Scholarships & Funding

The Center for International Studies offers a variety of scholarships to undergraduate and graduate students in International Studies. All scholarship applications are available in the Bobcat Online Scholarship System and are generally open November-April. Eligibility requirements and application materials for each scholarship are listed below.

Undergraduate Scholarships

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    • Purpose: The Ronald and Colette Johnson Foreign Affairs Scholarship is awarded to exceptional undergraduate or graduate students, including freshmen, majoring in International Studies. The award was established by Dr. Ronald Johnson, International Studies alumnus and Associate Professor in History at Texas State University.
    • Candidate Eligibility: 
      • Currently enrolled full-time student
      • Majoring in International Studies (all concentrations) or International Relations
      • Undergraduate students must have a minimum 3.2 GPA; graduate students must have a minimum 3.5 GPA
      • Must be enrolled in 15 (undergraduate) or 9 (graduate) hours each spring/fall semester, or minimum 6 hours in the summer semester.
      • Students can reapply every year
    • Application Requirements
      • Essay detailed why you pursuing a degree in International Studies/Relations and what you intend to do upon completion of the program.
      • Two academic letters of reference.
    • Schedule
      • Applications Open for the Next Academic Year: November-April
      • Awards Disbursed: May-June

    • Purpose: The Barbara & Darrell Piersol and Margaret & Dennis Dunn Scholarship was established to support incoming freshmen, incoming graduate students, incoming transfer students, and current students pursuing majors in International Studies. Barbara and Darrell Piersol and Margaret and Dennis Dunn are longtime supporters of Texas State University and believe that the interdisciplinary education offered by the Center for International Studies prepares students for leadership in business, politics, and culture.
    • Candidate Eligibility: 
      • Undergraduate sophomores, juniors, and seniors
      • 3.00 or higher GPA
      • Enrolled in at least 15 hours each semester receiving the award
    • Application Requirements:
      • Essay detailed why you pursuing a degree in International Studies/Relations and what you intend to do upon completion of the program.
      • Two academic letters of reference.
    • Schedule
      • Applications Open for the Next Academic Year: November-April
      • Awards Disbursed: May-June

    • Purpose: The Dennie Lee Burden Scholarship awarded to exceptional undergraduate or graduate students, including freshmen, majoring in International Studies/RELATIONS. Janace and John Wade established this scholarship for IS majors. The Wades are residents of San Marcos and John Wade serves on the Center’s board of Advisors. The Burden Scholarship is in memory of Janace’s son who died from cancer.
    • Candidate Eligibility: 
      • Currently enrolled students majoring in International Studies (all concentrations) or International Relations
      • 3.2 minimum GPA required for undergraduate students, 3.5 minimum GPA required for graduate students. 
      • Must be enrolled in 15 (undergraduate) or 9 (graduate) hours each spring/fall semester, or minimum 6 hours in the summer semester.
      • Students can reapply every year
    • Application Requirements
      • Essay detailed why you pursuing a degree in International Studies/Relations and what you intend to do upon completion of the program.
      • Two academic letters of reference.
    • Schedule
      • Applications Open for the Next Academic Year: November-April
      • Awards Disbursed: May-June

    • Purpose: The Javier Mere Prado Scholarship is awarded to outstanding undergraduate or graduate students, including entering freshman, majoring in International Studies. The award was established by Center for International Studies Alumnus, Javier Prado.
    • Candidate Eligibility: 
      • Majoring in International Studies (all concentrations) or International Relations
      • 3.2 minimum GPA required for undergraduate students, 3.2 minimum GPA required for entering freshmen (on a 4.0 scale). 
      • Must be enrolled in 15 (undergraduate) or 9 (graduate) hours each spring/fall semester, or minimum 6 hours in the summer semester.
      • Competency in a second language (other than English)
      • Students can reapply every year
    • Application Requirements:
      • Essay detailed why you pursuing a degree in International Studies/Relations and what you intend to do upon completion of the program.
      • Two academic letters of reference.
    • Schedule
      • Applications Open for the Next Academic Year: November-April
      • Awards Disbursed: May-June

    • Purpose: The Ronald and Colette Johnson Foreign Affairs Scholarship is awarded to exceptional undergraduate or graduate students, including freshmen, majoring in International Studies. The award was established by Dr. Ronald Johnson, International Studies alumnus and Associate Professor in History at Texas State University.
    • Candidate Eligibility: 
      • Majoring in International Studies (all concentrations) or International Relations
      • 3.2 minimum GPA required for undergraduate students, 3.5 minimum GPA required for graduate students. 
      • Must be enrolled in 15 (undergraduate) or 9 (graduate) hours each spring/fall semester, or minimum 6 hours in the summer semester.
      • Students can reapply every year
    • Application Requirements:
      • Essay detailed why you pursuing a degree in International Studies/Relations and what you intend to do upon completion of the program.
      • Two academic letters of reference.
    • Schedule
      • Applications Open for the Next Academic Year: November-April
      • Awards Disbursed: May-June

    • Purpose: The Verena and Kenneth J. Wilson Research Program provides a means for Texas State to engage with universities, agencies, research centers, and companies in developing countries for the purpose of collaborative research, teaching, and outreach, including such activities as faculty and student exchanges, joint research, and teaching project, joint degree programs, internships, and study abroad. This research will focus on research in developing countries that are economically underserved in higher education.
    • Candidate Eligibility: 
      • Currently enrolled students majoring in International Studies/Relations and/or conducting research or studies in developing countries
    • Application Requirements
      • Essay describing your intended international research and how it relates to your academic and/or professional goals. 
      • Final report detailing research findings
    • Schedule
      • Applications Open for the Next Academic Year: November-April
      • Awards Disbursed: May-June

