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Philosophy Scholarships

Thinking inside the box has never been your strong suit. You can do it if you need to (your standardized test scores prove it) but you’d much rather create and formulate without constraints. You’re obviously a thinker but if you have yet to choose a college major, take a few minutes to consider philosophy.

We know what you’re going to say – aren’t philosophers all robe-wearing old guys? – but you’re wrong. Sure, Plato, Socrates and friends fit that description but what about Bruce Lee, Ricky Gervais, Carly Fiorina and Ayn Rand? They all did some work in the field and today, philosophy majors can be found in numerous fields including law, journalism, education, medicine, physics and communications because of the problem solving and critical thinking skills it fosters. In truth, not many become “professional philosophers” but those who do must complete graduate studies to teach at the collegiate level. Before you set foot into your first college class, however, you’re going to need to figure out how to pay for an undergraduate (and possibly graduate) degree. A great way to start? Researching philosophy scholarships!

Many colleges award university-based philosophy scholarships to their students – the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, Missouri State, Cal State Long Beach and Colorado State all do – but if yours doesn’t, try your luck with professional organizations: The American Philosophical Society, for example, offers philosophy scholarships, grants and fellowships to U.S. and international students. The federal government can also be of financial assistance: Ever heard of Pell Grants and FSEOGs?

Scholarships are a big deal at Scholarships.com (check out our domain name) and we’ve pasted a few philosophy scholarships from our archives below. For more scholarship opportunities, create a profile and conduct a free scholarship search today.

ALBA George Watt Memorial Essay Contest

  • Application Deadline: 7/15/2018
  • Amount: $250
  • This annual essay competition was established in 1998 to honor Lincoln vet George Watt, a writer and lifelong activist central to the creation of ALBA.

    Students from anywhere in the world are invited to submit an essay or thesis chapter about any aspect of the Spanish Civil War, the global political or cultural struggles against fascism in 1920s and 1930s, or the lifetime histories and [...] More

Charles Koch Foundation Dissertation Grant

  • Application Deadline: Varies
  • Amount: $5,000
  • Charles G. Koch has supported research and educational programs focused on improving human well-being, especially for the least fortunate, for more than 50 years. The Charles Koch Foundation has continued this mission since its founding in 1980 by supporting the study of free societies, and the ideas, institutions, and values that maximize well-being.

    Eligibility:
    - Superior academic [...] More

Charlotte W. Newcombe Dissertation Fellowships

  • Application Deadline: 11/15/2017
  • Amount: $25,000
  • The prestigious Charlotte W. Newcombe Doctoral Dissertation Fellowships are designed to encourage original and significant study of ethical or religious values in all fields of the humanities and social sciences, and particularly to help Ph.D. candidates in these fields complete their dissertation work in a timely manner. In addition to topics in religious studies or in ethics (philosophical or [...] More

Davidson Fellows Scholarship

  • Application Deadline: 2/8/2018
  • Amount: $50,000
  • The Davidson Fellows Scholarship awards prestigious scholarships to extraordinary young people, 18 and under, who have completed a significant piece of work. Application categories are science, technology, engineering, mathematics, literature, music, philosophy and outside the box. Davidson Fellows are honored every year in Washington, D.C. with Congressional meetings and a special reception. [...] More

MIT Inspire Competition

  • Application Deadline: 11/30/2017
  • Amount: Varies
  • MIT INSPIRE is the first national research competition for high school students in the arts, humanities, and social sciences. The competition is organized by MIT undergraduates. Participating high school students, as individuals or teams of two will submit research reports in one of 13 fields, such as history, economics, or philosophy. Approximately 100 finalists with the most exceptional reports [...] More

Nellie Martin Carman Scholarship Fund

  • Application Deadline: 3/1/2018
  • Amount: $2,000
  • Founded in 1949, the Nellie Martin Carman Scholarship is available to graduating seniors from public high schools in King, Pierce, and Snohomish counties in Washington state. Application forms are only available through these high schools and candidates for the scholarship are nominated by their school each year. Awards range from $500 to $2,000 a year, and scholarships are renewable for four (4) [...] More

NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program

  • Application Deadline: Varies
  • Amount: $44,000
  • The National Science Foundation's Graduate Research Fellowship Program helps ensure the vitality of the human resource base of science and engineering in the United States and reinforces its diversity. The prestigious program recognizes and supports outstanding graduate students in NSF-supported science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) disciplines who are pursuing research-based [...] More

The IHS PhD Scholarship

  • Application Deadline: 3/1/2018
  • Amount: $1,500
  • The new PhD Scholarship from the Institute for Humane Studies awards scholarships to promising students each year who are interested in developing, teaching, and applying the principles of a free society. The PhD Scholarship is open to full-time graduate students enrolled in PhD programs during the upcoming academic year. Applicants must demonstrate research interest in the area of individual and [...] More

The Saul Kagan Fellowship in Advanced Shoah Studies

  • Application Deadline: 1/3/2018
  • Amount: $20,000
  • The Kagan Fellowship in Advanced Shoah Studies welcomes applications from Ph.D. and post-doc candidates from around the world for funding for the September through the following August academic year.

    Ph.D. Requirements:
    -Be enrolled and good standing in a Ph.D. program that supports the study of the Holocaust
    -Study/have studies a language of Eastern Europe or the former Soviet Union [...] More

Valley Humanities Review High School Scholarship

  • Application Deadline: 12/15/2017
  • Amount: $500
  • The Valley Humanities Review is currently seeking essays in the humanities - including literature, film, art, history, religion, or philosophy - written by current high school students that demonstrate high quality, intellectual rigor, and originality. The winner will receive a $500 prize and publication in the spring issue.

    The goal with all our projects is to encourage a culture of [...] More

Last Reviewed: August 2017

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