HistoryDegree.net History Scholarship

At HistoryDegree.net our goal is to make sure everyone has an equal opportunity when it comes to learning and exploring history. Our team has created the HistoryDegree.net History Scholarship for anyone that is currently a high school student, an undergraduate or postgraduate student. The scholarship will be available once a year with a $1000 award.

Eligibility

If you are currently enrolled in high school, college or university and would like to advance your study in history, we encourage you to apply for this scholarship.

General Terms of Participation

Participating in this scholarship is pretty straightforward. Simply write an article on why you want to study history and how you plan on advancing your career through a degree in history. This piece of content must be at least 1000 words and no longer than 2000 words.

Scholarship Amount

$1,000

Deadline

October 30, 2018

Winner Announcement

November 20, 2018

How To Submit?

Simply fill the form below and upload the file (PDF only).

Interested in learning about other scholarships that are available to you? Here’s our in-depth guide on history scholarships.

Thinking about majoring in history? Well, there are a lot of great scholarships to help you on your journey. There is funding available for just about anyone willing to look for it and take the time to apply. Some awards are for just for a couple hundred dollars while others will pay for all of your higher education. Your best bet is to apply for as many as you qualify for.

Historical societies, individuals, companies, non-profit organizations, and religious institutions nationwide put aside money annually to help support history majors. Below is a list of the best 20 scholarships available currently. You will notice most have specific criteria, so read carefully to see if you qualify.

When applying for scholarships to expand your history knowledge, it is essential that you follow several tips to boost your chances of winning the funds. In addition to certain things you can do, there are also several pitfalls you’ll need to avoid.

Tips and Tricks for Winning Scholarships for History Majors

As you review the 20 best scholarships for history majors below, make sure to look over and put into action the helpful tips and advice outlined for applying to scholarships.

1. The Gerald and Elsie Ham Scholarship

Deadline: February 28th

$10,000  awarded annually to one graduate student

The Society of American Archivists offers this generous scholarship every year. The F. Gerald and Elsie Ham Scholarship is awarded to one person yearly based on merit. The student must also have a letter of recommendation from a professor at their current institution stating why that student would contribute to the profession of an archivist. The application must include an official grade transcript, a cover letter, a current curriculum vitae (that specifically states interest in the scholarship and provides information on your interests applicant’s interests). Last but not least, the student must include some kind of unspecified project that shows that you can “think like an archivist.” They say this could be a summary of some research completed in an academic environment, a seminar paper, a published article, or some other project.

Start Locally

According to Time.com, one of the best places to start applying for scholarships is local. There are likely many local scholarships that you are unaware of, and the best place to learn about them is your town library.

You’ll also want to ask around at small businesses for scholarship opportunities (many of them offer tuition assistance but don’t post it publicly in newspapers and on social media). And since only a small group of students qualify for local scholarships, you’ll have a greater chance of winning them. If your town happens to have its own online website and portal, make sure to check it frequently for scholarship information updates.

2. The Antonette Willa Skupa Turner Scholarship

Deadline: February 28th

$500 awarded annually to one college freshman leaving high school

The Willa Cather Foundation presents the Antonette Willa Skupa Turner Scholarship. This award is specifically for graduating seniors in high school that lives in Nebraska and will be an incoming freshman at an accredited college to either major in history or English. The application must include a 1,500-word essay on “ My Antonia,” a novel by Willa Cather. The essay must be in MLA format and discuss characters, themes, and lessons.

3.The Harriet and Leon Pomerance Fellowship

Deadline: November 1

$5000 Awarded to one graduate student annually for a project about the Aegean Bronze Age

The Archaeological Institute of America created the Harriet and Leon Pomerance Fellowship to help graduate students concentrating in history, the classics, and archeology. Eligible students must be involved in a research project about the Aegean Bronze Age. Graduate students applying must become members of AIA for one full year before applying for the scholarship. Priority is given to the projects that involve traveling to the Mediterranean. To qualify you must be actively pursuing a master’s or a doctoral degree and demonstrate academic merit.

