Undergraduate Scholarships for College of Humanities Students
Scholarship Application Open Now - closes February 15th
Most College of Humanites scholarships for the 26-27 academic year will be routed through a single application posted. Through this application, you will be reviewed for up to 250 scholarships across the Colleges of Liberal Arts and Sciences for the 26-27 academic year. If you have any questions, please reach out to LASscholarships@utah.edu.
Scholarships that need to be applied to individually:
The Vincent Cheng Prizes in English
The Department of English and the College of Humanities are pleased to announce the
establishment of an annual competition for the best literary/critical papers written
in English courses each academic year.
These annual prizes have been generously funded by Professor Vincent Cheng, a longtime faculty member of the Department of English, and the recipient of numerous awards for both teaching and scholarship, including the U’s Distinguished Teaching Award and the U's Hatch Prize in Teaching.
There will initially be two prizes, of $250 each, for the best literary/critical papers written in English courses at the U each calendar year. These will be chosen by a committee of English Department faculty—and will be named in the spring semester of the following year. The Department and the College are hoping to grow this fund in the future, for the further development of awards and other activities within the English Department.
Eligibility and submission details:
- Current English major or minor
- A literary or critical paper of up to 15 double-spaced pages (max)
- Submissions must have been written for an ENGL course at the U during an academic term in 2025 (Spring 2025, Summer 2025, or Fall 2025)
- Only one submission per student
How to Apply
Application:Application form and paper submission
Deadline: February 15, 2026
Winners Announced: Award winners will be announced in March 2026
Amount: Two winners of $250 each
Target: Undergraduate students
If you have any issues submitting your paper, please reach out to the Department of English at english.utah.edu or (801) 581-6168
O.C. Tanner Humanities House Scholarship
Each year, eleven undergraduate students from the College of Humanities are selected to live in the O.C. Tanner Humanities House, in historic Fort Douglas. Originally built in the 1870s as officer’s quarters, the O.C. Tanner Humanities House has been renovated to create a unique living and learning community for students.
This is an opportunity for undergraduate students from throughout the College to live in an environment, with an interdisciplinary focus. Each student selected to live in the house will receive a $2,000 scholarship to offset housing costs.
How to Apply
Application: O.C. Tanner Humanities House Scholarship
Deadline: 16 March 2026
Amount: $2,000
Target: Undergraduate students
Type: Need-based
Contact Karen Marsh Schaeffer at karen.marsh@utah.edu for more information.
Simin S. Mostofi Memorial Scholarship
In memory of Simin S. Mostofi, a $1,500 undergraduate scholarship for tuition is awarded to an East High School student who has worked to overcome obstacles in pursuit of academic excellence.
How to Apply
Application: Simin S. Mostofi Memorial Application Must be an East High School student/graduate to apply.
Deadline: 14 March 2025
Amount: $1,500
Target: Incoming first-year undergraduate students
Type: Need-based
Contact Natalie Montoya at natalie.montoya@utah.edu for more information.
Allan A. & Renee Wright Hagander Book Award
A $500 Book Award is given to deserving undergraduate students in the College of Humanities for the purpose of helping students complete their university studies in the face of rising costs and increasing financial pressures.
How to Apply
Application: This award is by nomination only and is rotated between the College of Humanities departments. Submit nominations to the College of Humanities Office (2100 LNCO).
Deadline for nominations: 3 February 2025
Amount: $500
Target: Undergraduates
Type: Need-based
Contact your Department Undergraduate Director or Natalie Montoya at natalie.montoya@utah.edu for more information.
LoPrest Book Award
A $500 Book Award is given to deserving undergraduate students in the College of Humanities for the purpose of helping students complete their university studies in the face of rising costs and increasing financial pressures. Ms. LoPrest's love of learning is reflected in her choice of books as the focus of the scholarship. The award is funded by a generous donation provided by Adelma Taylor LoPrest.
How to Apply
Application: This award is by nomination only and is rotated between the College of Humanities departments. Submit nominations to the College of Humanities Office (2100 LNCO).
