What is the Office of Merit Awards and how can we help you?

The Office of Merit Awards helps students and alumni apply for external, nationally-competitive, merit-based scholarships that fund research abroad, language acquisition, professional experiences, research, and post-graduate studies. Awards are open to students in ALL majors.

*These awards are usually not for tuition remission

OMA Deadlines & Information Sessions

Upcoming Campus Deadlines

Internal campus deadlines are set in order to provide applicants and advisors optimal time to craft competitve applications for the awards listed below. In some instances, awards limit the number of applicants an institution may nominate. To determine the individuals that American University nominates, the Office of Merit Awards carries out internal university nomination processess. Awards requiring a university nomination are marked with asterisks.

Students interested in applying for any of the awards listed below should reach out to [email protected] to meet with an advisor and discuss the application process further.

CoLAB Emerging Tech Talent Scholarship | Thursday, October 18, 2026

*** Goldwater Scholarship *** | Thursday, October 1, 2026

*** Carnegie Endowment for International Peace: Gaither Fellowship *** | Monday, November 16, 2026

*** Udall Scholarship *** | Thursday, November 19, 2026

Boren Scholarship & Boren Fellowship | Friday, January 8. 2027

*** Killam Fellowship *** | Thursday, January 14, 2027

*** UK Scholarships (Marshall, Mitchell, Rhodes) *** | Friday, February 26, 2027

Boren Scholarship & Fellowship

The Boren Undergraduate Scholarship & Boren Graduate Fellowship supports study abroad for students pursuing the study of languages, cultures, and world regions that are critical to U.S. interests, including Africa, Asia, Central and Eastern Europe, Eurasia, Latin America and the Caribbean, and the Middle East. All scholarship recipients are required to work for one year in a national security-related position with the Federal government, starting no later than 2 years after graduation.

Boren (UG) Scholarship Information Sessions:

Information Session #1 | Thursday, October 15, 2026 | 12:30-1:30 | MGSC 327

Information Session #2 | Tuesday, October 20, 2026 | 12:30-1:30 | Zoom Link

Catch-Up Information Session | Wednesday, November 4, 2026 | 4:00-5:00 | Bender Library Room #150

Boren (G) Fellowship Information Sessions:

Information Session #1 | Wednesday, October 14, 2026 | 4:00-5:00 | MGSC 327

Information Session #2 | Tuesday, October 20, 2026 | 4:00-5:00 | Zoom Link

Catch-Up Information Session | Wednesday, November 4, 2026 | 4:00-5:00 | Bender Library Room #150

Disclaimer for applicants: To receive AU credit for a program abroad and/or to maintain matriculation as an AU undergraduate student, which is a requirement for the Boren Scholarship, students must meet with AU Abroad and comply with their policies as outlined, here.

Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange (CBYX)

Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange (CBYX) is a fellowship funded by the German Bundestag and U.S. Congress that provides 75 American and 75 German Young Professionals the opportunity to spend one year in each other’s countries, studying, interning, and living with hosts on a cultural immersion program. Eligible participants must be ages 18 1⁄2-24 at the start of the program.

Critical Langauge Scholarship (CLS)

The Department of State's Critical Language Scholarships provides immersive summer programs for U.S. undergraduate and graduate students to learn languages of strategic importance to the United States’ national security and economic prosperity. Participants receive the equivalent of one year of language study in eight weeks, through intensive language instruction and cultural activities that reinforce both language learning and intercultural competence.

Information Sessions:

Information Session |Tuesday, October 13, 2026 | 12:30-1:30 | Zoom

Gilman Scholarship

The U.S. Department of State’s Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program (Gilman Program) provides up to $5,000 in merit-based scholarships to outstanding American undergraduate students with high financial need to pursue credit-bearing academic studies and career-oriented internships abroad. To be eligible for the Gilman Program, applicants must be receiving a Federal Pell Grant during the time of application or provide proof that they will be receiving a Pell Grant during the term of their study abroad program or internship.

Information Sessions:

Drop-In Advising Session #1 | Thursday, September 24, 2026 | 4:00-5:00 |Zoom

Drop-In Advising Session #2 | Monday, September 28, 2026 | 12:30-1:30 | Zoom

Drop-In Advising Session #3 | TBA

Disclaimer for applicants: To be eligible for the Gilman Scholarship, you must be in the process of applying to, or accepted to, a credit-bearing study abroad or internship program. As an applicant, you will be required to meet with AU Abroad and comply with their policies. To read more about AU Abroad's policies, click here.

