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.
UW sophomore Jonathan Kwong awarded selective Udall Scholarship
Sophomore Jonathan Kwong was recently named a Udall Scholar in 2022. Kwong is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in environmental science and resource management with a minor in oceanic and Pacific Islander studies.
UW grad Daniel Chen named prestigious Marshall Scholar
Daniel Chen graduated last spring with majors in microbiology and informatics, and will be pursuing a master’s degree in biological sciences and genomic medicine and conducting genomic medicine research at the Sanger Institute at the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom.
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 for identifying 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 and paid opportunities
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, jobs 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 academic success coaches, CLUE tutors and CLUE front desk managers.
CELE Fellowships
Community Engagement and Leadership Education fellowships offer funding for students who are committed to making public service and civic leadership development 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 college and career readiness assistants and mentorship coordinator interns.
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 Honors students. Scholarships include funding for tuition, international programs and access to experiential learning opportunities.
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.
Office of Undergraduate Research
The Office of Undergraduate Research manages select scholarships, conference travel support and funded summer research experiences. Office of Undergraduate Research advisers are available to help students learn more about obtaining funding to support their engagement in research.
Scholarship stories
Bitaniya Giday, UW junior, scholar, community organizer and poet, selected as Truman Scholar
April 12, 2024
When University of Washington President Ana Mari Cauce, Provost Tricia Serio and Vice Provost and Dean Ed Taylor appeared in the Zoom room of Bitaniya Giday’s African American studies class, Giday was confused and even wondered if she was in trouble for something. But then President Cauce excitedly announced that Giday had been selected for…
Three UW students named 2024 Goldwater Scholars
April 9, 2024
Three University of Washington undergraduates have been honored as Goldwater Scholars by the Goldwater Foundation, continuing the longstanding tradition of UW students receiving this honor. This year’s UW Goldwater Scholars are Dania Ahmed, Annabella Li and Masa Nakura-Fan. Their undergraduate research projects with faculty cover a range of topics such as the mechanisms underlying heart…
UW recognized as a Fulbright top producer for the 2023-24 school year
February 15, 2024
The University of Washington made the Chronicle of Higher Education’s list of the Fulbright top producing institutions. A total of 14 students received Fulbright U.S. Student Program awards for the academic year 2023-24, seven undergraduates or recent graduates and seven graduate-level students. Three UW faculty were named Fulbright scholars. The scholarship program is the largest…