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.
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.
Events
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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Got questions about how to address the host country engagement question in the application? You're not alone! Hear from Fulbright Alumni and staff about how to navigate this question and any tips in the application process.
Register Here: https://apply.iie.org/register/5.23.24.FUSP.HostCountry
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Open to U.S. citizens and permanent residents, the Luce Scholars Program provides leadership training, stipends, language training, and individualized professional placement in Asia for 18 Luce Scholars each year. We welcome applications from college seniors, graduate students, and young professionals in a variety of fields, with a range of backgrounds and experiences, who have had limited exposure to Asia. This transformational program is experiential rather than academic and is not intended for those seeking research funding. Come discover this unique fellowship opportunity.
Register Here: https://hluce-org.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_ENES-iuvQ_CwIXyqGjsG3g#/registration
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Open to U.S. citizens and permanent residents, the Luce Scholars Program provides leadership training, stipends, language training, and individualized professional placement in Asia for 18 Luce Scholars each year. We welcome applications from college seniors, graduate students, and young professionals in a variety of fields, with a range of backgrounds and experiences, who have had limited exposure to Asia. This transformational program is experiential rather than academic and is not intended for those seeking research funding. Come discover this unique fellowship opportunity.
Register Here: https://hluce-org.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_VHuqLh1CQceYgDeiOrRsWw#/registration
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Your Future with Fulbright webinar series continues with contextualizing the Fulbright Program for various student identities. In this webinar, we'll hear from military-affiliated Fulbright Alumni. They'll share about their experiences abroad on their Fulbright grant and how it has impacted their lives today.
Register Here: https://apply.iie.org/register/3.1.24.FUSP.FutureMilitary
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We're back again with the "Your Future with Fulbright" webinar series! This time, we've invited Fulbright Alumni who identify as Black and/or African American to share about why they applied for Fulbright, their time abroad, and how it has shaped who they are today.
Register Here: https://apply.iie.org/register/3.1.24.FUSP.Future
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Within the Study/Research Award of the Fulbright U.S. Student Program, applicants have the opportunity to apply for a Fulbright Art Grant (creative and performing arts). There are supplementary materials in the application process for those who are interested in applying, so come learn from Fulbright Alumni who have gone through this process!
Register Here:https://apply.iie.org/register/6.20.24.FUSP.CreativeJourneys
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What is a Letter of Affiliation and why is it part of the Fulbright U.S. Student Program application? Hear from Fulbright Alumni and staff about tips and advice on how to obtain this important letter.
Register Here: https://apply.iie.org/register/6.26.24.FUSP.LetterofAffiliation
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.