collaborations and institutional linkages between her/his home institution and ANU. Interested applicants should contact Professor Rae Frances, Dean of the ANU College of Arts and Social Sciences, to discuss projects and obtain the required letter of invitation. Applicants must have a Ph.D. or other terminal degree. To learn more about the scholarship, keep on reading!