First Year Student Fellowship Opportunities
First Year Students should concentrate on adjusting to college life and transitioning to a new academic environment. This is the time to figure out how you want to spend your time at Minnesota State Mankato. Take a unique course that gets you out of your comfort zone. Talk to your faculty and consult the Undergraduate Research Center about participating in undergraduate research. Develop professional relationships with faculty and staff on campus. Talk to the Kearney International Center about study abroad opportunities. Get involved on campus with student organizations. Pursue community engagement opportunities in Mankato.
Reflect on these new experiences - what are you learning from them? How can you build upon the skills you are learning and apply them to your future career? What are your passions? Are there pressing local, national, or global issues that you want to help solve?
It is a good idea to make an appointment with the Fellowship Office during this academic year and to plan ahead for future opportunities in your sophomore year. The Fellowship Office encourages you to consider the awards listed below and the awards in the "Sophomore Year" tab and plan ahead as to how you might become a competitive applicant for one or more of these opportunities.
Undocumented students should explore resources from Educators for Fair Consideration (E4FC). Their site includes lists of both undergraduate and graduate scholarships that don't require proof of U.S. Citizenship or legal permanent residency.
Opportunities Abroad
- Emphasis: Academic, Research, Language
- Open to any undergraduate student
Freeman Awards for Study in Asia (Freeman-Asia):
- Emphasis: Academic, Experiential, International
- Open to students with financial need and limited experience to countries in Asia for a study abroad program
Fulbright Summer Institutes for U.S. Undergraduates:
- Emphasis: Academic, International
- Summer academic programming open to students at the undergraduate level with at least two years of study remaining
- Emphasis: Academic, Language, Experiential, International, Other: Internship
- Open to any student at the undergraduate level
Overseas Press Club Foundation Scholarships and Internships:
- Emphasis: Experiential, International
- Open to undergraduate and graduate students interested in global economic issues
Domestic Summer Opportunities
Future Global Leaders Fellowship:
- Emphasis: Academic, Experiential, International
- Open to first-year undergraduate students; highly motivated first-generation and low-income students with proven leadership abilities are encouraged to apply
- Emphasis: Experiential
- Participate in paid, short-term geoscience positions in some of the most beautiful natural areas in the world—America’s National Parks, National Forests, and BLM lands
National Institutes of Health Summer Internship Program (NIH SIP):
- Emphasis: Reseach, Experiential
- Open to applicants enrolled in undergraduate, graduate, or professional programs at a college or university
Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU):
- Emphasis: Research
- Eligibility varies on the opportunity. See websites for specific information.
- Note: Students should engage in undergraduate research at Minnesota State Mankato to become competitive for these awards.
The Science, Mathematics And Research for Transformation (SMART) Scholarship:
- Emphasis: Academic, Experiential
- Open to undergraduate and graduate students pursuing one of the 21 approved STEM disciplines listed on the website
Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowships: (Please contact the Fellowships Office to explore these opportunities.)
- Emphasis: Research
- Open to first-years to juniors at the undergraduate level
- Note: Students should engage in undergraduate research at Minnesota State Mankato to become competitive for these awards.
Funding for Undergraduate Study
- Emphasis: Academic
- Open to Veterans, active duty service members, and spouses of veterans or active service member, including surviving spouses
Society of Women Engineers Scholarship:
- Emphasis: Academic
- Open to all candidates who identify as female and plan to pursue/are pursuing engineering, technology, or computing related programs
Thermo Fischer Scientific Antibody Scholarship Program:
- Emphasis: Academic
- Open to undergraduate and graduate level students pursuing a degree in biology, chemistry, bio-chemistry, or related life science fields
Wilhelm-Keiffer Student Research Award:
- Emphasis: Academic
- Open to undergraduate students and those up to one-year out from their undergraduate studies in the field of material culture studies
Other Opportunities
- Emphasis: Academic, Language, Experiential, International
- Open to candidates interested in studying, interning and living in Germany for approximately 9 months
*This award requires a university endorsement; please contact our office for more information.
For more award opportunities, please visit the Office of University Fellowships in Morris Hall 265.
