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A note about funding: Benson Center funding is open to any student at °ÄÃÅ¿ª½±½á¹û2023¿ª½±¼Ç¼. However, special consideration is given to members of our Undergraduate Fellows program, and those who have a demonstrated interest in the study of Western Civ through participation at Center events and/or coursework. Graduate students should be able to make a case as to how their research or program of study is related to Western Civ. 

Each year, the Benson Center funds a number of student scholarships and grants. Students serving as Benson Center Fellows are given priority for funding. Students are encouraged to apply to become a fellow and to become active participants in the Center's intellectual life on campus. Fellows receive a stipend in addition to any grant or scholarship awards they may apply for. 

Benson Center scholarships are awarded through the . Students can search for "Benson Center" to see all funding opportunities from the Center. Students must be enrolled in courses on the °ÄÃÅ¿ª½±½á¹û2023¿ª½±¼Ç¼ campus in order to receive funding through the Scholarship Office.

The Center recognizes and geniunely thanks the foundations and trusts that make these grants and scholarships possible. Because the Center is entirely gift funded, we rely on students to provide short reflection essays the year after funding has been awarded as a way to show donors how their contributions have helped students. This can help attract future donations and gifts to further support students on the °ÄÃÅ¿ª½±½á¹û2023¿ª½±¼Ç¼ campus. 

The Harper PhD Fellowship is awarded to °ÄÃÅ¿ª½±½á¹û2023¿ª½±¼Ç¼ PhD students who commit to year-long participation in the Center’s programming, annual theme, and the larger goal of fostering intellectual diversity and dialogue on the campus and in the broader community. Fellowships are awarded for one academic year and spring awards are based on the following criteria: continued active enrollment as a graduate student and making regular progress toward degree completion; participation in the Benson Center Fellowship Program; and a submission of a brief reflection essay at the end of the year. The fellowship is worth $4,000 per academic year (split between fall and spring) and is made possible through a generous donation by June Harper. Application deadline: March 15, 2025. 

Internship and Language Study Grants are awarded to undergraduate or graduate students at °ÄÃÅ¿ª½±½á¹û2023¿ª½±¼Ç¼. The Internship Grant is intended to help subsidize a summer internship, paid or unpaid, that relates to the Center’s mission, including law, government, public policy, and education. For example, internships can be based in our nation’s capital, government offices, think tanks, political organizations, or nonprofit organizations. The Language Grant is intended to support students studying languages associated with Western Civilization. When possible, students are expected to enroll in a °ÄÃÅ¿ª½±½á¹û2023¿ª½±¼Ç¼ summer class, although other arrangements are possible when the required classes are not available. Students who wish to apply for a grant should communicate with the person providing a recommendation prior to submitting the application about their educational goals and the type of grant (Internship or Language) they will be pursuing. The grants are awarded in the summer term for $1,000 each. Recipients of the grant should submit a brief reflection essay at the end of the summer about how the funds impacted their studies. Funding is possible through a generous donation by the Snider Foundation. Application deadline: March 15, 2025. 

Depending on availability of funds, the Benson Center partners with the CU in D.C. program to support semester-long internships in our nation's capital, putting classroom learning into real world action. Please contact the CU in D.C. program directly for more information. Students who are Benson Center Fellows should mention the affiliation to the CU in D.C. program coordinators to be considered for funding. Funding is made possible by a generous donation from the Snider Foundation.

To apply:

The Benson Center partners with the °ÄÃÅ¿ª½±½á¹û2023¿ª½±¼Ç¼ Scholarship Application service to accept applications through a common platform, available at .  Through this platform you will automatically be matched with scholarships for which you are eligible based on completion of a common application and information from your student profile. 

After logging into the platform with your Identikey and password, search for "Benson Center" to find the grant opportunities. 

Please check the °ÄÃÅ¿ª½±½á¹û2023¿ª½±¼Ç¼ Scholarship Application service website for the latest deadlines.

A note about funding: Benson Center funding is open to any student at °ÄÃÅ¿ª½±½á¹û2023¿ª½±¼Ç¼. However, special consideration is given to students in the Foundations of Western Civilization certificate program, members of our Undergraduate Fellows program, and those who have a demonstrated interest in the study of Western Civ through participation at Center events and/or coursework. Graduate students should be able to make a case as to how their research or program of study is related to Western Civ.