Beinecke Campus Application Instructions

Campus Deadline: 29 February 2024

Overview

The Beinecke Scholarship is open to US citizens who aspire to earn a graduate degree (master’s or doctoral) in the arts, humanities or social sciences (excluding professional degrees in law, business, medicine). The Scholarship will provide 2 years of funding towards that degree anywhere world-wide. Your undergraduate studies does not have to be in the arts, humanities or social sciences, however.

In addition to funding, Scholars receive considerable mentorship. Funding may be augmented by other scholarships/fellowships and some graduate institutions may even match the Beinecke funding.

Please note: To be eligible for the Beinecke Scholarship you must have a history of need based financial aid of any amount. You may contact the Financial Aid Office to ascertain if you are qualified.

For more information visit the Beinecke Scholarship website. Lafayette’s most recent Beinecke Scholar is currently completing his doctoral studies in economics at Oxford University.

Submit the following materials electronically as WORD attachments using the “Submit Materials” tab on our website:

  1. The signed/dated Nomination & Permission Waiver form
  2. A Personal Statement (1,000 words or less) describing your background, interests, plans for graduate study, and career aspirations. The statement should include a discussion of some experiences and ideas that have shaped those interests, plans, and aspirations. (Please send Personal Statement as a WORD document.) When describing your plans for graduate school, it is advisable to identify one or two programs that you would love to attend. You may attend graduate school anywhere in the U.S. or abroad. So dream big! Cambridge, Oxford, the Sorbonne, Harvard, Stanford, Columbia…anywhere!
  3. A detailed, fulsome Résumé or Curriculum Vitae (the document may be longer than one page). The résumé/CV should include any foreign language skills and level of proficiency acquired.
  4. Optional: Other Material that you consider directly relevant to your application such as art portfolios, musical compositions, etc.
  5. The completed Beinecke Application Form (this is a writable PDF).
  6. The names of 3 faculty members who have agreed to write you strong Letters of Recommendation (LORs). Each LOR must provide a strong and detailed assessment of your “intellectual curiosity, character and potential for advanced graduate study.”

Recommenders should submit their LORs as email attachments to  externalscholarships@lafayette.edu or Dean Goldberg. These letters must be signed and on letterhead. They should be addressed to the Beinecke Scholarship Selection Committee.

Important: The Beinecke Foundation expects fulsome, detailed letters of approximately 1 1/2 to 2 pages in length. As such, make sure you speak with your recommenders about your graduate study aspirations and vision for your future. Additionally, you need to ask if they can and will write you a STRONG letter addressing your potential for advanced graduate study.

Please have your recommenders contact Dean Goldberg if they have any questions/concerns regarding the letter of recommendation or the campus selection process.

Questions: Contact Dean Goldberg