Deadline for nominations: 3 February 2025
Amount: $500
Target: Undergraduates
Type: Need-based
Contact your Department Undergraduate Director or Natalie Montoya at natalie.montoya@utah.edu for more information.
Ophelia Flores Laurella Pathfinder Scholarship in Humanities
The Ophelia Flores Laurella Pathfinder Scholarship in Humanities was established by Carl L. and Vanessa B. Laurella in 2015 as a way to honor Carl’s late mother, Ophelia. The scholarship is available to first-generation college students studying Humanities at the University of Utah with demonstrated financial need. While Ophelia could not attend college herself, she made sure her children could. Carl, a U of U Communication alum, was the first in his family to graduate from college and has established this scholarship with his wife to help encourage other first-generation college students to graduate in the Humanities.
How to Apply
Deadline for nominations: 14 March 2025
Amount: $1,000
Target: Undergraduates
Type: Need-based
Contact Natalie Montoya at natalie.montoya@utah.edu for more information.
The Steffensen Cannon Scholarship is for graduate and undergraduate students in the Colleges of Education and Humanities, as well as for direct descendants of Ellen Christina Steffensen Cannon. Secondary education students (particularly in mathematics and science) and early childhood education students who will be in the teacher certification program in the School of Education by the beginning of the academic year of the award are welcome to apply.
The College of Education and Humanities will conduct an internal review process and nominate a set number of applicants each year. Colleges may nominate 8 undergraduate applications and 8 graduate applications to be reviewed by the Steffensen Cannon Committee. Current Fellows seeking renewal will count toward the college's limited nominations. Please contact your department coordinator for more information on your college's internal review process.
Application: By Department Nomination
Deadline: 1 December 2025 by 5 pm MST
Amount: Undergraduates: $12,000
Target: Undergraduate and Graduate Students
Type: Merit
Contact Natalie Montoya at natalie.montoya@utah.edu for more information.
Nanieve G. Momberger Scholarship
The Nanieve G. Momberger Scholarship provides support for high-achieving students within the College of Humanities. This scholarship honors the memory of Nanieve G. Momberger, who left a powerful legacy of service and compassion toward others, and instilled in those around her a desire for knowledge and the pursuit of intellectual inquiry. The Momberger Scholarship is intended to honor that legacy and help make possible an education in the humanities for deserving students who share her passion for academic excellence.
How to Apply
Applicants must apply through Academicworks.
Application: Nanieve G. Momberger Application
- Deadline: 11 March 2025
- Amount: $1,000
- Target: Undergraduates
- Type: Merit
Contact Natalie Montoya at natalie.montoya@utah.edu for more information.
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Foreign Language and Area Studies Scholarships
Foreign Language and Area Studies (FLAS) scholarships are federally funded awards offered through the University of Utah's Asia Center and Center for Latin American Studies. They provide funding for undergraduate and graduate students who study modern foreign languages and related area studies. FLAS awards can be used for study at the University of Utah and learning abroad programs.
How to Apply
Application: FLAS Application
Deadline: Last Friday of January
Amount: Tuition + stipend
Target: Undergraduates
Type: Merit
Contact us at flas@utah.edu for more information.
Jean and John B. Henkels Legacy Scholarship
This $500 scholarship is given to deserving undergraduate students in the College of Humanities for the purpose of helping students complete their university studies in the face of rising costs and increasing financial pressures.
How to Apply
Application: This award is by nomination only and is rotated between the College of Humanities departments. Submit nominations to the College of Humanities Office (2100 LNCO).
Deadline: 15 February 2025
Amount: $500 for tuition
Target: Undergraduates
Type: Need-based
Contact your Department Undergraduate Director or Natalie Montoya at natalie.montoya@utah.edu for more information.
Marvin J. Ashton Scholarship
This scholarship is awarded each year to a student graduating from the College of Humanities and starting full-time graduate school Fall semester 2021 at the University of Utah.
How to Apply
Application: Submit nomination applications to the College of Humanities Office (2100 LNCO).