Goldwater Scholarship

The Barry Goldwater Scholarship is one of the nation's most prestigious undergraduate awards for future researchers, providing up to $7,500 for current sophomores and juniors majoring in scientific fields planning to have a career in research

*** the Goldwater Scholarship requires a campus nomination ***

Competitive applicants typically have:

A strong research background
A strong GPA
Experience presenting research outside the classroom

Interested in applying? Email [email protected] to discuss further.

Hertog Fellowship

The Hertog Fellowship offers several highly competitive and selective educational programs for outstanding individuals who seek to influence the intellectual, civic, and political life of the United States. The main program areas are: Political Thought and Philosophy, War and Foreign Affairs, and Economics and Domestic policy.

Information Sessions:

Information Session #1 | Thursday, November 17 | 12:00 - 1:00 | Zoom

Killam Fellowship

The Killam Fellowship is designed to promote mutual understanding between United States and Canadian citizens. Recipients from participating U.S. institutions undertake one year of study at a participating Canadian university. All academic fields are eligible, and most students design their own course of study.

Information Sessions:

Information Session #1 |Thursday, October 22 | 12:00 - 1:00 | Zoom

Princeton In (Africa & Asia)

Princeton In (Africa & Asia) matches recent college graduates in Asia and Africa with partner organizations working across sectors such as education, public health, and alternative energy for one- and two-year service fellowships. Applicants are typically in their final year of undergraduate or a recent graduate.

Information Session | Wednesday, October 7 | 12:30 - 1:30 | Zoom

Public Policy & International Affairs (PPIA) Program

The Public Policy and International Affairs Program (PPIA) prepares young adults for an advanced degree and, ultimately, for careers and influential roles serving the public good. PPIA is open to current undergraduate juniors pursuing a career in public service.

Group Advising | Wednesday, September 30 | 12-1 p.m. | MGSC 327

STEM Office Hours

Sr. Director, Dr. Paula Warrick, provides general office hours for students with STEM majors. To learn more about STEM-based awards prior to attending office hours, please review our National Scholarship Directory.

STEM Office Hours:

Office hours will be held from 12:30–1:30 every other Thursday between September 10 and November 5. All office hour sessions will be conducted using this Zoom link.

If you are a STEM student who would like to attend office hours but cannot make any of the scheduled times, please email [email protected] to arrange an alternate meeting time with Dr. Warrick.

Udall Scholarship

The Udall Scholarship identifies future leaders in environmental, Tribal public policy, and health care fields. It is highly competitive, with students participating in their schools’ internal competitions before receiving consideration from the Udall Foundation. In 2027, the Udall Foundation anticipates awarding up to 65 scholarships of $7,500 each.

Information Session | Monday, October 19 | 12:30 - 1:30 | Zoom

*** The Udall Scholarship requires a campus nomination; reach out to [email protected] for more information on the campus nomination process ***

American University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, including sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, sex characteristics, sex stereotypes and pregnancy or related conditions, age, marital status, genetic information, personal appearance, matriculation, family responsibilities, political affiliation, disability, familial status, source of income, place of residence or business, veteran status, or any other protected basis and prohibits discrimination in any program or activity that it operates, as required by federal or local laws and their implementing regulations and University policies, including in employment and admission.

EIP Alumni:

Anna Palumbo, SPA '27

Anna Palumbo (SPA '27), is a Henry Clay Center College Student Congress recipient who represented Washington, DC's delegate. As an EIP-er, she has worked closely with OMA to explore opportunities for leadership, public service, and continued academic growth. Through the Henry Clay Center College Student Congress, Anna further developed her understanding of public policy and civic leadership while preparing for her long-term goal of attending law school and pursuing a career in public service and elected office.

Caroline Maschke, CAS '27

Caroline Maschke (CAS '27), former EIP-er, is a Fulbright UK Summer Insitute (FBUKSI) recipient.

"I received the US-UK Fulbright Commission UK Summer Institute Award (UKSI), which covered all expenses for a month in London. I studied British politics and approaches to climate change and sustainable development at King's College London. This experience was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for me to explore life outside of the US, meet scholars from all over the world, and continue to pursue my academic interests without worrying about my financial situation. My time in London gave me valuable friendships, an interest in US and UK relations, and the opportunity to explore the UK and surrounding countries. I am so grateful to the commission for such an academically, socially, and culturally enriching experience".

How Do I Apply?

number 2

Tied for 2nd top Boren Fellows producer in nation

33 percent

of AU applicants received national recognition in 2024

300

applicants supported by OMA in 2024