Graduate Scholarships

Expand FAQ List

    • Purpose: The Ronald and Colette Johnson Foreign Affairs Scholarship is awarded to exceptional undergraduate or graduate students, including freshmen, majoring in International Studies. The award was established by Dr. Ronald Johnson, International Studies alumnus and Associate Professor in History at Texas State University.
    • Candidate Eligibility: 
      • Currently enrolled full-time student
      • Majoring in International Studies (all concentrations) or International Relations
      • Undergraduate students must have a minimum 3.2 GPA; graduate students must have a minimum 3.5 GPA
      • Must be enrolled in 15 (undergraduate) or 9 (graduate) hours each spring/fall semester, or minimum 6 hours in the summer semester.
      • Students can reapply every year
    • Application Requirements
      • Essay detailed why you pursuing a degree in International Studies/Relations and what you intend to do upon completion of the program.
      • Two academic letters of reference.
    • Schedule
      • Applications Open for the Next Academic Year: November-April
      • Awards Disbursed: May-June

    • Purpose: The Dennie Lee Burden Scholarship awarded to exceptional undergraduate or graduate students, including freshmen, majoring in International Studies/RELATIONS. Janace and John Wade established this scholarship for IS majors. The Wades are residents of San Marcos and John Wade serves on the Center’s board of Advisors. The Burden Scholarship is in memory of Janace’s son who died from cancer.
    • Candidate Eligibility: 
      • Currently enrolled students majoring in International Studies (all concentrations) or International Relations
      • 3.2 minimum GPA required for undergraduate students, 3.5 minimum GPA required for graduate students. 
      • Must be enrolled in 15 (undergraduate) or 9 (graduate) hours each spring/fall semester, or minimum 6 hours in the summer semester.
      • Students can reapply every year
    • Application Requirements:
      • Essay detailed why you pursuing a degree in International Studies/Relations and what you intend to do upon completion of the program.
      • Two academic letters of reference.
    • Schedule
      • Applications Open for the Next Academic Year: November-April
      • Awards Disbursed: May-June

    • Purpose: Kim Gunnarson transformed the Ivar Gunnarson F.I.R.S.T. Fellowship into an endowed fund in support of student scholarships. Distributions from the endowment shall be used specifically for cost to support faculty research, travel associated with research projects, and graduate student stipends/scholarship in the Center for International Studies.
    • Candidate Eligibility: 
      • Graduate students majoring in International Studies
      • Conducting research projects related to International Studies
    • Application Requirements:
      • Essay describing your intended international research and how it relates to your academic and/or professional goals. 
      • Two academic letters of reference.
    • Schedule
      • Applications Open for the Next Academic Year: November-April
      • Awards Disbursed: May-June

  • All returned Peace Corps Volunteers who satisfactorily complete their service have lifetime eligibility for the Coverdell Fellows program. Most returned Volunteers fall into this category. Satisfactory completion includes the following:

    • volunteers who completed the full two-year tour of Peace Corps service (not more than 90 days of emergency leave)
    • volunteers granted "early close of service"
    • volunteers granted "interrupted service" status because of circumstances beyond their control
    • volunteers who were medically separated

    In addition, returned Peace Corps Response Volunteers and Global Health Service Partnership Volunteers who complete 12 months of service have lifetime eligibility for the Coverdell Fellows program. The 12 months may come through a single, year-long tour or a combination of shorter tours.

    • Purpose: The Ronald and Colette Johnson Foreign Affairs Scholarship is awarded to exceptional undergraduate or graduate students, including freshmen, majoring in International Studies. The award was established by Dr. Ronald Johnson, International Studies alumnus and Associate Professor in History at Texas State University.
    • Candidate Eligibility: 
      • Majoring in International Studies (all concentrations) or International Relations
      • 3.2 minimum GPA required for undergraduate students, 3.5 minimum GPA required for graduate students. 
      • Must be enrolled in 15 (undergraduate) or 9 (graduate) hours each spring/fall semester, or minimum 6 hours in the summer semester.
      • Students can reapply every year
    • Application Requirements:
      • Essay detailed why you pursuing a degree in International Studies/Relations and what you intend to do upon completion of the program.
      • Two academic letters of reference.
    • Schedule
      • Applications Open for the Next Academic Year: November-April
      • Awards Disbursed: May-June

    • Purpose: The Verena and Kenneth J. Wilson Research Program provides a means for Texas State to engage with universities, agencies, research centers, and companies in developing countries for the purpose of collaborative research, teaching, and outreach, including such activities as faculty and student exchanges, joint research, and teaching project, joint degree programs, internships, and study abroad. This research will focus on research in developing countries that are economically underserved in higher education.
    • Candidate Eligibility: 
      • Currently enrolled students majoring in International Studies/Relations and/or conducting research or studies in developing countries
    • Application Requirements
      • Essay describing your intended international research and how it relates to your academic and/or professional goals. 
      • Final report detailing research findings
    • Schedule
      • Applications Open for the Next Academic Year: November-April
      • Awards Disbursed: May-June

Additional Outside Scholarships

Includes scholarships from outside the Center for International Studies

Bobcat Online Scholarship System