Application: Marvin J. Ashton Application
Deadline: 12 March 2021
Amount: $1,000 to $3000 (amount varies from year to year) for tuition
Target: Graduating seniors or first year graduate students in the College of Humanities
Type: Need-based
Contact Natalie Montoya at natalie.montoya@utah.edu for more information.
Shirley Gaufin Scholarship
Shirley Gaufin is a 1967 alum of French at the University of Utah. She retired in 2012 from a long and successful career in Human Resources for various corporations. She is now paying it forward by providing 1-2 $2,000 scholarships each year for a Humanities student.
How to Apply
Deadline: 14 March 2025
Amount: $2,000
Target: Undergraduates
Type: Merit
Contact Natalie Montoya at natalie.montoya@utah.edu for more information.
H2S Scholarship
The H2S Scholarship provides support for Humanities Scholars in their second year of study. Applicants must be enrolled in the Humanities Scholars program and be a declared major in the College of Humanities by the time of application.
How to Apply
Deadline: 1 April 2026
Amount: $2,000
Target: Undergraduates
Type: Hum Scholars 2nd Year Students
Contact Karen Marsh Schaeffer at karen.marsh@utah.edu for more information.
Townsend Scholarship in Humanities
The Townsend Family Scholarship in Humanities is made possible by a generous donation by Kevin and Jennifer Townsend and family. Kevin is a University of Utah Humanities alum and he and his family are committed to paying it forward to make sure more students have access to a life-changing education at the U.
How to Apply
Deadline: 14 March 2025
Amount: $1,000
Target: Undergraduates
Type: Need-based
Contact Natalie Montoya at natalie.montoya@utah.edu for more information.
University & External Scholarships
Beatrice F. Kroesche Memorial Scholarship
Elie Wiesel Foundation for Humanity
Lassonde Entrepreneur Insitute Scholarships
Communication Department Scholarships and Fellowships
English Department Scholarships and Fellowships
History Department Scholarships and Fellowships
Linguistics Department Scholarships and Fellowships
Philosophy Department Scholarships and Fellowships
World Languages & Cultures Department Scholarships and Fellowships
Floyd O'Neil Fellowship
The American West Center at the University of Utah is pleased to offer two graduate student fellowships honoring the late Professor Floyd A. O'Neil (1927-2018), Director Emeritus of the Center and Professor Emeritus of History.
O'Neil fellowships provide up to $2,000 to pursue research on an aspect of the American West, including the region’s history, politics, environment, society, culture, literature, geography, or peoples. Students from all disciplines are encouraged to submit applications. All applicants must be currently enrolled in a graduate program at the University of Utah and remain so throughout the period of the fellowship.
Students are required to complete a research paper within the academic year. This paper may also be used as a seminar paper, thesis chapter, journal article, etc. A copy of the paper must be given to the American West Center, and the student is required to acknowledge the American West Center’s support in that paper, and all subsequent research and publications that might result. The recipient will also give a presentation on their research in Spring 2024. Upon request the recipient may be provided office space at the Center and may receive individual guidance from the Center's faculty and staff.
How to Apply
Application: Floyd O'Neil Fellowship Application
Deadline: 31 May 2023
Amount: Varies
Target: Graduate Students
Type: Merit
Questions: Please email michelle.judd@utah.edu
Undergraduate Student Conference Travel Award
The College of Humanities (COH) Student Conference Travel Award supports undergraduate students attending conferences to present research. Undergraduate students in the Humanities are encouraged to apply for the award.
Award Criteria
- Must be a declared COH major.
- Must provide either proof of conference.
- Students may only receive a COH Conference Travel Award once during their undergraduate studies.
- Only national/international conferences are eligible for funding. For help with funding for in-state conferences, contact the COH Director of Student Success.
- Funds will be issued on a first-come, first-served basis, based on the availability of funds.
- Students may only access funds for one disbursement; unused funds are not rolled over/preserved for the student.
How to apply:
- Complete the following form
- Required Materials
- Cover Letter briefly explaining how funds will contribute to research progress.
- CV/Resume
- Proof of Conference Acceptance (can be uploaded when completing the form)
- Required Materials
External Scholarships
View scholarships provided by the university, departments, and
other organizations outside the College of Humanities.
