NSO Events Fall 2025
The National Scholarship Office will present information sessions on the following awards throughout the fall semester. Click on the name of the award to go to the award program’s website and click on “Register here!” to register for our sessions. Zoom links will be provided to those who register.
Opportunities for undergraduates are notated in green text and those for graduate students are notated in red text below.
Please email [email protected] with any questions!
SEPTEMBER
General Information Session for Grad Students: Wednesday, September 3 @ 1:00 pm (Zoom)
This session is geared towards VCU graduate students in all disciplines. Join us to learn more about external funding opportunities and how the NSO can support you through the application process. Register here!
Critical Language Scholarship & Summer Language Programs: Wednesday, September 3 @ 3:00pm (Hybrid)
In this info session, we will be discussing the Critical Language Scholarship–a funded, summer intensive language study abroad program–as well as several other, domestic summer language programs. These programs are open to all undergraduates and graduate students. Register here!
Goldwater Scholarship: Thursday, September 4 @ 11:00 am (Hybrid)
Intended for sophomores and juniors intending to pursue graduate research in the STEM fields, this session will provide information on the Goldwater Scholarship, which awards its scholars with up to $7500 for educational expenses and a mentoring network. Register here!
NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program: Thursday, September 4 @ 2:00 pm (Hybrid)
Juniors, seniors, and first- and second-year graduate students in STEM fields are encouraged to join us to learn more about the National Science Foundation’s Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP), which funds up to three years of graduate study in non-medical STEM disciplines. Register here!
PEO International Peace Scholarship: Thursday, September 4 @ 3:30 pm (Zoom)
The PEO International Peace Scholarship provides up to $12,500 in support of international women pursuing graduate study in the US or Canada. This info session is geared towards international women who are juniors, seniors, and early-career graduate students. Register here!
Public Service/Leadership Information Session: Friday, September 5 @ 11:00 am (Hybrid)
This information session is aimed at undergraduate students interested in a career in public service. The information session will cover awards including: Public Policy and International Affairs Program (PPIA), Truman Scholarship, Obama Voyager Scholarship, Rangel Summer Enrichment Program, Congressional Black Caucus Scholarships, Hunger Fellowships, Harvard Public Policy Leadership Conference, Humanity in Action scholarship, and Boren Awards. Register here!
PD Soros Fellowship for New Americans: Friday, September 5 @ 1:00 pm (Zoom)
The Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowship for New Americans honors immigrants and children of immigrants by supporting one to two years of graduate study in any field in the United States. This info session is geared toward juniors and seniors and early-career graduate students interested in this opportunity. Register here!
OCTOBER
Boren Awards: Tuesday, October 21 @ 3:30pm (Zoom)
The Boren Awards, which fund the study of a critical language abroad, are open to all undergraduates and graduate students. This session will provide an overview of the program and information on how to apply. Register here!
Gaither Junior Fellows Program: Wednesday, October 22 @ 2:00 pm (Hybrid)
The Gaither Junior Fellows Program offers graduating seniors and recent graduates the chance to provide high-level research at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. We especially encourage seniors, as well as juniors, to join us for this session. Register here!
RISE/SMART/NDSEG: Thursday, October 23 @ 3:30 pm (Hybrid)
This session is intended for undergraduates beyond their first year and current graduate students in STEM-field majors. Learn about RISE, a three-month research internship in Germany (working language is English!), and SMART, a Department of Defense scholarship that provides funding for tuition and educational fees as well as summer research internships. The Department of Defense National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate (NDSEG) Fellowship is a prestigious fellowship awarded annually to U.S. citizens pursuing doctoral degrees in science and engineering disciplines. Register here!
NSO General Information Session: Wednesday, October 29 @ 3:00 pm (Hybrid)
This general information session is geared towards all undergraduates who are new to VCU this fall – first-year and transfer students – but all are welcome! Learn about the NSO, the (inter)nationally-competitive awards we advise for, and how to make yourself a great candidate. Register here!
NOVEMBER
Point Scholarship: Thursday, November 6 @ 11:00 am (Hybrid)
The Point Flagship Scholarship empowers LGBTQ undergraduate and graduate students to access and succeed in their education at accredited four-year institutions in the United States. Flagship scholarship recipients receive financial support, access to multiple leadership development programs, mentorship or coaching, and the support of a community of scholars and alumni. Register here!
Udall Scholarship: Wednesday, November 12 @ 2:00 pm (Hybrid)
Aimed at sophomores and juniors interested in tribal policy, the environment, or Native American healthcare, the Udall Scholarship provides its scholars with up to $7,000 and leadership development training. Register here!
NSF REU & Amgen Scholars: Thursday, November 13 @ 2pm (Hybrid)
This session is aimed at undergraduates interested in STEM research. The NSF Research Experiences for Undergraduates and Amgen Scholars Program each fund summer research and mentoring at host institutions around the world. Register here!
DECEMBER
Fulbright UK Summer Institutes: Thursday, December 4 @ 3:30 pm (Hybrid)
This session is intended for first- and second-year undergraduate students with a GPA of 3.7 or higher and little travel experience outside of the US. The Fulbright UK Summer Institutes are 3- or 4-week study abroad programs at prestigious universities in the UK, funded by the US-UK Fulbright Commission. Register here!