# Beinecke Scholarship **Endorsement Application Deadline (required): February 26, 2026** **Application Deadline (endorsed candidates): March 27, 2026** The [Beinecke Scholarship Program](https://beineckescholarship.org/) was established in 1971 by the Board of Directors of The Sperry and Hutchinson Company to honor Edwin, Frederick, and Walter Beinecke. The Board created an endowment to provide substantial scholarships for the graduate education of young men and women of exceptional promise. The program seeks to encourage and enable highly motivated students to pursue opportunities available to them and to be courageous in the selection of a graduate course of study in the arts, humanities and social sciences. Since 1975 the program has selected more than 490 college juniors from more than 100 different undergraduate institutions for support during graduate study at any accredited university. Each year approximately 135 colleges and universities are invited to nominate a student for a Beinecke Scholarship, and up to 20 new scholarships will be awarded. Each school invited to participate in the Beinecke Scholarship Program is permitted to make a single nomination each year. Open all sections Close all sections ### Eligibility expand\_more - Be a college junior. "Junior" means a student who plans to continue full-time undergraduate study during the application academic year and expects to receive a baccalaureate degree between December and August following application. - Plan to enter a research- or creative-focused master’s or doctoral program in the arts, humanities or social sciences. Students in the social sciences who plan to pursue graduate study in neuroscience should not apply for a Beinecke Scholarship; nor should students applying for professional degrees that emphasize skills and practical analysis such as business, law, public health, public policy, and social work. - Be a United States citizen or a United States national from American Samoa or the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. - Have a documented history of receiving need-based financial aid during his or her undergraduate years, with a strong preference for Pell Grant recipients. ### Benefits expand\_more - $5,000 immediately prior to entering graduate school - Additional $30,000 while attending graduate school. There are no geographic restrictions on the use of the scholarship, although scholars should know that there is no guarantee that institutions outside of the U.S. will accept Beinecke funding. - Recipients are allowed to supplement the award with other scholarships, assistantships and research grants. - Scholars are encouraged to begin graduate study as soon as possible following graduation from college, and must utilize all of the funding within six years of completion of undergraduate studies and and within five years of beginning graduate studies. ### Selection expand\_more Endorsement applications are assessed on the following metrics: - Academic achievement and preparation: prerequisite knowledge and skills; recognized intellect and academic excellence; preparedness to undertake graduate study - Scholarly focus strength and match to graduate program of study: creativity and originality; impact; connection with course of study, precious work, career goals - Extracurricular engagement: alignment between activities and fields of proposed study - Recommendation letter: evidence of candidate's capability, expertise in relevant academic fields - Financial need: as demonstrated through need-based awards, grants, scholarships, etc. - Background and preparation: requisite skills for success in country and with proposed activities Harvard is able to nominate one student. After the endorsement process, the nominee submits their materials in time for the national deadline. ### Application Procedure expand\_more To be considered for Harvard's nomination for this opportunity, please submit the following materials via the application portal by our internal deadline. - **Application Form:** Complete the [Beinecke Application Form](https://hu.sharepoint.com/:b:/r/sites/FAS-URAF-Harvard-Key-Protected-Resources/HarvardKey%20Protected%20Resources/app_Beinecke.pdf?csf=1&web=1&e=X7hHxl) (linked here and within the Harvard University Funding Portal). - **Financial Aid Data Sheet:** The [Financial Aid Data Sheet](https://hu.sharepoint.com/:b:/r/sites/FAS-URAF-Harvard-Key-Protected-Resources/HarvardKey%20Protected%20Resources/FinSheet_Beinecke.pdf?csf=1&web=1&e=R5Jhce) is also available within the Harvard University Funding Portal. - **Resume/CV:** Indicate significant activities, achievements, and work experiences that demonstrate your interests and potential achievements. Resume should include short descriptions of your role and any specific ways you've contributed within listed activities. One to two pages. - **Unofficial transcript:** Download a current unofficial transcript from my.harvard.edu. - **Statement:** This statement should describe the applicant's research or creative interests for graduate study and career aspirations beyond these studies. It should also include a discussion of the most relevant academic, professional, extracurricular, and personal experiences that have influenced or shaped your interests and plans. Should not exceed 1,000 words. - **Artist's Supplement:** Candidates who wish to pursue an MFA degree must submit an artist’s supplement: - **Creative writers:** a maximum of five pages of double-spaced text, though playwrights, poets, and screenwriters should submit the text in the format appropriate to the genre (i.e., not double-spaced, if inappropriate). - **Visual artists (except filmmakers):** a digital portfolio containing up to ten images of current work, with an image resolution of at least 300 dpi. - **Performing artists (including filmmakers):** video sample(s) no longer than five minutes in total. - **Three letters of recommendation:** All three letters should ideally be from faculty members who know you and your area of proposed study well. They should comment on your intellectual curiosity, potential for advanced graduate study, and character. Solicit these letters via the Reference Request sections in the application portal. Applicants must first apply for endorsement through Harvard. Harvard can only endorse one applicant for this opportunity. After that selection, the endorsee will submit a final application to the Beinecke Scholarship directly in late March. Awards are made in late April or May. ## Information Session **Tuesday, October 14, 2025 at 3:00 PM** | In person URAF staff are available for [drop-in advising](https://prod-fas004.drupalsites.harvard.edu/advising) and for one-on-one appointments after students have watched the information session and joined us for one drop-in session. [ Watch the latest Beinecke Scholarship information session arrow\_circle\_right ](https://hu.sharepoint.com/:v:/r/sites/FAS-URAF-Harvard-Key-Protected-Resources/URAF%20Recordings%20Student%20Side/Beinecke%20Endorsement%202024%20Recording.mp4?csf=1&web=1&e=lFMXwP) [ Slides for Beinecke Scholarship information session arrow\_circle\_right ](https://hu.sharepoint.com/:b:/r/sites/FAS-URAF-Harvard-Key-Protected-Resources/URAF%20Recordings%20Student%20Side/Beinecke%20Endorsement%202024%20Slides.pdf?csf=1&web=1&e=HOfwbD) ## Endorsement Application Endorsement application deadline (required): February 26, 2026 at 11:59 PM ET Application deadline (endorsed candidates): March 27, 2026 at 5:00 PM ET [ Beinecke Scholarship Application arrow\_circle\_right ](https://btly.communityforce.com/48gS1Zh) --- See also:- [ Opportunity Categories ](/opportunity-directory/opportunity-categories) - [ Postgraduate ](/opportunity-directory/postgraduate) - [ Study Funding/Postgraduate Study ](/opportunity-directory/study-fundingpostgraduate-study) - [ Junior ](/opportunity-directory/junior) - [ Non-Harvard ](/opportunity-directory/non-harvard) - [ US Citizen ](/opportunity-directory/us-citizen) - [ International ](/opportunity-directory/international) - [ Domestic ](/opportunity-directory/domestic) - [ No travel ](/opportunity-directory/no-travel) - [ External Opportunity ](/opportunity-directory/external-opportunity) - [ February ](/opportunity-directory/february) - [ Requires Nomination/Endorsement ](/opportunity-directory/requires-nominationendorsement)