Office of Nationally Competitive Awards

The Office of Nationally Competitive Awards supports UC undergraduates, graduate students, and recent alumni interested in applying for major external fellowships. NCA fosters the intellectual and personal development of UC’s student-scholars by facilitating a rewarding application process that encourages them to engage in rigorous self-reflection, cultivate strong writing practices, and define meaningful connections among their personal commitments, academic pursuits, and future goals.

This office administers UC’s nomination processes for awards like Rhodes, Marshall, Fulbright, Truman, and Goldwater; it also provides support for major awards that do not require endorsement. 


Upcoming Info Sessions

Truman Scholarship: September 22, 2026 @ 12:30 PM in Swift 708
Japan Exchange and Teaching Program (JET): September 24, 2026 @ 12:30 PM in Swift 708
Boren and Critical Language Scholarship (CLS): September 29, 2026 @ 12:30 PM in Swift 708
Gaither Junior Fellows Program: October 13, 2026 @ 12:30 PM in Swift 708
FAO Schwarz Fellowship: November 5, 2026 @ 12:30 PM in Swift 708
Fulbright UK Summer Institutes: November 17, 2026 @12:30 PM in Swift 708

 

Upcoming Award Deadlines

Campus Deadlines

Marshall Scholarship: August 14, 2026 @ noon ET 
Rhodes Scholarship: August 14, 2026 @ noon ET (U.S. applicants)
Fulbright U.S. Student Program
: August 21, 2026
Churchill Scholarship: October 1, 2026
Goldwater Scholarship: October 15, 2026
Truman Scholarship: November 5, 2026
Gaither Junior Fellowship: December 3, 2026
Boren Awards: January 2027

National Deadlines

Luce Scholars Program: September 7, 2026 @ 5 PM ET
Schwarzman Scholars Program: September 9, 2026 @ 3 PM ET (U.S./Global applicants)
Marshall Scholarship: September 29, 2026
Gilman Scholarship: October 1, 2026 
Knight-Hennessy Scholars Program: October 6, 2026 @ 4 PM ET (1 PM Pacific)
Fulbright U.S. Student Program: October 6, 2026 @ 5 PM ET
Rhodes Scholarship: October 7 @ 11:59 PM ET (U.S. applicants)
Princeton in Asia: November 1, 2026
Churchill Scholarship: November 2, 2026 @ 5:00 PM ET
Japan Exchange and Teaching Program (JET): November 13, 2026
Gaither Junior Fellowship: January 15, 2027
Boren Fellowships: January 20, 2027
Boren Scholarships: January 27, 2027
Goldwater Scholarship: January 29, 2027 @ 5 PM CT
FAO Schwarz Fellowship: February 1, 2027 @ 9 PM ET
Truman Scholarship: February 2, 2027



Congratulations 2025-26 Award Winners!

 

2025-26 Finalists and Semi-Finalists


Please Fill out our Intake Form

If you are interested in being added to our database to be kept up-to-date on all info sessions and resources for the awards that interest you, please fill out our Intake Form.

Come to an Intro to Fellowships Session

Open to all students! Get an overview of the awards and how our office can help you apply!

  • Email nca@uc.edu to schedule an appointment.
  • Sessions can be held either on Zoom or in-person.