Look for Scholarships With a lot of Requirements

The more requirements a scholarship has, the more work a student has to put into filling all of the eligibility qualifications. And the more work students have to put toward something, the fewer of them that will actually apply. Because of this, you will have a higher chance of winning the funds.

So when you’re searching for scholarships to expand your history knowledge, make sure to apply to lots of them that have an extensive list of eligibility requirements.

4. B. Phinizy Spalding Scholarship

Deadline: February 12th

$1,000 awarded to two freshmen annually

This scholarship is only for freshman in an accredited Georgia university majoring in history. It was founded with the intent to preserve Georgian culture and historical structures. To qualify you must be enrolled full time and show a “sincere commitment to historic preservation.” You also must be planning to stay and work in-state after college to give back to the community. Winning students must show leadership skills and academic success. Application documents include proof of enrollment, a transcript, and a resume of preservation-related experience.

5. Helen James Brewer Scholarship

Deadline: June 15th

$1,000 awarded to an undetermined number of descendants

This scholarship is only for students that are descendants of Confederate soldiers and marines who are enrolled full time in an accredited Georgia university. The applicants must be pursuing a major in history or literature. Only residents of Georgia, Virginia, Alabama, Florida, South Carolina, and Tennessee can apply. The student must also be endorsed by a Chapter of the United Daughters of the Confederacy. If the scholarship is won, the awarded will enjoy this gift every semester until their degree ends.

Make sure to read the fine print, as there are lots of requirements to cover.

Follow All Directions

It cannot be stressed enough how important it is to read through each scholarship carefully. Each of them will have varying requirements, and it is crucial that you follow each direction and requirement to a T. Failing to do one thing that is asked of you will disqualify you. Even you would have otherwise been the winner, not meeting a requirement can cause them to award the funds to someone else.

So not only will you want to double-check yourself before submitting the application, but you’ll want to triple-check and maybe review the scholarship a fourth time to make sure you are satisfying everything that is asked of you.

6. Christopher W. Keyser Scholarship

Deadline: July 31st

$1,000 awarded annually to undergraduates planning to go into law

This scholarship program was founded by the law firm Keyser Law, P.A. in Minneapolis, MN for undergraduates planning to major in history, criminal justice, and pre-law, among other related fields. To be eligible, you must be enrolled in a four-year program and plan on continuing into an ABA-accredited law school afterward. Winners are chosen by an essay contest focusing on current events from a legal standpoint. Some topics include police body cameras and immigration.

Get Up Close and Personal

When you apply for history scholarships, make sure to think outside of the box. More importantly, get up and close and personal through the scholarships by applying to ones that really align with your interests and passion. Did you know there are scholarships for vegetarians? For zombie lovers? If you win these scholarships, you can use them to pay for your history studies.

7. Ida B. Wells Graduate Student Fellowship

Deadline: May 15th

$1,000 awarded annually to graduates in the late stages of research

The Coordinating Council for Women in History offers the Ida B. Wells Graduate Student Fellowship each year to graduates in need. The applicants must be members of CCWH and already be candidates for a doctoral program. The applicant’s research must interrogate race and gender.

8.The Dr. Aura-Lee A. and James Hobbs Pittenger American History Scholarship

Deadline: February 15th

$2,000 annually for up to four years

Offered by the Daughters of the Revolution, The Dr. Aura-Lee A. and James Hobbs Pittenger American History Scholarship is awarded to graduating high school students who plan to pursue an undergraduate degree in American History or American Government. To receive the grant continually until graduation the student must maintain a GPA of 3.25.  The student must also plan to concentrate their study by taking at least 24 credit hours in American History and American Government.

