Fellowships for DACA or Undocumented Students
The following list explores fellowship opportunities and resources for funding, mentorship, and experiential learning that DACA and undocumented students can take advantage of to enhance their college experience and launch their career. These opportunities can provide critical professional training and career skills to DACA and undocumented students.
FELLOWSHIP | DESCRIPTION | DATES | DUE | COMPENSATION |
---|---|---|---|---|
Dream Summer Fellowship | The UCLA Labor Center offers this summer fellowship to students and DACA-eligible citizens who are at least 18 years old and interested in social justice and immigration rights. | June to August | Feb. | $5,000 |
Paul and Daisy Soros Fellowships for New Americans | This program is for graduate students up to 30 years old with an interest in human rights and the rule of law as related to the U.S. Constitution. DACA students and non-U.S. citizens are eligible. | Two years | Oct. | Up to $25,000 per academic year for a maximum of two years |
American Sociological Association Minority Fellowship Program | ASA offers this fellowship to minority students who are U.S. citizens, non-citizens, or DACA-eligible individuals. Applicants must be enrolled in an advanced graduate program in pursuit of a Ph.D. in sociology. | August to July (one year), renewable | Jan. | Stipend of $18,000, including cohort programming and travel expenses for scientific conferences |
Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute Graduate Fellowship Program | CHCI offers an immersive program for experienced Hispanic public policy professionals. Students must have completed a master’s degree or JD within two years of the program start date. | August to May; lasts for nine months | Jan. | $27,900; round-trip travel expenses to the fellowship site in Washington, D.C.; a monthly local transportation stipend; and medical, dental, and vision insurance for the duration |
Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute Public Policy Fellowship Program | CHCI offers networking and mentorship opportunities to emerging public policy professionals. Students must have earned a bachelor’s degree within three years of the program start date. | August to May; lasts for nine months | Jan. | $26,100; round-trip travel expenses to the fellowship site in Washington, D.C.; a monthly local transportation stipend; and medical, dental, and vision insurance for the duration |
First-Generation Civil Rights Fellowship Program | The Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under Law offers this fellowship program to first-generation college students who are also the first in their family to pursue a social justice career. | Start dates vary; lasts for one summer | Varies | Stipend (amount varies), mentorship from lawyers specializing in immigration law, professional development seminars, and weekly advocacy training |
Public Policy and International Affairs Junior Summer Institute | PPIA offers an intensive research experience in public policy for rising seniors in an undergraduate program. Participants must be committed to pursuing a graduate degree at a PPIA-approved school and a subsequent career in public policy. | Start dates vary; lasts for seven weeks | Nov. | Full Junior Summer Institute tuition, housing and most meals, eligibility for an additional stipend, application fee waivers to PPIA-approved graduate schools, and a one-time scholarship of $5,000 (if admitted to a PPIA-approved graduate program) |
Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellowship | Cornell University offers this fellowship through the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation to students with a minimum 3.0 GPA in an eligible major who are ultimately planning to pursue a Ph.D. Fellows are paired with mentors for a guided intensive research project. | Varies | Feb. | Stipends for research throughout the academic year, additional funding for travel and expenses, and an invitation to give a presentation at the annual conference |
For questions on national fellowships, please connect with Courtney Santos, Director of National and International Fellowships at the University of Nebraska Lincoln.