Physical and Life Sciences Scholarships

Get a Break on Your College Expenses

The physical and life sciences are the collegiate facet dedicated to the study of the corporal world: bodies, mass, the landscape and the understanding of how people and nature grow and move within their environment. The department of physical and life sciences will encompass many concentrations and courses of scientific interest, including the chemical components of nature, nuclear science, and the evolutionary shifting of the physical world. Perspectives on the material taught may originate from subjects as diverse as biology, geology, physics, chemistry, sociology, materialism and functionalism.

Graduates with a degree in this simultaneously concrete and abstract field often find themselves going on to do graduate work or research, or entering careers in the realm of science, exploration, national consulting, or regional expertise. Those with an educational background in this field are highly specialized, attuned individuals who are well-suited to top-notch jobs as experts in the physics of nature.

Those interested in studying either physical or life sciences can take advantage of several funding opportunities to help them achieve their educational goals, if they qualify and are academically motivated. Continue reading to learn about some of the scholarship opportunities from national and private organizations as well as colleges that are available in this demanding subject area.

National Physical Science Consortium

Several Graduate Fellowships in Physical Sciences are offered to US citizens planning on working toward a graduate degree at one of the post-secondary educational institutions recognized as National Physical Science Consortium members. The NPSC is composed of labs, colleges, organizations and corporations that all work together to support academically outstanding students entering the field of physical science. These well-endowed graduate fellowships are a huge honor, both financially and academically, and are awarded to the best of the best. The six-year commitment to a doctoral program in astronomy, chemistry, computer science, geology, materials sciences, mathematical sciences, physics or a subdisciplines of one of these subjects is not for the faint of heart.

In addition to funding to cover the cost of tuition and fees, a stipend will be paid to fellowship recipients. The total value of each extremely generous fellowship is between $156,000.00-$200,000.00. To be eligible, applicants must be US citizens who have obtained a GPA of at least 3.0. Those persons who have already obtained a Bachelor’s or Master’s Degree and have been out of school for at least 12 months are also eligible to apply.

United Negro College Fund/MERCK Science Research Scholarship Awards

Up to fifteen awards of up to $30,000 each will be given to African-American students in their junior year of college. This undergraduate scholarship from the United Negro College Fund and Merck Science Initiative is available for those studying life or physical science with a special interest in biomedical research. A GPA of 3.0 or higher is required to be considered for this funding; applicants must be US citizens.

In addition, UNCF also offers a version of this award to graduate students who are studying to receive their MD or PhD in life or physical sciences. These twelve awards given out annually are good for up to $53,000. Beyond this level, ten Postdoctoral Science Research Awards are doled out each year in the amount of $92,000.

University of New Hampshire, CEPS-Tyco Scholarship For Engineering and Physical Science Students

High-achieving high school seniors who wish to attend the University of New Hampshire are eligible to apply for the CEPS-Tyco Industry Scholarship. Two scholarships are awarded per year. The scholarship is a result of a partnership between UNH, Whelen, and Tyco Companies and provides funds to pay for the full or nearly-full cost of tuition, student fees, and room and board for four years.

Those wishing to be considered are required to submit their high school transcripts with excellent grades and the test scores from either the SAT Reasoning Test or the ACT Writing Test. Competitive applicants will have completed at least four years each of mathematics and science in high school, and be committed to the College of Engineering and Physical Science.

Wyoming Space Grant

US citizens attending any of Wyoming’s community colleges (including Casper College, Central Wyoming College, Eastern Wyoming College, LCCC, NWCCD–Sheridan and Gillette Colleges, Northwest College, and Western Wyoming Community College) and majoring in pre-pharmacy, biological sciences, engineering, math, computer science, physics, chemistry, or health sciences are eligible to apply for a Science, Mathematics, and Technology Scholarship (STEM). The Wyoming Space Grant Consortium Scholarship provides up to $1,000.00 in funding, which can be used to help defray the cost of tuition, books, or accommodation.

Interested students should contact the college they are interested in and will be referred to the Space Grant application through their specific school. Candidates are asked to submit a copy of their post-secondary transcripts, a letter of reference from an instructor, and a personal statement discussing the applicant’s goals for his or her education and career.

Indiana State University, Department of Life Sciences

About a dozen Department of Biology scholarships are offered to undergraduates and graduate students pursuing a degree in life sciences at Indiana State University through the College of Arts and Sciences. Those interested in applying can fill out one application form (available online) to be considered for one or more scholarships.

For example, the Dr. William P. Allyn Science Scholarship may be granted to an outstanding life sciences major who is a sophomore or above and who demonstrates financial need and is a likely candidate for medical school. A GPA of at least 3.0 and a letter of support from a faculty member are required.

Minnesota State University (Mankato), Department of Physics and Astronomy

Students in the Physics and Astronomy Department at Minnesota State University – Mankato are eligible for twelve different scholarships in amounts ranging from $300-$2000. For example, Juniors and seniors majoring in physical science teaching (emphasis on physics) are invited to apply for the G.M. Wissink Physics Scholarship. One recipient will be awarded at least $1000 in funding. In order to be considered, candidates must have obtained a GPA of 3.5 or higher (cumulative) in physical sciences and mathematics.

Another award in the department is the Kiwanis Environmental Physics Scholarship, worth $600.00 to a physical science teaching major interested in environmental issues. The scholarship is available to undergraduate students (sophomore, junior, or senior).

Nevada State College

The Department of Physical and Life Sciences at Nevada State challenges their students with real-world environmental problems and key scientific issues developing in the field. Astronomy, biology, kinesiology, environmental science and physics are all covered under the department, among a number of other subjects.

NSC offers quite a lot of general scholarships, in addition to the leadership scholarship for $1,000 to any applicant who held an officer position in any officially recognized high school club. Furthermore, NSC has a matching bonus in which they will match (up to $1,000) any outside scholarship that you receive to attend their college.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

MIT’s School of Science is not only hugely renowned for its academic prowess especially in the sciences, but it also provides a number of scholarships to its deserving students. 99% of students who are low-income and demonstrate need receive scholarships to MIT once they are admitted.

While the tuition is pricey, the school makes the commitment that, “If you are admitted to MIT, we will make sure that you can afford to come to MIT.” The offices of admissions and financial aid are need-blind, and will meet every dollar of your family’s demonstrated need. The bottom line is this: if you are accepted into this prestigious science program and cannot afford to go, they will pay your way in the form of scholarships and grants. Their website is also a great general resource for scholarship opportunities in the sciences.

More Scholarships for Physical and Life Science Majors

As it is clear, there are quite a few rewards for high-achieving undergraduates in the physical and life sciences at select colleges, especially for minorities and women, who many want to check out the Loreal Scholarship for Women in Science. Graduate students may have even more success finding fellowships and scholarships to suit their needs as they do upper-level research, like the ones sponsored by the National Physical Science Consortium above as well as those opportunities that can be found through the very helpful Science.gov resource.

The federal government has also gotten on board with promoting science education. The Department of Defense now offers the Science Mathematics and Research for Transformation (SMART) Scholarships in return for service to the government, usually involving research and/or engineering. This a great opportunity for those who desire a two-for-one education and career package deal. The stakes are necessarily ultra-competitive in this highly brainy field, but those students who are both well-rounded in their extracurricular life and academically remarkable will have a good chance of getting a financial leg-up on their life sciences education.