Always Submit as Early as Possible

No matter the history scholarship you are applying for, make sure to submit it as soon as possible. The longer you wait, the more your odds go down in actually being able to win the funds. In fact, some scholarships are awarded right out of the box, meaning you the sooner you apply, the greater your chance at being one of those applicants whose application is reviewed as soon as the applications are accepted.

9. Graydon A. Tunstall Undergraduate Scholarship

Deadline: March 1st

$1,000 awarded annually to university seniors

Each year, Phi Alpha Theta hosts the Graydon A. Tunstall Undergraduate Scholarship for members of Phi Alpha Theta. The scholarship is for exceptional students that are entering their senior year of a bachelor’s degree. The funds are specifically for the student to study modern European history from 1815 to the present.

Look for Scholarships With Small Awards

A lot of students skip out on applying to scholarships that have small awards. Why? Because they don’t want to invest time into something that doesn’t offer big bucks. The truth is, though, small awards matter just as much as big awards, especially if you are able to win several small scholarships.

Think about it. Winning four $5,000 scholarships is just as good as winning a $20,000 scholarship, and you’re much more likely to win smaller ones because there aren’t going to be as many applicants.

10. J. Franklin Jameson Fellowship in American History

Deadline: April 1st

$5,000 awarded annually to doctoral and post-doctoral students

The American Historical Association (AHA) manages the J. Franklin Jameson Fellowship which offers late stage and post doctoral students who hold a PhD in history the opportunity to apply. If chosen, the students will spend two to three months working full-time in a residency program at the Library of Congress. This is an amazing opportunity for those looking to further their career. The applicant must present a project in the application about American history that the collections at the Library of Congress could aid in.

11. James Madison Memorial Junior Fellowships

Deadline: March 1st

Up to $24,000 to aspiring history teachers

This fellowship is for those wishing to became educators in history or government to grades 7-12. You must be a US citizen to apply and win. You must have a bachelor’s degree already and plan on getting your master’s in education or history. You must be willing to take take at least 12 credits of constitutional study, and attend a four-week summer institute.

12.Withers Scholars Scholarship

Deadline: February 1st

The Wither’s scholarship is variable in amount to cover tuition

The College of Arts and Sciences at Indiana University-Purdue  and at the University of Fort Wayne offer the Withers Scholars Scholarship to juniors and senior seniors working towrd their bachelor degree. They must be majoring in one of the following to qualify: History, Education, English, Theater, Political Science, or Communications. This award is limited to applicants in the United States. To qualify,  you must be enrolled in at least 12 credit hours, have at least a GPA of 3.3 or higher. You must also show how you benefit your community. If won, the award will cover the entire cost of your tuition and campus service/parking fees for one full academic year. The award will be given each year to an undetermined number of students.

Don’t Go Over the Word Count Limits

Just because you write an essay that is 500 words over the word count limit doesn’t mean you are going to increase your chances of winning the scholarship. In fact, this may disqualify you because it means you’re not correctly following instructions. It also means you aren’t able to get straight to the point and deliver the message you are trying to convey in the word count you were given.

13. King V. Hostick Scholarships

Deadline: March 31st

$5,000 awarded annually to graduates

Illinois State Historical Society created this scholarships for history majors in the process of writing their doctoral dissertations on the history of Illinois. Graduates must demonstrate unmet financial need, display research skills, and provide a six-page proposal. Preference is given to students working in the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library.

14. Lucinda Beneventi Findley History Scholarship

Deadline: February 10th

$2,000 awarded annually to 2 high-school students

The Daughters of the American Revolution annually award this scholarship to two high school students that have a GPA of 3.25 and demonstrate an advanced interest in history. The student must plan to work full time toward a bachelor’s degree in history at an accredited university. DAR offers a similar scholarship for graduate students called the Centennial Scholarship.

