Scholarships for Current Students

Each year scholarships to CNS students are awarded. Learn more about the processes here.

CNS Scholarships for Current Students

The College of Natural Sciences uses the CNS Common Scholarship Application to determine awards college-wide and Health Professions scholarships as well as Out-of-State Tuition Waivers and departmental awards for Biological Sciences, Chemistry, Mathematics, Physics, and the School of Human Ecology. The application opens each spring semester with a March 15 deadline and can be accessed via the new Longhorn Awards & Student Scholarship Opportunities (LASSO) website. The CNS Common Scholarship Application is for current and continuing CNS students only. Prospective students should visit our Scholarships for Future Students website for more details on awards for incoming students.

Questions? Contact scholarships@cns.utexas.edu.


College-wide Scholarships

Current CNS undergraduates should submit the CNS Common Scholarship application each spring to be considered for the awards listed below. By submitting the CNS Common Scholarship Application, students will be considered for all awards for which you are eligible. Students can search the Longhorn Awards and Student Scholarships Opportunities (LASSO) portal for more details on each scholarship.

  • Dr. H. Franklyn Alexander Endowed Scholarship
  • Carl Stone Benedict Scholarship
  • Blocker-Cramer Endowed Scholarship
  • Robert E. Boyer Endowed Presidential Scholarship for Natural Sciences
  • Anna Lee and Alexander Chang Endowed Scholarship
  • Drs. Miles and Audra Day Scholarship
  • Dean’s Scholar Susan Clark Leadership Award
  • Dow Chemical Company - University of Texas Alumni Endowed Scholarship
  • Eklund-Mougel Scholarship
  • Georgia Felter and Carey Legett, Jr. Dean’s Endowed Scholarship
  • Stephanie A. Flores Endowed Scholarship in Natural Sciences
  • Dean & Charlene Henney Endowed Scholarship in Natural Sciences
  • Hou-Li Scholarship in Natural Sciences
  • John Juvenal Endowed Scholarship
  • Betty Wilson and James Everett Key Endowed Presidential Scholarship
  • Bonnie and H. Elton Lacey Endowed Scholarship
  • David B. Matlock Endowed Scholarship
  • Thomas and Elizabeth Merner Scholarship in Natural Sciences
  • National Instruments Endowed Scholarship for Excellence
  • Natural Sciences Council Endowed Service Scholarship
  • Natural Sciences 21st Century Endowed Presidential Scholarship
  • Rajaram Family Endowed Presidential Scholarship in the College of Natural Sciences
  • Jack Roloson Endowed Presidential Scholarship in Natural Sciences
  • Dan K. Seilheimer, M.D. Endowed Undergraduate Scholarship
  • Elizabeth Sherrell Endowed Scholarship
  • Alyx Catherine Stevens Scholarship
  • Jennie and Carl Sundberg Scholarship
  • Kevin E. Underhill Memorial Endowed Presidential Scholarship
  • James W. Vick Endowed Presidential Scholarship in Natural Sciences
  • Brian Murray Welch Endowed Memorial Scholarship

Health Professions Scholarships

Current CNS undergraduates should submit the CNS Common Scholarship application each spring to be considered for the awards listed below. By submitting the CNS Common Scholarship Application, students will be considered for all awards for which they are eligible. Students can search the Longhorn Awards and Student Scholarships Opportunities (LASSO) portal for more details on each scholarship.

  • Alpha Epsilon Delta Memorial Scholarship
  • Laurence Baker Memorial Scholarship
  • Blocker-Cramer Endowed Scholarship
  • Michael John Fink, M.D. Endowed Presidential Scholarship
  • Neel Harrington Memorial Endowed Scholarship
  • Dr. Gregory B. Krause Endowed Scholarship in Natural Sciences
  • Edward Sibley Lewis, M.D. Endowed Presidential Pre-Medical Scholarship
  • David A. Ott, M.D. Endowed Presidential Scholarship
  • Dr. James and Donna Skelsey Memorial Endowed Scholarship for Medicine
  • Ralph A. Steiner, M.D. Scholarship
  • Paul C. Trickett, M.D. Endowed Presidential Scholarship
  • Woodward Family Endowment

Department Scholarships

Some scholarships available to Natural Sciences students are distributed through the departments in which the majors are housed. Please use the following links or contact departmental advising offices for more information.


