Undergraduate Research and Independent Projects

The Beinecke Scholarship Program

Hailey Rochin ('24), 2023 Beinecke Scholar

Overview

For graduate study in the Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences, the Beinecke Scholarship enables highly motivated students of exceptional promise to pursue opportunities available to them and to be courageous in the selection of a graduate course of study.

  • Campus Deadline: February 22, 2024 @ 3:00 pm. **SUBMIT EARLY: This deadline is strict.**
  • Application Workshops via Zoom (you will need to sign into Zoom with your Stanford University email): 
    1. Wed, October 25, 2023, 3:30-4:30 pm. Join the session here. 
    2. Thu, November 9, 2022, 4-5 pm. Join the session here.
  • Award:  A total of $35,000; each scholar receives $5,000 prior to entering graduate school and an additional $30,000 while attending graduate school.
  • Campus liaison: Dr. Jelena Batinic, Academic Advising
  • If you are interested in the Beinecke, set up an appointment with Jelena: http://go.oncehub.com/JelenaBatinic
  • More information and application forms at: The Beinecke Scholarship national website

Eligibility Criteria

  • Nomination by Stanford through Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education (VPUE)
  • A junior who is pursuing a bachelor’s degree during the 2023-2024 academic year*
  • A major in the Arts, Humanities, or Social Sciences strongly preferred
  • A student intending to enter a research- or creative-focused master's or doctoral program in the Arts, Humanities, or Social Sciences
  • A student with demonstrated superior standards of intellectual ability, scholastic achievement and personal promise
  • A U.S. citizen or U.S. National from American Samoa or the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands
  • A student in need of financial aid, and with a documented history of receiving need-based financial aid during undergraduate years 
    • Primary evidence of meeting this criterion is a student’s history of receiving need-based institutional, state, or federal grants-in-aid, with a preference for Pell Grant recipients
    • Each student must complete the Beinecke Financial Aid Data Sheet outlining how the student meets this criterion
    • The amount of financial need will be one of the factors considered during the selection process, with preference given to candidates for whom the awarding of a scholarship would significantly increase the likelihood of the student being able to attend graduate school

*Junior status means you are continuing full-time in undergraduate study, and expect to receive a baccalaureate degree between December 2024 and August 2025.

How to Apply

The following steps must be completed for an application to be considered for campus nomination:

  1. Register with Undergraduate Research to participate in the campus competition
  2. Consult with your faculty mentors and the Beinecke campus liaison regarding the content and writing of your statement of purpose
  3. Prepare an application package consisting of the following: 
    • Application
    • Current C.V., including rich details for the experiences/achievements that you list.
    • Personal statement in 1,000 words or less describing your background, creative or research interests, plans for graduate study, and career aspirations. Include experiences that have helped shape your interests, plans, and goals.
    • Financial Aid Data Sheet
    • Artist’s supplement (if appropriate)
    • A copy of your unofficial Stanford transcript. For non-Stanford college coursework  (if applicable), please request an electronic version of official college transcript(s) to be sent to vpue-fellowships@stanford.edu. 
    • 3 letters of recommendation (original only)
  4. Submit your complete application package with attached files to vpue-fellowships@stanford.edu by the campus deadline.
  5. Download the "Fellowship Nomination Permission Form and Waiver."  Sign, scan, and attach an electronic copy in the same email as your application and send to vpue-fellowships@stanford.edu by the campus deadline. 

**Note:  Late applications will NOT be accepted without prior approval.

Selection Process

A committee of VPUE staff and faculty will review applications to shortlist candidates for interviews (if needed), and select one campus nominee.

Additional Resources

You are strongly encouraged to consult with your faculty mentors about the application, and with academic advisors who have experience with this competition.  To schedule an appointment with the Beinecke campus liaison, please visit here.

Questions?  Contact vpue-fellowships@stanford.edu for more information.