15. Mary Isabel Sibley Fellowship Program

Deadline: January 15th

$20,000 awarded annually to doctoral female students

Every year Phi Beta Kappa offers the Mary Isabel Sibley Fellowship Program, with no membership required to students internationally. To be considered, applicants must be unmarried women between the ages of 25 to 35. They must be able to show the ability to produce quality research work. Also, they must be almost completed with their doctorate degree save the dissertation. The founder wanted to help women in Greek and French studies to live abroad while researching. The Fellowship alternates yearly between French and Greek studies. In 2018 the fellowship will be for those focusing in French.

Avoid Using Quotes

One quote is fine, two quotes are not. One quote in an essay for a scholarship showcases your ability to research and properly quote the source. Two quotes, however, takes the attention off of you and doesn’t make you stand out as unique. So when writing an essay, always be yourself and use your own words.

16. Bolton-Cutter Prize

Deadline: April 1st

$500 awarded annually to essay context winner

The Western History Association awards the Bolton-Cutter Prize each year for the best article focusing on any phase in the history of the Borderlands. This generally includes the Floridas to the Californias from the 16th century to the present day. A WHA member or the author themselves can nominate an article for consideration. There are no education requirements to win. If no article is worthy, no prize will be awarded.

17. Bill of Rights Essay Scholarship Contest

Deadline: July 15th

$3,000 awarded annually to 6 female high school juniors or seniors plus an all expense paid trip

For 20 years the National Foundation for Women Legislators and the National Rifle Association have teamed up to host and fund this scholarship. Along with the award money, high school students get to travel to NFWL’s Annual Conference where the six winners will be presented awards.

18. The Aleksander and Alicja Hertz Memorial Fellowship

Deadline: January 15th

$4,000 awarded annually to multiple doctoral students

The Aleksander and Alicja Hertz Memorial Fellowship supports doctoral and post-doctoral research on the history of the Jewish-Polish relationship, during the Holocaust period and into modern culture, discussing what contributions Jewish people made to Polish culture and literature.This Fellowship is to be used for the awarded to research at the YIVO Library and Archives for a period of 2-3 months and give a public lecture at the end of that time.

You can Reuse Essays, but Make Each One Unique

There is absolutely nothing wrong with reusing essays for different scholarship applications, but you need to make sure each one meets the exact requirements for each individual scholarship you are applying to. Because of this, you should make sure you make each essay unique with some type of alteration that makes it specific for the funds you are trying to win. This could be as simple as adding a sentence or changing the words in a paragraph that it better fits the needs of each scholarships’ requirements.

19. The Thomas S. Morgan Memorial Scholarship

Deadline: March 1st

$1,000 awarded annually to multiple PhD students

The Thomas S. Morgan Memorial Scholarship is one of three doctoral scholarships offered by Phi Alpha Theta. To qualify, you must be a member of Phi Alpha Theta and be in the process of entering a graduate school for the first time in the fall. The applicant must be pursuing a degree in History or Library Sciences. This scholarship does not apply to students already enrolled in a graduate program, only those in the process of entering. It also does not apply to students enrolled in online degree programs. Unlike most scholarship applications, this one cannot be completed online. Six copies of the completed application and all of the secondary materials will need to be mailed to:

Graduate Scholarship Committee

Phi Alpha Theta History Honor Society

University of South Florida

4202 E. Fowler Ave SOC107

Tampa FL 33620-8100

Phone:800-394-8195

20. ALBA George Watt Memorial Essay Contest

Deadline: August 1st

$250 awarded annually to multiple or a single student at all levels of education.

ALBA is short for the Abraham Lincoln Brigade Archives. The Abraham Lincoln Brigade fought fascists in the Spanish Civil War from 1936 to 1939. ALBA is a non-profit organization devoted to encouraging the defense of human rights and social activism. George Watt was a writer and an activist who formed ALBA. High-school all the way up through to doctoral students are encouraged to submit an essay on the Spanish Civil War. This scholarship is not limited to any country. The length of the essay depends on what level of education you are at. It can be in Spanish or English.
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