Fellowships
Fellowships at the Honors College are more than just awards—they’re your passport to a world of exploration, creativity and academic adventure. Whether you want to research regenerative medicine, write a novel in Berlin or design climate-resilient cities, a fellowship gives you the flexibility to make it happen.
New freshmen receive fellowships each year
In fellowship support available over four years
Additional funding available for extended degree programs
For In-state Students
A fellowship can be combined with scholarships from the Arkansas Division of Higher Education.
For Out-of-state Students
A fellowship can be combined with the New Arkansan Non-Resident Tuition Award.
Fellowship Qualifications
32 ACT (composite score on one exam) or 1430 SAT
3.90 weighted high school GPA*
*University of Arkansas only gives extra weight to AP, IB, and Dual Enrollment courses listed on the transcript using a 5.00 scale. If your high school uses a different weighting system, the undergraduate admissions office will convert your GPA using the UA scale after analyzing your transcript.
Questions? Contact the admissions office at 479-575-5346 or uofa@uark.edu.
List of Endowed Fellowships Fellowship Interviews Current Fellow Log In
Ways you can apply your award
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Tuition
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Room & Board
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Fees
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Study Abroad
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Research projects
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Conference Travel
Fellowship Application Steps
- Add Us to Your Contacts
Add honors@uark.edu and scholars@uark.edu to your email address book so you don’t miss important updates. - Apply to the University of Arkansas
Apply by Nov. 1 for the Nov. 15 priority scholarship deadline, or by Jan. 15 for the Feb. 1 final deadline. Use the online application or Common App - Submit Transcripts & Test Scores
Mail transcripts to:
Office of Admissions, 232 Silas Hunt Hall,
1 University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR 72701
AP, IB, and Dual Enrollment courses are weighted if clearly labeled on your transcript. - Access Your Fellowship Application
About 48 hours after applying, log in to your New Student Center to access and complete the scholarship/fellowship application.
Supplemental Application Materials
The essay prompts below are designed to help you explore what these values mean to you. And remember, the application essay is an opportunity for you to move beyond test scores and GPAs and tell us about you. Avoid platitudes and checklists of accomplishments and activities. The more specific you can be to your personal experience, the better!
Write a well-developed essay (600 words maximum) on ONE of the following prompts:
- Identify an invention or idea that was developed more than 100 years ago that still has a major effect on the way we live today. How has this technology or idea affected your life?
- Identify an artist or innovator in the world today who inspires you. Tell us why.
- What does community service mean to you? How do you envision yourself engaging in service on campus?
You must cite sources if you use published or web-based information in your response.
Please provide names, email addresses and phone numbers of two individuals who will write letters of recommendation. We recommend teachers, but counselors and other school officials often write strong letters as well. Once you have submitted your fellowship application, an email will be sent to each individual requesting that they write a letter on your behalf.
Please note:Even if you are submitting your application by the priority scholarship deadline, letters of recommendation are not due until the final deadline of February 1.
Also, if your recommender is looking for tips on how to write an effective letter on your behalf, be sure to share our blog post on the subject.
Q: Does submitting a fellowship application also make me eligible for academic scholarships at the University of Arkansas?
A: Yes, your fellowship application will also put you into consideration for new freshman academic scholarships at the University of Arkansas.
Q: If I submit a fellowship application, do I still need to apply to the Honors College?
A: Yes, fellowship applicants will also need to complete an Honors College application if they wish to join honors — visit Apply for more information. Please note that if you are offered a fellowship, you are required to join the Honors College.
Please also note that fellows are expected to live in Hotz Honors Hall during their first year at the university. Students who are offered a fellowship can request a waiver from the Dean of the Honors College if they wish to live in another residence hall.
Q: What is the Honors College's policy regarding the 2025 updates to the ACT?
Starting with the changes and enhancements to the ACT that are scheduled to be implemented beginning in April 2025, the university will not require the science reasoning section of the ACT for scholarship, placement, or enrollment purposes. Once these updates are fully implemented, students applying to the University of Arkansas may choose to submit test scores with or without the science reasoning section.
The Honors College will continue to consider a student's highest ACT composite score for both Honors College admission and fellowship application reviews, regardless of whether the exam was taken before or after the scheduled changes. Please note that composite scores from ACT exams taken before the scheduled changes will include the English, math, reading, and science sections. Composite scores from ACT exams taken after the scheduled changes will only include the English, math, and reading sections.
Q: What is the latest ACT and/or SAT test I can take to become eligible for fellowships?
A: The latest test date we will consider is the December test date of your senior year. Please be sure to send your official score report from that test to the University of Arkansas. If you do become fellowship-eligible, we will send an email with instructions on how to have your letters of recommendation submitted by the final deadline of February 1.
