Samvid Scholars Program

Academic Discipline

STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math), Social Sciences, Arts & Humanities, Health, Medicine & Life Sciences, Business, Management & Finance, Education & Human Development, Law, Policy & Governance, International & Global Studies

Award Type

Graduate School Scholarship

Award Location

USA, Domestic

When to Apply

Senior Year, Alumni, Graduate Student

Eligibility: Citizenship

U.S. Citizen

Sponsoring Foundation Site

https://samvidscholars.org/

Samvid Scholars is a merit-based graduate scholarship and leadership program for changemakers. Samvid Scholars was established in 2021 by Samvid Ventures to invest in the graduate education of future leaders who are committed to effecting positive change in society. 

Application Components:

The application consists of:

Contact information
Demographic information
Academic information
Transcripts
Standardized test scores
Information about planned graduate study
Short essays: see FAQ below for essay questions
Video response
Two recommendations

Benefits:

The Samvid Scholars program supports up to $50,000 per year for two years of graduate study (up to $100,000 total)for individuals entering graduate school who have an exceptional record of achievement and are driven to make a positive impact. In addition to funding for their graduate program, each Scholar will receive two years of leadership development programming to support them to continue to fulfill their extraordinary potential. All scholars will have access to robust ongoing programming and will be part of an alumni community.

Eligibility:

An eligible candidate will:   

Be entering a full-time graduate program of 2 years or longer at a university in the United States during the 2025-2026 academic year in one of the following eligible programs:  MD, JD, MBA, MPP, MPH, MPA, MA, MS, MEd, or MEng in the social sciences or a STEM field
Funding does NOT support PhD programs, but students in joint degree programs that include a PhD are eligible for funding to support the 2 or more year non-PhD degree.
Have an undergraduate GPA of at least 3.5

Please read the biographies of recent Samvid Scholars to learn what types of degrees and accomplished students Samvid supports.

Selection Criteria:

Successful candidates demonstrate the following qualities:

Academic excellence: You have an excellent academic record, reflecting your critical thinking ability, your drive, and your interest in your academic field.
Leadership: You have an outstanding track record of leading efforts that deliver results. You also have a leader’s mindset: you are optimistic, self-reliant, and strive to learn from and inspire those with whom you work.
Mission: You are committed to driving change for society through your leadership. You are fundamentally motivated by the impact of your achievements on others’ lives.
Bias towards action: When you see problems, you not only seek to understand them, but also take action to drive change. You have developed and operationalized solutions to the issue/issues about which you are most passionate.
Determination:You have worked steadfastly to make impact on the issues and/or communities which matter to you, even in the face of setbacks. You demonstrate adaptability and resilience in pursuit of your goals.