Scholarships
Scholarships and grants are gift aid, meaning you do not have to repay them or earn the funds by working. There are many different types of scholarships a student could receive.
Scholarships from all sources can be a great way to bring down to overall amount of money that a student needs to borrow. It is important for students understand how scholarship funding can impact your financial aid award.
Students can receive more than one type of financial aid. An award package may include a combination of scholarships, grants, and other types of assistance, such as loans and work-study.
Below are resources that students can use to search for additional scholarships.
Boston University Scholarships Opportunities
Boston University Scholarships are generously provided by each individual school/college within BU, as well as the University at large, for students across a variety of programs.
School-specific Scholarship Pages
- BU School of Medicine
- Goldman School of Dental Medicine
- Graduate Medical Sciences
- School of Public Health
Other BU-based scholarship opportunities
Boston University Women’s Council
- Awarded to women enrolled in a full-time graduate degree program in any of the schools or colleges within Boston University, who is completing her first year of graduate studies or has completed one year of graduate studies at the University and who anticipates completing her master’s degree within two full academic years or her doctorate within five years.
Boston University Women’s Guild
- Awarded to women age 30 and over who are enrolled in Boston University graduate programs.
- Continuing students in good academic standing at the Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine’s DMD Program, who are U.S. citizens or legal residents, may be eligible to apply for the Delta Dental of Massachusetts Scholars Program (Delta Dental Scholars Program). The Delta Dental Scholars Program provides tuition support for dental school. The ultimate goal of the Delta Dental Scholars Program is to improve access to dental care in underserved Massachusetts communities. As a condition of this award, the recipient agrees to practice dental medicine full-time in Massachusetts in a dentally or medically underserved area, or to teach full-time in an academic setting for a limited period of time.
The Karp Family Scholarship
- The Karp Family Scholarships will be awarded to the very best medical students who Matched in pediatrics as their specialty during their last year of medical school. The Karp Family Scholarships are intended to defray the recipients’ cost of medical school, thereby lowering a student’s debt burden and helping launch their careers. No application is required as all students who Matched in pediatrics will be considered. The number of students selected and the award amounts vary per year based on available funding.
Martin Luther King Jr. Fellowship
- Available to U.S. citizens, new to Boston University, who start graduate studies in any department or school at BU. It provides a scholarship for full-time tuition at the GRS rate plus the Student Services and Health & Wellness fees, a stipend for living expenses, and Boston University basic health insurance. Students are nominated by their Admissions Department and can request consideration by contacting that department.
Whitney M. Young, Jr. Fellowship
- Open to entering and continuing graduate students who are U.S. citizens and who have displayed academic proficiency in a field related to race relations or urban problems. It provides a scholarship for full-time tuition at the GRS rate plus the Student Services and Health & Wellness fees, a stipend for living expenses, and Boston University basic health insurance.
Service Scholarships Opportunities
National Health Service Corps (NHSC)
- This program is for health professional students interested in primary health care specialties and committed to serving all or part of their career in a federally designated health professional shortage area (HSPA). The scholarship provides full tuition and fees, monthly stipends and other reasonable education expenses.
- For more details, contact 1-800-221-9393 or Health Resources and Services Administration.
National Institutes of Health (NIH)
- The NIH Loan Repayment Programs (LRPs) encourage promising researchers and scientists to pursue research careers by repaying up to $35,000 of their qualified student loan debt each year through extramural and intramural loan repayment programs.
- The United States Air Force offers three and four year scholarships to all medical and dental students. Benefits include all tuition and required fees, including textbooks, small equipment items and supplies for study as well as a monthly living expense allowance.
- Students must apply for the scholarships through an Air Force recruiter. Scholarships will be awarded based on merit. Applicants must be qualified to serve as physicians or dentists in the Air Force.
- Please review the Air Force Health Professions Scholarship Program (HPSP) Fact Sheet for Medical School for further information
- The U.S. Army offers three and four year scholarships to all medical and dental students.
- Benefits include full tuition, health insurance, payment for books, equipment, and lab fees required for study. Scholarship recipients also receive a monthly stipend of more than $2,200 for the duration of medical and dental school and qualify for a $20,000 sign-on bonus. Active Duty Service Obligation is year for year for each year of scholarship received.
- Must be a U.S. Citizen and be enrolled in, applying to, or have a letter of acceptance from an accredited school in the United States or Puerto Rico. Qualify as a commissioned officer in the United States Army Reserve.
Army National Guard Medical Professional Program
U.S. Navy Health Professions Scholarship Program
- The U.S. Navy scholarship will pay your full tuition, as well as required book fees and provide you with a monthly living expense stipend. You must be a U.S. citizen, meet the Navy’s physical requirements, and graduate by age 42.
Dr Glenn Markenson provides an overview of the Health Professions Scholarship Program (HPSP) , a Service Scholarship opportunity. As a former recipient and now director of the Center for Military Health, Dr Markenson speaks from personal experience.
Service Scholarships are provided by governmental agencies and military branches, to provide a career path for many students. After graduation or residency, employment serving undeserved populations or enlistment in the military for a prescribed length of time. Is service right for you? AAMC Academic Medicine provides an extensive resource for those interested in service scholarships.
Private Scholarships Search and Opportunities
Private Scholarship Search Engines
We recommend creating a new email account solely dedicated for scholarship search engine accounts. While scholarship search engines are one of the most efficient tools to discover scholarship opportunities, submitting scholarship inquiries can at times increase the level of email traffic you receive.
- Access Scholarships
- CareerOneStop – Scholarship Search
- College Board Scholarship Search
- CollegeExpressScholarship Search
- FastWeb Scholarship Search
- GoodCall
- EduMed
Below are links to organizations that offer scholarships for students pursuing healthcare careers:
Medical Students
- Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society
- American Medical Association
- American Medical Women’s Association
- Massachusetts Medical Society
Dental Students
- American Dental Association Foundation
- American Dental Education Association
- American Student Dental Association
Public Health Students
Biomedical Students
Demographic-specific Organization
- Armenian American Medical Society
- Chinese American Medical Society
- Federal Health Program for American Indians and Alaska Natives
- Japanese Medical Society of America
- National Hispanic Health Foundation
- National Medical Fellowships
- Scholarships for Latino Students
- Scholarships for Latino Students
Private Scholarships are provided by organizations across a variety of public and private organizations, to assist students with gift funds to apply towards their educational expenses. We encourage students to pursue scholarship opportunities in their local communities, as well as on a national level.
How Scholarships Impact your Financial Aid Eligibility
Federal regulations require that your total financial aid not exceed your calculated financial eligibility. You must promptly inform SFS in writing of any additional award you receive from any source, either within or outside of Boston University.
Awards you must report include (but are not limited to):
- Scholarships
- Grants
- Tuition remission
- Tuition Exchange Scholarship
- ROTC
- Educational loans
If you receive any additional award, your financial aid will be reduced only if your total aid, from all sources, exceeds your cost of attendance. Any financial aid exceeding your cost of attendance will be returned.
If you receive any tuition-driven funding, you can only receive those funds up to your total tuition costs. Any funds in excess will be returned, to cover 100% of your total tuition charges.