Scholarships and funding
Applying for scholarships is about more than simply applying to scholarships. It encourages and challenges students to think about their academic experience at the UW and how they want to make an enduring impact in the world. Through the application process, students develop skills that will extend far beyond the application — clarifying and articulating goals, learning to find funding that matches their interests and cultivating relationships. These are skills that students will take forward as alumni, whether applying for graduate school, project funding, grants or launching their own business.
What you’ll find here: Scholarship advising and funding opportunities // UAA programs that offer funding // Scholarship stories
To learn about more types of financial aid and need-based scholarships, visit the Student Financial Aid website.
The UW is a Fulbright top producer
The University of Washington is proud to be included on the list of U.S. colleges and universities that produced the most 2020-2021 Fulbright students.
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Scholarship lists and guides
Check out lists of scholarships curated by focus, including STEM, arts and humanities, international opportunities and more.
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Scholarship advising and funding opportunities
Mary Gates Endowment for Students
Mary Gates Endowment scholarships enable students to pursue original research or leadership projects, or participate in the CoMotion Mary Gates Innovation Scholars summer program. Undergraduates carry out their own projects and work closely with a mentor to guide their work, helping them become independent learners, scholars, innovators and community leaders.
Office of Merit Scholarships, Fellowships & Awards
A resource for UW undergraduate students and alumni in developing the skills and personal insights necessary to pursue scholarships that fit their goals. Advisers mentor students through the scholarship application process by offering individual feedback, resources, and advising to support students in developing competitive applications.
UAA programs that offer funding
UW undergraduates are thinking and learning about some of today’s most perplexing and pressing issues. The chance to animate their classroom knowledge in a real world setting broadens students’ understanding of these challenges. Students and alumni often describe the rigorous inquiry, community engagement and reflection that comes with these experiences as transformative. To make these opportunities accessible to a broader range of students, several UAA programs offer scholarships, internships or other paid positions — see the list below and learn more.
Academic Support Programs
The Center for Learning and Undergraduate Enrichment (CLUE) offers free, peer tutoring to all UW students. Paid positions include front desk managers, drop-in tutors, student success coaches and discussion session leaders.
CELE Fellowships
Community Engagement and Leadership Education fellowships offer funding for students who are committed to making public service part of their academic experience.
Dream Project
UW undergraduates mentor students at under-resourced middle and high schools to support them in planning for life after high school, including college access. Paid positions include high school leads, college and career readiness assistants and lecture leads.
First Year Programs
First Year Programs offers several paid leadership roles for current students to help incoming students succeed at the UW. These include orientation leaders, student assistants and coordinators.
Honors Program
The Honors Program offers a range of scholarships to incoming and current students. Honors administers the Bonderman Fellowship, which funds up to eight months of solo travel and is open to all UW students.
Jumpstart
Through Jumpstart, UW students prepare and deliver language and social-emotional programming in preschool classrooms that serve children and families from under-resourced communities. Federal Workstudy paid positions, course credit and education awards are available upon completion of program.
Undergraduate Advising
UAA peer advisers support the advising team on drop-in advising. They receive extensive training in advising work, and work with students on major exploration, course registration, accessing academic resources, problem solving and decision making.
Undergraduate Community Based Internships
Undergraduates in this paid internship program are placed in nonprofit and public sector organizations. Students interested in public service get the chance to explore, contribute and grow as they work in, with and for local communities.
Undergraduate Research Program
The Undergraduate Research Program manages select scholarships, conference travel support and funded summer research experiences.Undergraduate Research Program advisers are available to help students learn more about obtaining funding to support their engagement in research.
Scholarship stories
A subject to love, a determination to speak her truth
June 11, 2021
The diagnosis came on her first day of fall quarter. Cancer. Maha Alhomoud, newly arrived from Saudi Arabia had two options: Return home for treatment or stay in Seattle, attend the University of Washington and receive cancer treatment in the states. Maha Alhomoud at the UN General Assembly as a youth delegate for Saudi Arabia…
The 24th Annual Undergraduate Research Symposium to happen virtually on May 21
May 16, 2021
On Friday, May 21, nearly 750 undergraduates from all three University of Washington campuses as well as local community colleges and regional colleges will participate in the 24th Annual Undergraduate Research Symposium, which will be held online for the second year. The UW’s Undergraduate Research Symposium is one of the largest in the country and…
UW senior Maha Alhomoud named Carnegie Junior Fellow
April 22, 2021
Maha Alhomoud, a University of Washington senior majoring in political science, has been selected as a 2021-22 Junior Fellow by the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. A highly competitive award, only 5% of applicants are selected for the Carnegie Gaither Junior Fellows program each year. The Carnegie Endowment for International Peace is a unique global…