Jefferson Scholarship

The Jefferson Scholarship is a merit scholarship that provides four years of fully funded study at the University of Virginia in the United States. Considered one of the world's most prestigious, the scholarship covers tuition and room and board, and also provides money for summer travel, independent research, and study abroad. Application to the scholarship is by invitation only. Around 30 "Scholars" are selected annually from some 6,000 schools who may each nominate one student. Scholars have included 23 Rhodes Scholars and Marshall Scholars, Olympians, Pulitzer Prize winners, and others.

History
In 1981, the first Jefferson Scholarship was endowed and named for Thomas Jefferson, the third President of the United States and a benefactor of the University of Virginia. The program has grown since with the support of benefactors and endowments. As of 2023, the endowment was $820.9 million and supported 139 scholars. Out-of-state recipients receive about $347,000, as of 2024.

Selection criteria
The Jefferson Scholars Foundation aims to identify, attract, and nurture "individuals of extraordinary intellectual range and depth who possess the highest concomitant qualities of: Leadership, Scholarship, and Citizenship".

Scholars are nominated as the most accomplished student at their respective school, and then compete through a series of interview rounds from local to regional, national and the finals, which are held in Charlottesville, Virginia. There are currently 70 nominating regions, with over 6,000 schools eligible to nominate a student, and a pool of students exceeding 800,000. In 2020, over 2,100 high schools nominated students; 34 were selected, or less than 2% of the nominees.

Institute for Leadership & Citizenship
The Leadership and Citizenship Institute is a two-week seminar for all Scholars, taking place at the end of their freshman year. It is held on the grounds of the University of Virginia, and consists of workshops, group discussions and personal exploration, and is designed to foster and develop the characteristics of leadership and citizenship in scholars.

Travel Studies
Scholars are encouraged to partake in foreign travel and study after their sophomore year, and invited to undertake a self-designed exploration into a topic of personal interest. Many also take the opportunity to study at one of the university's partners for a semester.

Exploratory Fund
The Exploratory Fund, as an initiative of the Foundation, provides seed funding for Scholars' projects and concepts. Developed to support the innovation of Scholars, the Foundation encourages Scholars to build projects that serve societal and cultural development. New commercial or philanthropic enterprises within or outside the University can also apply for funding consideration.