Fellowships
Mitchell Scholarship
Is it for you?
The George J. Mitchell Scholarship supports one year of graduate study in any field, at an institution of higher learning in Ireland, including nine universities in the Republic of Ireland and two universities in Northern Ireland. Named to honor former U.S. Senator George Mitchell’s pivotal contribution to the Northern Ireland peace process, the program is designed to introduce and connect generations of future American leaders to the island of Ireland, while recognizing and fostering intellectual achievement, leadership, and a commitment to community and public service. The Mitchell Scholars Program provides tuition, accommodations, a living expenses stipend, and an international travel stipend.
What are the key dates?
The application cycle for 2023 has closed. Please check back in spring/summer 2024 for updates on the next cycle.
General Information Sessions:
- TBD for 2024 (normally in March/early April)
JHU pre-application deadline: TBD for 2024 (normally mid- to late April)
The pre-application is available on NFP’s Canvas course for U.K./Ireland Scholarship applicants. The course will be available for enrollment once info sessions have started (please note: the Canvas course is offline between application cycles).
JHU endorsement deadline*: TBD for 2024 (normally end of August)
*Only for those who are undergraduates and require an endorsement and are therefore part of the UK/Ireland Scholarships advising cohort – please see “How do you work with the NFP?” below for more information on the endorsement requirement.
National/final deadline: TBD for 2024 (normally late September)
Are you eligible?
Candidates for the Mitchell Scholarship must:
- be U.S. citizens between the ages of 18-30 by September 26 of the application year.
- have a superior academic record. While there is no stated minimum GPA for the Mitchell, a GPA of lower than 3.7 is not competitive.
- demonstrate a record of intellectual distinction, leadership, extra-curricular activity, and service to others.
How do you work with the NFP?
To apply for the Mitchell, JHU’s institutional endorsement (a.k.a. nomination) is required if you will be an enrolled undergraduate at time of application and is sought by working with our office through our U.K./Ireland Scholarships advising process. Those who are no longer undergraduates may still choose to participate in the cohort process described below, but do not need and cannot submit an endorsement to apply for the Mitchell.
The U.K./Ireland Scholarships advising process begins in the spring of the application year and is a cohort-based approach for applicants to one or more of several highly competitive scholarships (the Churchill, Gates Cambridge, Marshall, Mitchell, and Rhodes Scholarships). By an April pre-application deadline, prospective applicants declare their intention to join the U.K./Ireland Scholarships cohort. We closely advise cohort members on their applications individually and offer a range of skill- and community-building group activities from the late spring through early fall.
The timeline gives an overview of the application process and when to reach out to us. In preparation, see “have a closer look” below for more resources about the Mitchell.
| late March-mid-April | Attend an info session; stop by NFP office hours to discuss your plans and goals |
| late April | Submit pre-application materials |
| May-June | Attend fellowship and writing workshops; consult individually with NFP advisors |
| July-August | Draft and revise application materials; secure recommendations; participate in roundtable |
| late August | Meet campus deadline for endorsement |
| September | Participate in roundtables & CV workshops |
| late September | Meet official Mitchell deadline |
Are you competitive?
Up to 12 scholarships are awarded each year. Undergraduate applicants should plan on participating in the spring pre-application process, and all applicants should expect to spend significant time drafting and revising their application materials. Candidates for the Mitchell Scholarships are evaluated according to the following criteria:
- Scholarship, leadership, and service: Applicants are primarily judged according to their academic record, leadership skills and experience, and commitment to community and public service.
- Personal Essay: This 1,000-word essay should address the issues that motivate you, as well as demonstrate your personality, passion, and intellectual drive.
- Information: You must furnish an annotated list of your awards, achievements, community service, etc.
- Proposed universities and programs: It is important that candidates spend sufficient time examining the various programs at the universities in Ireland and Northern Ireland to determine the courses in which they are most interested and for which they are qualified. To be competitive, candidates should indicate at least three programs at three different universities.
- Four letters of recommendation: Two of the four letters of reference must come from academic professors the candidate has taken courses from or conducted research with.
- Video interview: The selection committee views Mitchell Scholars as representatives of their schools, their country, and the U.S.-Ireland Alliance, and would therefore like to see how well candidates express themselves in a spontaneous manner. As such, the committee requires that candidates respond orally to three questions in a brief online video session, as part of the initial application. (Details are on the official website.)
Have a closer look:
Visit the Official Website
Explore JHU and NFP Resources
All applicants should enroll in our U.K./Ireland Scholarships Canvas site, which contains a wealth of information and resources about the application process. Please email us to request access in the spring.