Beinecke Scholarship

The Beinecke Scholarship 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.

Each scholar receives $5,000 immediately prior to entering graduate school and an additional $30,000 while attending graduate school. There are no geographic restrictions on the use of the scholarship, and recipients are allowed to supplement the award with other scholarships, assistantships and research grants.

Eligibility

  • Be a current junior pursuing a bachelor’s degree during the academic year of application.
  • Plan to enter a master’s or doctoral program in the arts, humanities or social sciences (excluding neuroscience).
  • U.S. citizen or a U.S. National
  • Have a documented history of receiving need-based financial aid at BU.

Selection criteria

Beinecke candidates must demonstrate “superior standards of intellectual ability, scholastic achievement and personal promise” throughout their undergraduate experience at Boston University.

Endorsement application procedures

Beinecke does not accept direct applications; students must be endorsed by Boston University. The Office of Fellowships & Scholarships is no longer accepting applications for the 2024-2025 application cycle. If you are interested in applying for the 2025-2026 cycle, applications will open spring semester 2026. 

  1. Download and complete the Beinecke application form and financial aid form.
  2. Current resume.
  3. A statement of 1,000 words or less devoted to describing you research or creative interests for graduate study and career aspirations beyond these studies. The statement should also include a discussion of the most relevant academic, professional, extracurricular, and personal experiences that have influenced or shaped your interests and plans.
  4. An unofficial copy of your transcript.
  5. Three letters of recommendation from faculty members that assess your intellectual curiosity, character and potential for advanced graduate study. Faculty should email their signed letters on university letterhead to bufellow@bu.edu by the internal deadline. Letters should be addressed to the “Beinecke Scholarship Endorsement Committee.”