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.
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Be the first to receive info about fellowships, programming, and other communications.
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.
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.
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Make fellowships part of your Fall Semester!
Join us September 9th at noon to learn about fellowship opportunities you can pursue this fall. From funding graduate studies to studying or working abroad! Open to Sophomores-Seniors. Seniors, this session is not to be missed! Register at https://bit.ly/ODF-Fall25 Recording will be made available to all who register.
In this session we'll be covering a range of awards with fall deadlines, especially awards for graduating seniors. Awards include the Gates Cambridge, German Academic Exchange Service Study Scholarships, the new Lafayette Scholarship for graduate study in France, and English teaching awards like TAPIF (France) or NALCAP (Spain). Awards for underclassman include the Critical Language Scholarship, Public Policy and International Affairs Junior Summer Institute, and more.
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Attention, graduating STEM majors! Join the Office of Distinguished Fellowships to learn about awards for funding graduate study.
We're currently awaiting the new solicitation for the NSF-GRFP, but we hope to make that the primary focus of this session. We'll also discuss awards like Hertz, and include awards for study in other countries.
Register here: https://bit.ly/ODF-STEM25
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The Goldwater Foundation is hosting an open house for students on September 17th at 4:00pm.
Link to join: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82204685838?pwd=W6VIfc1kaMj7DK2zUZZ1iptXG8WMuW.1
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Meet Rutgers Truman Scholar Omar Abuattieh and learn all about this prestigious national award for future public service leaders!
The Truman Scholarship provides future public service leaders with $30,000 towards graduate school, professional development opportunities, and more. Students should be current juniors and U.S. citizens. The Truman Foundation welcomes students with a broad range of interests in public service.
This event will be held in-person in Bishop House on the College Avenue campus. A second, online event will be held on October 20.
The campus deadline to apply for nomination is December 1.
This is a space-limited event, so please register on Handshake: https://rutgers.joinhandshake.com/events/1813507/share_preview
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Join this online info session to learn about how to get the Rutgers nomination for the Truman Scholarship!
The Truman Scholarship provides future public service leaders with $30,000 towards graduate school, professional development opportunities, and more. Students should be current juniors (i.e., graduating May 2027) and U.S. citizens. The Truman Foundation welcomes students with a broad range of interests in public service.
The campus deadline to apply for nomination is December 1.
Register to attend: https://bit.ly/RUTrumanInfo25
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Join us for an information session on DAAD Research Internships in Science and Engineering (RISE) - a funded summer internship program in Germany for undergraduate students in STEM fields.
This session will be hosted by a DAAD representative, Amelia Wallace, who will provide an overview of the program, application tips, and answer your questions.
Open to Sophomores and Juniors. For more information about eligibility, please visit : https://www.daad.de/rise/en/rise-germany/find-an-internship/what-applicants-need-to-know/ in advance of the information session. Application deadline is November 30, 2025 @ 11:59 PM Central European Time (CET)
Register for information session here: https://bit.ly/41gprTu
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Are you passionate about making a difference in science, tech, engineering, or math? Are you a sophomore or junior? The Goldwater Scholarship is for YOU. Each year, the Goldwater Foundation supports around 300 driven students who are serious about leading change in STEM research fields.
Why this matters? Because solving tomorrow’s biggest challenges starts with empowering today’s innovators! And that's YOU!
- Get up to $7,500 per year to help cover tuition, books, fees, and living costs as you work toward your degree.
- Open to current sophomores and juniors, US Citizens and Permanent Residents
- Selection is based on merit — not just grades, but vision, drive, and potential to shape the future of STEM.
Join us to learn more about this opportunity and the campus nomination process.
Register here: https://bit.ly/46ZrVt5
Registration closes on October 19.
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Are you passionate about making a difference in science, tech, engineering, or math? Are you a sophomore or junior? The Goldwater Scholarship is for YOU. Each year, the Goldwater Foundation supports around 300 driven students who are serious about leading change in STEM research fields.
Why this matters? Because solving tomorrow’s biggest challenges starts with empowering today’s innovators! And that's YOU!
- Get up to $7,500 per year to help cover tuition, books, fees, and living costs as you work toward your degree.
- Open to current sophomores and juniors, US Citizens and Permanent Residents
- Selection is based on merit — not just grades, but vision, drive, and potential to shape the future of STEM.
Join us to learn more about this opportunity and the campus nomination process. Space is limited to the first 20 participants who register by October 23. If you're unable to attend, update your registration so someone else can attend.
Register here:https://bit.ly/4lvgUn2
Busch Campus, Science & Engineering Resource Center - Room 204, 118 Frelinghuysen Rd, Piscataway, New Jersey 08854, United States
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Your online application for the Goldwater Scholarship is due November 24. Three letters of recommendation must also be submitted by this date at the following link: https://bit.ly/ODF-Recommendation
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Your online application for the Truman Scholarship is due December 1. Three letters of recommendation must also be submitted by this date at the following link: https://bit.ly/ODF-Recommendation
Endless Opportunities
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.
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.
Success Stories
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.