The John H. Edwards Fellowship is one of the University’s most prestigious academic awards. The Edwards Trust Fund provides income for two fellowships of approximately $25,000 each for graduate students in terminal degree programs at any campus of Indiana University in the academic year 2023-2024. A university-wide committee selects the fellows from nominations made by the deans of departments and schools.
In accordance with the bequest, the John H. Edwards Fellowship will be awarded on the following basis:
Good citizenship, character, especially attitude toward public service and the likelihood of future usefulness to society, scholastic ability, intellectual capacity, and upon such other bases and qualifications, and in such manner, as the Trustees of Indiana University in their discretion and judgment may determine from time to time, but always without regard to consideration of religion, creed, race, national origin, color, sex, or political affiliation.
The Edwards Trust Fund Committee interprets the above paragraph as an instruction to nominate a candidate with an extraordinary record of voluntary public service, exemplary character, superior scholastic ability, and intellectual capacity that promises dividends for society. Consistent with University policy, nominations for this award should be made without regard to sexual orientation or disability.
See below for eligibility requirements and application instructions. Students must submit all application materials to their department. The University Graduate School will not accept student self-nominations.
This is a single-year award valued at $25,000 for the following academic year. The fellowship is a stipend only. The nominating school must agree to provide a fee remission. Departments may supplement the award up to the average fellowship amount typically received by students in that department.
The award must be used for the year it is awarded. A recipient cannot place this award into a "reserve status" because of receiving another award. Successful nominees who are awarded an Edwards Fellowship may not accept financial assistance from another source or other employment, including Student Academic Appointments, for that academic year.
Nominees should have:
Completed at least 24 credit hours of graduate study at Indiana University by February.
Enrolled as a full-time student for award year.
Making satisfactorily work towards completion of a terminal graduate degree (Ph.D., Ed.D., M.D., J.D., M.F.A., M.A.T., etc.).
Nominees should have a clear record of voluntary public service.
Special consideration will be given to nominees who can demonstrate financial need in order to complete their studies (see Nominee's Financial Statement Form). Initiating service projects is an especially strong credential for earning this award.
All students must submit their application to their department.
A complete application must consist of the following submitted as one PDF in the order listed below:
A brief statement of your need for continued financial support to complete your degree
Curriculum vitae/resume (including public service activities and volunteerism)
A personal statement (maximum 2 pages, single spaced, .5” margins or larger, 11-point font or larger) addressing your academic goals and the relationship of public service and volunteerism to these goals
Transcripts (unofficial) of undergraduate and graduate work, including those from Indiana University and other institutions
Other required items:
Please ask the recommender to submit these items directly to your department.
Two concise letters of recommendation by faculty that describe your academic record and progress, commitment to public service, and promise as a leader in your field
One supporting letter from a public service agency or organization where you have volunteered that states the agency’s mission, how you contributed to that mission, the duration and commitment of time volunteered, and the impact of your efforts
There can be only one nomination per department, but there can be multiple nominations per School/College.
A complete nomination form consists of the following:
A department nominating statement
A student application form
Two letters of recommendation
A supporting letter from a public service agency or organization
Transcripts (unofficial) of undergraduate and graduate work
Internal DeadlinesAll students’ application materials must be submitted to their departments for review.Each nomination requires a Department Nomination Statement.
Departments in the College of Arts and Sciences at IUB must submit their nomination to the College Graduate Office for review, please contact the College Graduate Office (collgrad@indiana.edu) for their internal deadline.
Other departments should contact their School/College in order to determine whether their nomination needs to go through the main graduate office or can be submitted directly by the department to the University Graduate School.
The University Graduate School resources and social media channels