Out-of-State Tuition Waivers

Out-of-State Tuition Waivers allow non-resident students to pay tuition at in-state rates.  In order to be eligible for a waiver through CNS, students must be a recipient of a scholarship worth at least $1,000 that has been administered and awarded by the university. Being a recipient of a scholarship does not guarantee a waiver;  it simply makes them eligible should they complete the proper waiver application and should the scholarship committee rank their application highly enough. We normally receive 60-70 waiver applications and usually only have between 5-7 waivers to award per year. It is a highly competitive award.

CNS waivers are awarded on a semester-to-semester basis though the intention is to award them for an entire academic year. They are also non-renewable awards, which means students must apply for a waiver on a yearly basis. There is no guarantee that a student would receive a waiver from one year to the next. Out-of-state students should plan on paying out-of-state tuition for the entire four years at UT as waivers for undergraduates are extremely limited, not only through CNS but across campus as well.

Current CNS students interested in being considered for a waiver should submit the CNS Common Scholarship Application. Be sure to complete the Focused Essay titled, Out-of-State Tuition Waiver. Incoming freshmen and transfer students should contact scholarships@cns.utexas.edu for the link to the proper application. All students must meet the March 15 application deadline. Late applications are not accepted.


University Scholarships

CNS students can apply separately for university-wide scholarships using the Continuing & Transfer Student Scholarship Application.  The application opens every year in November and has a March 15 deadline.  Students can access the application through LASSO.


National Scholarships

The College of Natural Sciences offers assistance to students in identifying and applying for nationally competitive scholarship and fellowship opportunities. Your search for these prestigious awards may begin with exploring some of the options listed below. All are nationally competitive awards that are relevant for students in the sciences.

Read all application instructions carefully. Many of these national scholarships and fellowships require a campus nomination or endorsement before student applications are forwarded to the final levels of competition. The campus deadlines are listed below, when applicable.

Please visit the Office of Distinguished and Postgraduate Scholarships for more information.

Astronaut Scholarship

The Astronaut Scholarship is for outstanding students in the fields of engineering, mathematics and natural or applied sciences who have shown initiative, creativity and excellence.  Scholarships are awarded to rising juniors and seniors who have the intention of pursuing research or advance their field upon completion of their final degrees.  Pre-medical students actively pursuing an M.D. program are not eligible for nomination.  Special consideration is not given to students majoring in aeronautical/astronautical engineering or those intending to pursue careers as astronauts.  A campus committee selects UT Austin’s nominees before applications are forwarded to the national competition.  The Astronaut Scholarship is worth up to $15,000.

CNS uses a preliminary application process to determine its nominees.  Find information on the CNS preliminary application process for the 2025 Astronaut Scholarship.

Questions?  Contact scholarships@cns.utexas.edu.

CNS Deadline:  February 17, 2025 (5:00PM Central)

Campus Deadline:  March 26, 2025

National Deadline:  March 31, 2025

The Churchill Scholarship

The Churchill Scholarship offers U.S. citizens of exceptional academic talent and outstanding achievement the opportunity to pursue graduate studies in engineering, mathematics, or sciences at the University of Cambridge, Churchill College. The scholarship covers all tuition and fees, and offers generous travel and living allowances. A campus committee selects UT Austin’s nominees before applications are forwarded to the Churchill Foundation. Students should complete the application process by the campus deadline listed below. Please read the campus instructions document for more information on the application process. Visit the Churchill Scholarship website.

Campus Deadline: October 4, 2024 (11:59 PM Central Time)

National Deadline: November 1, 2024 (5 PM Eastern Time)

The Fulbright Program

The Fulbright Program for U.S. students aims to foster international cooperation in education, research and cultural exchange. The program supports a student’s work abroad for one academic year (typically nine months), and operates in more than 140 countries. Scholarships are available to support research and training in nearly all disciplines, including sciences, engineering, social sciences, humanities, professional fields, and performing and creative arts. There are also English Teaching Assistant (ETA) grants that allow students to work with English teachers in a number of different countries. The program provides funds for travel to and from the host country, a stipend for living expenses, and some additional support. A campus committee selects UT Austin’s nominees before applications are forwarded to the national competition.  Please the Texas Global - Fulbright for more information.

Gates Cambridge Scholarships

Gates Cambridge Scholarships are awarded to outstanding students from outside the UK to study at the University of Cambridge. The program aims to build a global network of future leaders committed to improving the lives of others. Gates Cambridge Scholarships are highly-competitive, full-cost awards for graduate study and research in any subject available at the University of Cambridge. Students apply directly to the funding organization. No UT Austin campus nomination is required. More information can be found here.

The Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship

The Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship provides $7,500 per year for educational expenses to rising juniors and seniors.  Applicants must have outstanding potential and intend to pursue research careers in mathematics, the natural sciences or engineering. A campus committee selects UT Austin’s nominees before applications are forwarded to the national competition.

CNS uses a preliminary application process to determine its nominees. Learn more about the preliminary application process.

College of Natural Sciences Deadline: October 21, 2024 11:59PM Central

Campus Deadline: January 27, 2025

National Deadline: January 31, 2025

Questions? scholarships@cns.utexas.edu

Marshall Scholarships

Marshall Scholarships support U.S. citizens of high ability for one or two years of graduate study in any discipline at a college or university in the United Kingdom. The scholarship aims to strengthen the enduring relationship between the British and American peoples, their governments, and their institutions. The award covers educational costs, living expenses, and provides support for travel. The Marshall Scholarship seeks applicants with outstanding intellectual, personal and public service accomplishments.

A campus committee selects UT Austin’s nominees before applications are forwarded to the national competition.  Please see the Office of Distinguished and Postgraduate Scholarships website for more information on UT Austin's nomination process.

The National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program

The National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program (NSF GRFP) supports outstanding graduate students in NSF-supported science, technology, engineering, and mathematics disciplines who are pursuing research-based masters and doctoral degrees at accredited United States institutions. Fellowships provide the student with a three-year annual stipend of $37,000 along with a $12,000 cost of education allowance for tuition and fees (paid to the institution), as well as access to opportunities for professional development available to NSF-supported graduate students. Fellowships may only be used for an eligible graduate degree program at an academic institution accredited in, and having a campus located in, the US, its territories, possessions, or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.

Students apply directly to the NSF.  No UT Austin campus nomination is required. Visit the NSF GRFP website for more information.

 

The Rhodes Scholarship

The Rhodes Scholarship, the oldest international fellowship, brings outstanding students from many countries around the world to the University of Oxford. A Rhodes scholarship offers the opportunity to study at Oxford University for one or two years, with all tuition and fees paid and a living allowance provided. Intellectual and academic achievement of a high standard is the first quality required of applicants, but they will also be expected to demonstrate integrity of character, interest in and concern for others, leadership ability, and the energy to fully use their talents.

A campus committee selects UT Austin’s nominees before applications are forwarded to the national competition.  Please see the Office of Distinguished and Postgraduate Scholarships wesbite for more information on UT Austin's nomination process.

 

The Schwarzman Scholarship 

The Schwarzman Scholarship provides full funding to pursue a one-year master's degree - Public Policy, Economics and Business, or International Relations - at Tsinghua University, Beijing, China.  The University representative will write one of your letters of recommendation, so you will need to be in close touch.  The application will be open from April through September. 

The Harry S. Truman Scholarship

The Harry S. Truman Scholarship is a $30,000 merit-based scholarship awarded to undergraduate students who wish to attend graduate or professional school in preparation for careers in government, the non-profit sector, or elsewhere in public service at a leadership level. Students must be college juniors at the time of selection. The Truman Scholarship has a service requirement. Scholars are required to work in public service for three of the seven years following completion of a Foundation funded graduate degree program as a condition of receiving Truman funds. Interested students must receive an endorsement from UT Austin in order to be considered.  Please see the Office of Distinguished and Postgraduate Scholarships site for more information on UT Austin's endorsement process.

 

Udall Undergraduate Scholarship

The Udall Foundation awards scholarships to college sophomores and juniors for leadership, public service and commitment to issues related to Native American nations or to the environment. Native Americans and Alaska Natives working on policy issues in Indian Country or pursuing health-related careers, as well as undergraduates interested in conservation and environmental issues are strongly encouraged to apply. The Udall Scholarship is worth up to $7,000. A campus committee selects UT Austin’s nominees before applications are forwarded to the national competition. Information on the CNS preliminary application process for the Udall 2025 can be found at the link below:

Get CNS Udall 2025 Information
 

Campus Deadline: January 31, 2025  (11:59 PM  CST)

National Deadline: March 5, 2025  (11:59 PM MST)

University Co-op/George. H. Mitchell Awards

University Co-op/George. H. Mitchell Awards allow The University of Texas at Austin, with the generous support of the University Co-op, to recognize up to five undergraduate students for superior scholarly or creative achievement. Four recipients will receive awards of $5,000 each and one will receive the top prize of $7,000.  The Mitchell Awards Selection Committee consists of university faculty members who choose the recipients. Please see the Office of the Executive Vice President and Provost website for more information.