Department of Political Science and International Relations
Undergraduate Funding Opportunities
We are proud to present funding opportunities, supported by the generous gifts from our alumni and friends of the POIR community. We offer summer scholarships for students pursuing unpaid internships, conducting degree-related academic research or taking POIR study abroad summer courses. For those who are hoping to pursue a graduate degree, please do a close read of the Michael Sullivan and Louise Meyers Scholarship.
The summer 2021 application cycle is now open! Applications can be submitted to poir@usc.edu. The application deadline is April 1, 2022. Late applications may be submitted but may not be considered.
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The Bender-Schneidman Africa Award
International Relations is now accepting applications for the Bender-Schneidman Africa Award. The scholarship awards up to $3000 which may be used to assist students in completing research projects, or accepting unpaid summer internship positions located in Africa.
The Bender-Schneidman Africa Award
The Berger Scholarship
The Leslie and Erica Berger International Relations/Social and Cultural Innovation Scholarship, is specifically awarded to International Relations majors with a commitment to social and/or cultural innovation and problem-solving.
More on The Berger Scholarship
The Discovery Scholars Program
Honors students who excel in the classroom while demonstrating the ability to create exceptional new scholarship or artistic works in fields ranging from biochemistry to art history, from mechanical engineering to theatre, and from political science to cinematic arts. Students have the opportunity to earn the Discovery Scholar designation in every major concentration offered at the University. All USC undergraduates are encouraged to pursue this honor
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Dornsife Scholarships and Dean’s List
Offers an array of scholarships for continuing students, available to students who have at least one major in USC Dana and David Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences. Continuing students in USC Dornsife with a GPA of at least 3.5 are also honored each semester with inclusion on the USC Dornsife Dean’s List.
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Gates Cambridge Scholarship
The Gates Cambridge Scholarship is for one year of study as an affili- ated student or graduate student at the University of Cambridge. Scholarship includes the following: tuition, a maintenance allowance sufficient for a single student, and one return economy airfare. Students can use the grant toward a second Bachelor degree as an affiliated student, one-year postgraduate courses, or research leading to the degree of PhD. Contact: Noosha Malek or Katie Calvert; aifstaff@usc.edu; or (213) 740-9116.
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IR Alumni Fund
An internship can be a valuable part of a college education and a stepping-stone to a career after college. Thanks to the generosity of our SIR alumni, we hope to offer select students a maximum stipend of $2,000 for a minimum 10-week unpaid internship.
IR Alumni Fund
The John M. Cluff Scholarship on Energy and International Relations
International Relations is now accepting applications for the Cluff Scholarship on Energy and International Relations. The scholarship awards up to $1500 which may be used to assist students in completing research projects, or accepting summer unpaid internship positions. Eligible topics are defined broadly, and could range from environmental issues to traditional foreign policy debates focused on Eurasia.
More on the Cluff Scholarship
Lesher Family Scholarship
Established in honor of Professor Alison Dundes Reteln, this award will provide assistance for promising students majoring in Political Science. Deadline due April 6.
Download Scholarship Information
The Madam Hui Shek-Chun Discover China Award
The Madam Hui Shek-Chun Discover China is an award for summer internship program in China, and is unique in that no prior China experience, nor East-Asian specialization or language, is required.
More on the Discover China Award
Michael B. Preston Scholarship in Urban Politics and Civil Rights
To honor the legacy of Dr. Preston and serve as a testament to his many contributions to USC Dornsife throughout the university and the community, this monetaryaward has been established to benefit a Political Science major studying urban politics or civil rights. Deadline due April 6.
Download Scholarship Information
The Michael Sullivan and Louise Meyers Endowed Scholarship
Michael Sullivan (USC International Relations, 1957) spent his entire career as a high school counselor in the farming communities around Watsonville, California. He felt that is was important for schools to send its most qualified students to the best universities throughout the United States and he dedicated his life to this goal.
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The Michael Young Undergraduate Scholarship
The Michael Young Award is an award for IR students, especially first-generation students, who wish to pursue a summer study abroad, internship or supervised research opportunity in Europe
More on the Michael Young Undergraduate Scholarship
The Renaissance Scholars Program
Recognizes students who excel in two or more unrelated disciplines. Students educated in this way will be especially well prepared to confront the challenges and opportunities of the 21st century. All USC undergraduates are encouraged to pursue this honor.
More on Renaissance Scholars
The Robert Genillard Memorial International Relations Scholarship
An internship can be a valuable part of a college education and a stepping-stone to a career after college. Thanks to the generosity of our IR alumni, we hope to offer select students a maximum stipend of $3,000 for a minimum 10-week internship, or between $500 to $1500 for those who are taking a shorter USC abroad summer course.
More on this International Relations Scholarship
U.S. Fulbright Program
Fulbright provides full funding for a year abroad in over 150 countries for graduating seniors and graduate students who are U.S. citizens. Currently enrolled students are required to apply through USC, rather than applying “at large”.
More about FulbrightEven More Opportunities with POIR
There are a number of other scholarships for USC Dornsife students which have separate applications, requirements, and deadlines. Learn more about these awards.