MMUF eligibility requirements

In order to be eligible for MMUF, students must first be enrolled at one of the MMUF member institutions. The Mellon Foundation does not award fellowships directly to individual students; instead, the Foundation awards grants to the program’s member institutions, which administer the program on their campuses. Member programs design their own recruitment processes and select their student fellows.

While the recruitment process is set by each participating institution, it generally includes a written statement of academic purpose, a reflection on the ways the applicant’s life experiences and academic aspirations would contribute to MMUF’s goals of advancing a broad range of scholarly perspectives, one or more recommendations from faculty members, an academic transcript, and an interview with the selection committee. Interested students should consult with their local MMUF program coordinator for their institution’s specific requirements.

Fellows are generally chosen in the spring of their sophomore year after their majors have been declared, though there is some variation from institution to institution. In a few cases, fellows have been selected as juniors or seniors. Please consult your member institution for deadline information.

The Mellon Foundation expects its grantee institutions to ensure that MMUF is equally open to all students who meet the program’s eligibility requirements and does not use preferences or criteria based on any trait protected under applicable law.