The English Major’s Guide to the Office of Undergraduate Scholarships and Fellowships (OUSF)
The Office of Undergraduate Scholarships and Fellowships (OUSF) located in Smith Warehouse is home to comfortable couches, free sodas, and Duke’s many helpful scholarship advisors. Within this office, a few divisions coexist including undergraduate merit scholarships, affiliated programs, and nationally competitive scholarships/fellowships. Merit scholarships are awarded during Duke’s undergraduate application process, so they will not be the focus of this article. Rather, I will highlight opportunities for current English majors on Duke’s campus. This list will not contain every single option, but it will outline some of the main funding opportunities that fall within OUSF’s umbrella.
Affiliated Programs
What are affiliated fellowships? They are scholarships/fellowships that extend beyond Duke and provide additional support to students during their undergraduate educations. Ascend Women, Baldwin Scholars, Cardea Fellows, Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellows, and Phi Beta Kappa represent this branch of OUSF. While all of these are potentially options for English majors, Baldwin Scholars and the Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellowship (MMUF) are particularly applicable programs for students who study literature and writing.
The Alice M. Baldwin Scholars program selects eighteen first-year students who identify as women to join the cohort. This means you have a small window between when you arrive at Duke and when you apply, so your application will mainly come from your high school experiences. A strong candidate demonstrates extraordinary commitment to leadership. The Baldwin program provides support throughout a student’s undergraduate career through faculty networking, two focused academic seminars, the opportunity to live with other Baldwins, an internship, a retreat, and many other gatherings. It’s a great chance for any woman who wants support for leadership endeavors.
The Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellowship (MMUF) opens applications during the spring semester and allows both sophomores and juniors to apply. Up to five students are admitted per year. MMUF’s main objective is to increase diversity within academia by supporting students who plan to pursue PhDs in the arts, humanities, and social sciences. Through semester and summer stipends, faculty mentorship, opportunities to attend and present at conferences, and a professional network, MMUF supports undergraduate research. Applicants ought to demonstrate a strong interest in pursuing a PhD in a Mellon-approved field and dedication to increasing diversity within academia.
Nationally Competitive Fellowships
While there are many national scholarships and fellowships that can support English majors’ work after Duke, some in the humanities include the Beinecke, Fulbright, Marshall, Rhodes, and Truman. If you’re interested in nationally competitive fellowships, meet with advisors from OUSF at any point during your undergraduate career to discuss these options. OUSF advisors can help you decide which funding to apply for and can support you along the application process.
Keep an eye on the deadlines. While many scholarships or fellowships are for graduating seniors, the Beinecke, Truman, and several others are designed for students with junior-standing.
OUSF provides an atmosphere of advice and support for many types of students. English majors have many opportunities to engage in this community and are always welcome to meet with advisors about possibilities at and beyond Duke.
