What was formerly the Office of External Fellowships (OEF) is now one branch of the new Office of Undergraduate Research and External Fellowships (UREF)! Our websites will be undergoing some changes in the near future, so stay tuned! You can find important fellowship information on the pages nested in this domain for the time being, and you can find other aspects of UREF through our main landing page.

The external fellowships side of the office will continue to provide the same level of in-depth fellowships advising to students and alumni.

We provide extensive advisement and assistance to current UIC undergraduate and professional school students, and to recent alumni, in finding and applying for nationally- and internationally-competitive fellowships, scholarships, and grants. From Fulbright Grants to Goldwater Scholarships and many others, UIC students have received competitive fellowships that have helped them pursue academic and career interests here in Chicago and around the globe. OEF can help you pursue these opportunities too.

We continue to hold many advising appointments via Zoom; for in-person meetings we will request masking for the safety of our campus community.

We help you explore the wide range of fellowship opportunities to determine which are best suited to your academic and career plans. Once you’ve found opportunities that are a good fit for you, and vice versa, we advise you closely through the whole process, so that your application is as strong as it can possibly be.

We offer holistic guidance on communication about academic achievement, co-curricular involvement, life experiences, and financial need. We help students present themselves clearly and effectively for awards that best suit their needs. Students are welcome at any point in their degree program, and we encourage you to plan ahead. It’s never too early to start!