Q: Do I need to submit additional transcripts and test scores directly to the Honors College in order to be considered for fellowships?
A: No. The Honors College will consider the transcripts and test scores that you submitted to the undergraduate admissions office when you originally applied to the University of Arkansas. You therefore do not need to submit additional transcripts or test scores to the Honors College in order to be considered for prestigious fellowships.
Q: I am planning to apply by the scholarship priority deadline of November 15 during my senior year. When are my letters of recommendation due for the fellowship application?
A: All letters of recommendation for fellowship applicants are due by February 1, even if you submit your application by the priority deadline.
Q: When will I hear from the Honors College regarding my fellowship status?
A: The Honors College will let you know whether or not you're invited to interview as a fellowship finalist no later than February 15.
Q: If I am named a fellowship finalist, when will interviews take place this year?
A: Fellowship interviews are scheduled during March of a student's senior year.
Q: If I am originally offered a Chancellor's Scholarship, can it also combine with a fellowship offer?
A: Unfortunately, no, you will not be able to combine an academic scholarship offer from the Academic Scholarship Office (e.g. Chancellor's Scholarship, Chancellor's Merit Scholarship, Silas Hunt Scholarship, Chancellor's Community, etc.) with a fellowship. The fellowship will cancel out the original academic scholarship offer from the university. With that said, in-state students can combine a fellowship with a scholarship from the Arkansas Department of Higher Education, such as the Challenge Scholarship or the Governor's Distinguished Scholarship. Out-of-state students can combine a fellowship with the New Arkansan Non-Resident Tuition Award. All fellowship recipients can also use external scholarships to help fund their education at the University of Arkansas.
Q: If I am offered a fellowship, am I expected to live in Hotz Honors Hall during my first year of college?
Fellows are expected to live in Hotz Honors Hall and engage with the honors community during their first year at the university. We reserve two floors in Hotz, one floor for male fellows and another for female fellows.
Students who are offered a fellowship can request a waiver from the Dean of the Honors College if they wish to live in another residence hall. Please note that as part of the waiver request process, students will be required to agree to certain stipulations.
Tips for the Fellowship/Scholarship Application
Do you have questions about the fellowship/scholarship application at the University of Arkansas and how you can maximize your chances for a top award? The Honors College has prepared a video series about the process, breaking down each section of the application and providing helpful tips for applicants.
Key Deadlines: Fellowship & Scholarship Applications
You must apply for admission to the University and submit your transcript and tests scores by this date to be eligible for the priority round of scholarship awards.
Students applying for scholarships by this date will be given priority consideration. Later applications will be considered only if funds are available.
To be considered for fellowships and scholarships, you must apply for admission to the University by this date.
Final fellowship and scholarship application deadline. For fellowship applicants, this is also the deadline for letters of recommendation to be submitted.
Students who are selected as finalists for the Honor College, Sturgis and Bodenhamer Fellowships are invited by email to interview on campus.
Fellowship finalist interviews on campus.
Fellows are notified of their award.
Scholarship awarding continues as funds allow.
Deadline to accept or decline merit-based award offer from the University of Arkansas.
Being a Bodenhamer Fellow has really allowed me the freedom to study what I wanted to in a very real sense. Because of this support, I have had the opportunity to pursue my academic interests surrounded by a supportive community who helped me every step along the way.”
—Joshua Jacobs, classical studies
Joshua completed his undergraduate studies at the U of A and is now a Ph.D. candidate
in Assyriology at Yale University.
Your path to college success starts here
Path Program
The Path Program supports exceptional Arkansas high school students from underrepresented backgrounds —first-generation college students, those with significant financial need, or from less-represented areas of the state.
Any major, any dream. Path students pursue degrees across all six academic colleges at the U of A.
We will help you explore opportunities to
- Secure scholarships and financial aid
- Study abroad
- Conduct undergraduate research
- Engage in service learning
- Get involved in campus leadership
Qualifications
To apply for the Honors College Path Program, you must be a first-generation college student, have significant financial need or be from a less-well represented area of the state.
High school GPA of 3.5 or above
ACT composite score between a 23 – 27 (1130 – 1300 SAT)
Apply for University of Arkansas scholarships
The Path Program is the greatest thing that has ever happened to me. Other than funding my education, they are my family at university. I can’t imagine being as successful without them.
— Caleb Flores, biology
Ready to Start Your Path?
High school students who meet the requirements will be invited to apply to the Path Program.
Questions? Contact Xochitl Delgado Solorzano at xdelgad@uark.edu or 479-575-3874.
