Scholarships & Stipends
Student Funding Opportunities
Scholarships
Honors Programs provides merit-based scholarships & research stipends to recognize academic excellence and support student success. These awards help offset education costs, fund research projects, and encourage leadership in the UCLA Honors community.
- Scholarships: $1,000 – $20,000 for outstanding academic achievement
- Research Stipends: Funding for summer research projects ($1,000 – $1,500)
- Competitive Selection: Based on academic performance, extracurriculars, and tailored essays
The application cycle typically begins in February through April. For academic year 2025/2026, please check back for updates.
Scholarship Eligibility Criteria
- Honors scholarships are awarded based on merit.
- Recipients are selected through a competitive process.
- All awards are for the following academic year.
Eligibility Requirements
- Must be a current College Honors or College Scholars student (incoming first-years and transfers are not eligible) or participating in Departmental Honors within your major department
- Must be returning for at least one full quarter next academic year (except for graduating seniors, who may be eligible for limited awards)
- Each scholarship has specific criteria—students are automatically considered for all eligible opportunities
- Receiving other financial aid may impact eligibility (please consult with Financial Aid before applying)
Application Deadline
To be Announced
Advance preparation is encouraged, as some scholarships require additional documentation.
Honors Scholarship Overview
- A single application matches students to all eligible scholarships.
- Awards range from $1,000 – $5,000
- Funds apply to the next academic year (except for graduating seniors, which are awarded in late Spring of the current academic year)
Examples of Available Scholarships
- Barbara Ladd Gates Award – $1,200 for graduating senior
- Rosalind W. Alcott Scholarship – $2,000 for Political Science, Economics, or Business students
- Bradford E. Burns Endowed Scholarship – $3,000 for History majors
- Rose Gilbert Honors Scholarship – $2,000 – $5,000, open to all Honors students
IMPORTANT: Some scholarships require extra documentation. Check now and prepare before the scholarship portal opens on March 27th!
Honors Essay Prompt
In order to allow for thoughtful preparation, the Honors prompt is released prior to the application opening. For 2025/2026, the prompt will be released in February. Please feel free to reference last year’s prompt (2024/2025) for reference.
“The greatness of a community is most accurately measured by the compassionate actions of its members.”
– Coretta Scott King
What does community mean to you? How has “community” shaped who you are now and/or influenced who you are becoming?
Submission formats
- Written Essay
- Video Presentation
- Infographic
The application window is brief. We encourage students to begin drafting their response in advance.
Application Window
- Login to the Financial Aid Scholarship Portal
- Create or Update your General Scholarship Profile
- Select “Apply” for College Honors Scholarships
- Submit the Honors Essay Prompt and any required documentation
- All materials must be submitted by April 10
Preparation Recommendations
- Begin working on your essay response prior to March 27.
- Verify whether your scholarship requires additional documentation, such as a faculty endorsement letter
- Consult the list of available scholarships for specific eligibility criteria.
Q & A
Can international students apply?
Yes! Only one scholarship requires U.S. citizenship—most are open to all students.
Do I need letters of recommendation?
Most scholarships do NOT require letters. Some need faculty sponsorship—check the “Available Scholarships” section.
How will I receive my funds?
Scholarships are applied to next year’s tuition and are disbursed quarterly via BruinBill.
Still have questions?
Contact:
Heiser Lopez – Scholarships Coordinator, via Message Center
Meet the Scholarships and Stipends Coordinator
Heiser Lopez is the coordinator for the Honors scholarship and research stipends. For inquiries, please contact Heiser through the Message Center.
Stipends
Honors research stipends provide funding for students conducting independent research. These awards allow students to focus on their academic projects, reduce time spent working, and support research-related expenses.
Each year, approximately 20 research stipends are awarded, with an average amount of $1,000 per recipient. An additional $500 bonus may be awarded to the most outstanding proposal.
Important Note:
- Stipends are different from scholarships—they fund specific research projects to be conducted in the upcoming summer
Eligibility
- College Scholars, College Honors, or Departmental Scholars students
- Research may be library, laboratory, or field-based
- Must be returning for at least one quarter
- Must not be receiving academic credit (such as 199) for the research
Available Stipends
Honors Research Stipend – $1,000 – $2500 (Approximately 20 awards per year)
- Support research in all disciplines (Humanities, Social Sciences, Life Sciences and Physical Sciences)
- May be used for research-related expenses and/or to offset work hours
Outstanding Proposal Bonus – Additional $500
- Awarded to the most exceptional research proposal
How to Apply
Application Deadline: April 10, 2025
Full Application Packet (Recommended)
Download Full Stipend Application Packet
Individual Forms & Documents (if needed separately)
Stipend Application Form
Student Agreement Form
Faculty Sponsor Agreement Form (Must be completed by faculty sponsor and emailed separately)
Research Proposal Guidelines (Tips on structuring your research proposal)
Student Biography: Applicants must write their own short biography (approximately one paragraph) in a Word document and include it with their submission.
Submission Instructions
Upload all required documents to the Box link
Important: Your faculty sponsor must email the signed Faculty Sponsor Agreement Form directly to Heiser Lopez at hlopez@college.ucla.edu
Need Help? Contact Heiser Lopez, Scholarships & Stipends Coordinator via Message Center