Goldwater Scholarships encourage students to pursue careers in mathematics, engineering or the natural sciences. The scholarship covers tuition, room, board, books and fees up to $7,500 per year, for up to two years of undergraduate study.

UConn may nominate up to four individuals for this competition. You must submit a complete Goldwater Campus Application (including all one letter of recommendation) to be considered for institutional endorsement.

Eligibility Requirements

Second- and third-year STEM majors who are U.S. citizens, residents or nationals with a grade point average of at least 3.5 and who intend to pursue a PhD or M.D./Ph.D. leading to a career in scientific research.

Application Process

Students must be nominated by the University to apply for this award; up to four students may be nominated per year. Before he or she begin their campus application, please review all of the eligibility rules, application guidelines and tips available on the Goldwater website. 

Before you begin your campus application, please take time to review all of the information available about applying on the Goldwater website: https://goldwater.scholarsapply.org/steps-in-process/

To apply for campus nomination, candidates must submit the following by 5:00 pm EST on November 8, 2019:

(1) Complete the Goldwater pre-screen application on the national website: https://scholarsapply.org/barrygoldwater/

(2) Once approved, the student will be provided with additional instructions but the full application for on campus nomination will include:

• A 2 page research essay about an undergraduate research project you are currently involved with or have been in the recent past; 
• Short answer questions detailing your graduate program of choice and professional aspirations;
• 1 letter of recommendation; 
• an unofficial transcript

(3)  Letters of recommendation should be obtained from research mentors or teaching faculty 

PLEASE NOTE: The institutional endorsement will be based on the submitted campus application.  It should be a final draft that the student is strongly encouraged to have their research mentor review their research essay.  The Goldwater campus application will be reviewed by a standing commmittee of STEM faculty, who will make the final endorsement decision.  If the student is endorsed, he/she will work directly with Rowena Grainger, STEM Fellowships Advisor to complete the final stages of the Goldwater application.  Students cannot apply directly to the Goldwater Scholarship.