Path Program Highlights
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Bridge Program
A free, two-week head start on campus for Path Scholars—move in early, take a class, and build meaningful connections before the semester begins. -
Community
Join a supportive, intentional cohort and live in Hotz Honors Hall’s living-learning community. -
Mentorship
Connect with peer and professional mentors who will guide and support you throughout your journey. -
Advising & Coaching
Benefit from structured academic support and personalized leadership development designed to help you thrive.
National Merit Scholars
The smaller class sizes in Honors College courses and the opportunity to read and discuss the coursework and write about it in long form has already been valuable to me. I’m sure it will continue to be an asset as I [enter law school].
—Hank Herzfeld, history and political science
The Honors College is here to support us. It’s a huge resource for our future, so we should use it.
—Leen Samman, biology and psychology
The research strategies I learned at U of A play a foundational role in my work every day as I try to unravel the complexities of the immune system and how it can become dysregulated, and I am excited for the trajectory of my career enabled through the Honors College.
—Anthony Azzun, biochemistry
Current Students
Grant Opportunities
The Honors College offers competitive grants to support students in pursuing original research, creative projects, study abroad and internships. These funds help turn bold ideas into life-changing experiences.
grants awarded each year
awarded to undergraduates last year
More than half of our honors scholars study abroad during their undergraduate years
Research takes resources, and the Honors College offers competitive grants to help cover costs. The funding is worth the effort—and looks great on a resume. We offer four types of research grants:
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Research Grant
Designed to support your scholastic, creative, and experiential honors research projects. -
Extended Research Travel Grant
Helps cover the costs of a long-term research trip (21 days or more). -
Short-term Research Travel Grant
Provides funding for honors students who need to take a short trip for their research (up to 20 days). -
Conference/Workshop Travel Grant
Present your work at a conference, workshop, or symposium—whether through a paper, panel, poster, or other official format—or participate in an interactive session related to your research.
Honors students can get funding to write poetry in Ireland, partner with a community in Belize, study the business culture of India and much, much more. We offer three types of study abroad grants:
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Study Abroad Grant
The world can be your classroom—which is why we award up to $1.3 million annually in study abroad and research grants each year, covering 35–50% of costs, and supporting programs from two weeks to a full year. -
Libby Finch Award
The Libby Finch Study Abroad Award honors the legacy of Libby Finch—who led student tours across Europe in the ’50s and ’60s—by supporting University of Arkansas students studying abroad in the United Kingdom and Europe. -
SIT Study Abroad Scholarship
The School for International Training (SIT) offers students hands-on, immersive study abroad programs that deal with critical global issues across the world.
Internships are fantastic opportunities for professional development. International internships can help you develop unique cross-cultural competencies and skills, while domestic internships allow you to build relationships with potential industries and employers. These experiences build your resume and demonstrate your strengths to graduate schools and employers. Winning a competitive grant to help fund the internship is a resume plus as well!
We have two exciting funding opportunities both for international and domestic internship grants.
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Domestic Internship Grant
The Domestic Internship Grant helps students take advantage of unpaid internships in fields where wages are not typically offered—like government, non-profits, law, medicine, and entrepreneurship. -
International Internship Grant
The Honors College awards competitive International Internship Grants to students participating in unpaid internships abroad with research components or professional skills in a spring, summer or fall semester.
The Engagement and Opportunity Grant provides up to $500 in one-time funding to help honors students access career-advancing opportunities, with a blog post required afterward.
Expenses Covered by the Engagement and Opportunity Grant:
- Preprofessional programs testing materials
- Academic dues and competition participation
- Leadership and service conferences and workshop opportunities not associated with research
- Professional development opportunities
Expenses Not Covered by the Engagement and Opportunity Grant:
- Health insurance and study abroad costs
- Non-essential personal bills
- Parking tickets, library fines, or other expenses mistakenly incurred
- Funds for the replacement of non-essential academic lost or stolen items
- Items covered by other Honors College grants
The Honors College Emergency Fund offers one-time support—typically up to $500—to help honors students stay in school when unexpected financial challenges arise. Larger awards may be available in special cases.
Expenses Covered by the Emergency Fund:
- Contributions towards books and other essential academic expenses (computers, calculators, lab and studio needs, etc)
- Overdue utility bills reaching a turn-off notice
- Unexpected bills that would inhibit graduation
- Tuition holds and fees that are impeding enrollment
Expenses Not Covered by the Emergency Fund:
- Health insurance and study abroad costs
- Non-essential personal bills
- Parking tickets, library fines, or other expenses mistakenly incurred
- Funds for the replacement of non-essential academic lost or stolen items
- More than one emergency request within a 6 month period