Office of Distinguished Scholarships
Ask us how you can study the world!
The Office of Distinguished Scholarships (ODS) provides comprehensive advising and mentorship to students from all schools and colleges exploring and pursuing nationally and internationally competitive scholarships and fellowships for undergraduate research, graduate education, and career internships.
The ODS team coaches students throughout their undergraduate careers and as recent alumni to develop portfolios of academic, research, leadership, and service experiences that will culminate in competitive candidacies. The ODS team also provides expert counsel on application preparation, including composition of written materials, working with recommenders, communicating with prospective graduate programs, facilitating connections with distinguished scholarships alumni, performing mock interviews, and hosting networking events.
ODS liaises closely with representatives of distinguished scholarships foundations and are active involved in the National Association of Fellowship Advisors (NAFA) and the Big 10 Academic Alliance Directors of Undergraduate Research and Distinguished Scholarships groups. As leading research university and member of the American Association of Universities (AAU), the University of Oregon has a long history of distinguished scholarships recipients and national finalists.
UO faculty can recommend a Student for a Distinguished Scholarship.
Scholarship Navigators:
Guiding Every Student to Success
2024 Rhodes Scholar
2024 Stevens Initiative Fellow
2025 Chevening Scholar
Scholarship Navigators is a mentorship and resource program providing personalized, end-to-end support for University of Oregon students and recent alumni who are applying for distinguished scholarships and fellowships. The program addresses a systemic but often overlooked challenge: the dearth of personalized, holistic support for students navigating competitive national and international scholarship applications. Through one-on-one mentorship, tailored resources, and community-building workshops Scholarship Navigators supports students in all disciplines with a particular focus on those in arts and humanities. UO Alum and 2024 Rhodes Scholar Nayantara Arora (University of Oxford) and fellow international scholars, Danial DlShad (University of Kurdistan Hewler) and Maryam Al-Ojel (University of Bristol), lead this grant-funded program through an award from the Stevens Initiative Alumni Fellowship program with the U.S. Department of State. In collaboration with the Office of Distinguished Scholarships and the alumni network of UO distinguished scholars, they launched the program in February 2026 to begin realizing their mission of ensuring students enjoy access to tailored, continuous support from application to post-interview stages, reducing feelings of isolation and imposter syndrome.
Goal:
Help students articulate a compelling academic narrative through their CV/Resume and personal statement.
Learning Outcomes:
By the end, students will:
Understand what scholarship committees look for
Identify 2-3 core themes in their story
Learn how to align CV entries with personal narrative
Leave with a draft “story spine” framework
Goal:
Help students understand that the course/program fit matters more than the scholarship brand.
Learning Outcomes:
Students will:
Understand how to evaluate programs strategically
Learn how UK/US postgraduate structures differ
Identify 2–3 programs aligned with their goals
Understand timelines & components
Goal:
Demystify scholarship interviews and reduce imposter syndrome. This one should feel energizing and empowering.
Learning Outcomes:
Students will:
Understand common scholarship interview formats
Learn how to structure strong answers
Practice thinking aloud
Reframe imposter syndrome
All workshops are held via zoom. Register below by March 13th to receive the zoom link.
Distinguished Scholarships Homecoming Reception
The Distinguished Scholarships Homecoming Reception is an annual event inviting UO top scholars for a chance to learn more about the Distinguished Scholarship opportunities and to connect with ODS Advisors, UO Alumni and prior distinguished scholarship recipients and finalists.
Getting Started
- Find a scholarship on our list
Identify what part a scholarship will play in the attainment of your goals. Make sure your interests and plans match the goal and intent of the scholarships. And make sure you are eligible. Finally, consider whether you will be competitive based on the information provided on the scholarship’s website. UO students have an excellent record of winning prestigious scholarships!
- Meet with Office of Distinguished Scholarships
The first step is to set up a 30-45 minute meeting with us. We'll talk about your goals, the specifics of a scholarship, application process details and how we can provide support, as well as discuss the opportunities and possibilities. Email us at urds@uoregon.edu to schedule a time.
- Get to know your professors
Forge relationships with faculty in your academic area, who will connect you to research and engagement opportunities and, later, will be able to write about you in a detailed way in letters of recommendation. Get connected with faculty using ODS's help, or via the Center for Undergraduate Research and Engagement (CURE) or Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP). CURE and UROP can also work with you to explore research opportunities and funding resources.
- Look for opportunities to present on your research, scholarship or creative activities
Competitive scholarship applicants typically have conducted research and presented their work, and they are often pursuing publication of their research. UO's annual Undergraduate Research Symposium is an excellent place to present your work to the campus community. The Oregon Undergraduate Research Journal publishes original undergraduate research. Also look for ways to present at regional, national and international conferences.
- Work on application materials
This often includes a statement of future goals, essays, transcripts, and letters of recommendation. ODS will provide support with all of this, including thorough discussion of career goals and academic pathways, strategizing about letters of recommendation, and development of your statement. ODS recommends that you start working on a scholarship at least three months before the submission deadline (though this varies by scholarship).
- Internal Deadline
Note whether there is an internal deadline for a UO competition to select finalists for the national or international scholarship competition. Don't hesitate to ask questions!
- External Deadline
The date by which materials are due to the scholarship foundation. Each scholarship has a different process that you will need to get familiar with.
- Prepare for finalist interviews
Some scholarships require a finalist competition that involves an interview, either virtually or in-person. ODS support students as they prepare for their finalist interviews. For example, for Rhodes, Marshall and Mitchell finalists we provide extensive guidance and stage multiple mock interviews with UO faculty and staff. Schedule an appointment or join for drop-in hours.
- Scholarship awarded
You could be next!