Explore your options and identify your goals to start your application process.
Distinguished Fellowships
Go Beyond the Ordinary
Distinguished Fellowships take your college experiences beyond the ordinary. These competitive, merit-based awards provide a wide range of opportunities to teach or study abroad, conduct research, fund graduate studies or pursue professional development. Embark on a journey of self-discovery, find yourself in new places, and make otherwise impossible connections that will benefit you for a lifetime.
For appointments, visit Penji online or download the app, and create your account by logging in with your Rutgers NetID and password (via Single Sign-On). Be sure to join our community, "Distinguished Fellowships." If you still have questions about how to setup your Penji account, visit this Penji support page.
Mark your calendar! Below is a complete list of all upcoming events from the Office of Distinguished Fellowships and our fellowship foundation partners. Click on each individual event for more details.
-
Fulbright U.S. Student Program 2027-2028 application is open.
-
The Lafayette Fellowship is a fully funded opportunity launched in 2025 to support the next generation of leaders with a strong interest in the U.S.–France relationship. The program enables up to 30 graduating students and recent U.S. bachelor’s graduates to pursue one year of master’s-level study at leading French academic institutions across STEM, the humanities, social sciences, and the arts. Open to both Francophone and non-Francophone candidates, the Lafayette Fellowship provides access to partner universities and institutions throughout France, with programs offered in French and English. In addition to their academic studies, fellows participate in the French-American Leadership Program, a year-long experience featuring lectures, masterclasses, site visits, cultural immersion, and mentorship with leaders in fields including business, government, academia, and the arts. Through graduate study, leadership development, and cross-cultural engagement, the Lafayette Fellowship aims to strengthen academic and cultural exchange between France and the United States while preparing a diverse community of emerging leaders to address global challenges in areas such as sustainability, health and biotechnology, peace and security, social equity, digital technologies, and artificial intelligence. Fellows receive comprehensive support, including tuition coverage at eligible partner institutions, a living stipend, travel support, visa fee waivers, and funding for leadership program activities.
Join the Office of Distinguished Fellowships and Lafayette Fellowship representative to learn more about the application process.
Register here: https://bit.ly/Lafayette2026
-
Spend your summer doing research in Germany! The DAAD RISE program offers undergraduate STEM students a chance to complete a funded summer research internship at a German university or research institute. Work alongside researchers, gain hands-on lab and international research experience, and live life in Germany.
Who can apply? Undergraduate STEM students at eligible U.S., Canadian, U.K., or Irish universities who have completed at least two years of study and will remain undergraduates after the internship. The application deadline runs from October 15 – November 30, 2026 (11:59 pm CET – Central European Time).
Join the Office of Distinguished Fellowships and DAAD representative, Amelia Wallace, for an information session to learn more about the program, eligibility requirements, and how to apply.
Webinar will be recorded and shared with all registrants.
Register here: https://bit.ly/DAADRISEGERAMNY
Join a Tradition of Excellence
For over a decade, the Office of Distinguished Fellowships has guided Rutgers students in applying for and winning many truly prestigious awards. Year after year, our students are the recipients of the Fulbright, Goldwater, Truman, Gates Cambridge, Schwarzman, and Marshall awards, along with many others.
Endless Opportunities
58
Goldwater Scholars
Begin Your Journey
Search our database for all of the available educational opportunities.
Explore fellowships, schedule a discovery session to find awards, and receive guidance on your application.
Success Stories
Join our Mailing List
Be the first to receive info about fellowships, programming, and other communications.
We're here to answer your questions and help you navigate each step of the fellowship application, submission, and interview process.
Anne Wallen
For over a decade, I’ve been advising students for success with national and international fellowships. I’m committed to building awareness of exceptional fellowships opportunities, increasing access, and emphasizing the benefits of the entire fellowships advising process. Originally from a small town in central Kansas, I got my bachelor’s at the University of Kansas and my master’s and PhD in German and Scandinavian Studies from the University of Minnesota. I’m excited about living in Central Jersey with my husband, son, and two tabby cats.
Raffaella Fusco
I join the office with experience in mentorship, academic and fellowship advising, language education, and qualitative research. Before joining the team, I held a variety of roles in higher education and previously served as a fellowship advisor and communication and outreach assistant at GradFund at Rutgers. I’m dedicated to empowering students with the tools and resources needed to navigate fellowship applications. Beyond my professional pursuits, you can find me exploring new hiking trails, coffee shops, and baking new recipes.
Lauren Foster
I have served as a fellowship advisor since 2015 helping Rutgers undergraduate students navigate the process of applying for nationally competitive awards. Prior to working for the Office of Distinguished Fellowships, I managed the Plangere Writing Center and tutoring program where I helped Rutgers students improve their writing skills. Before earning my bachelor's in English Literature, I spent six years working in the fashion and beauty industry as a makeup artist and stylist in Los Angeles, California.