15 Best Scholarship for Religious Studies

September 3, 2023September 2, 2023 Dan

If wishes do come to pass, I believe we all would have gotten the degree we wanted in the best school we intend to enroll in without worrying about finances, the same could be said of those who are interested in studying religious studies. The bright side is that there are scholarship for religious studies, even though they might not completely grant our wishes, but they go a long way to reduce our financial burden while pursing this degree.

It is important for us to briefly explain what religious studies is and for you to understand what the coursework would be like. Religious Studies is basically the study of religion, and this has to do with the history, philosophy, sociology, anthropology, and contemporary forms of those human activities labeled religious.

In fact, in some schools, they go beyond the usual recognized religions like – Christianity, Judaism, Islam, and Hinduism – but also touch some other boundaries like Voodoo, ecological movements, and democracy.

If you’re interested in Christianity we would advise you to review or if possible apply to some scholarships exclusively for Christians like Nursing scholarships, Christian awards for int’l students, etc.

We would love to re-establish the fact that the religious studies scholarships are not just for Christians. That said, let’s go straight ahead to list them.

scholarship for religious studies — scholarships for religious studies

Table of Contents

Scholarship for Religious Studies

1. CEU Scholarships for Religious Studies at the MA Level

Central European University, a school that focuses on studies of different religions, has several scholarships at its disposal that are awarded to incoming students, which are distributed during, and within the framework of the departmental selection process.

2. ReIReS Scholarships

The Research Infrastructure on Religious Studies awards international scholarship for religious studies to spend typically two weeks in one of 14 outstanding European research centres (libraries and archives) in Belgium, Bulgaria, France, Germany, and Italy to carry out their research project in historical religious studies. Their scholarship will cover your trip, and also give you free access to physical and virtual sources under the guidance of experts.

3. University of Houston – John D. and Allie Lea Orton Scholarship in Religious Studies

Award Amount: ranging from $1,000 to $3,000

Eligibility: Preference is given to college students who are pursuing their BA in the Religious Studies Program, enrolled full-time, have a good academic record, with a minimum of 60 completed credit hours, and are qualified for Financial Aid.

4. University of Houston – Lanier Scholarship for Excellence in Biblical Studies

Award Amount: $1,000 to $3,000

Eligibility: Preference is given to college students who are enrolled in the BA in Religious Studies, but students with a minor in Religious Studies are also eligible, applicants also need to achieve a high final course grade in a Religious Studies course in the area of biblical studies.

5. University of South Carolina – Department of Religious Studies Scholarships

The department of religious studies provides several scholarships for religious studies which award varying funds with different eligibility requirements, some of these scholarships include;

Fund for Theological Education
Michael J. Mungo Pre-Seminary Scholarship
Vernon Scholars program, Trinity Episcopal Cathedral, Columbia, SC

6. University of Nebraska Religious Studies Scholarships

Award Amount: Up to $11,000

UNO provides three core scholarships for students that intend to major in religious studies, they include;

Ron Burke Scholarship
Dale Stover Scholarship
John and Mary (Lea) Marshall Scholarship

7. University of Arizona Scholarship for Religious Studies

University of Arizona is another college that provides diverse scholarships to students focusing on Religious Studies, some of them include;

Rombach and Bretall Scholarships: worth $1,000-$2000
SILLC Global Award: worth: $1,500-$5,000
Donna Swaim International Award for Religious Studies
Fred and Barbara Borga Award: worth $1,000-$2000

8. The University of Texas at Austin – Religious Studies Scholarships

Award Amount: between $350 to $2500

Eligibility: These scholarships are for students who declare a major in Religious Studies, have a minimum CGPA (Cumulative Grade Point Average) of 3.25 at UT, and must be enrolled full-time at UT for the current semester and the following academic year.

9. WIU – Scholarships for the Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies

Western Illinois University offers 6 scholarships exclusively for students intending to focus on Philosophy and Religious Studies, these scholarships include;

Mary Olive Woods Academic Excellence Scholarship
Mary Olive Woods Academic Achievement Scholarship
Mary Olive Woods Academic Scholarship
Mary Olive Woods Religious Studies Minor Scholarship
Paul Mundschenk Scholarship in Religious Studies
Department of Philosophy & Religious Studies Scholarship

10. University of Pittsburgh – Department of Religious Studies Scholarships

Just like most other schools that provide scholarship for religious studies, the University of Pittsburgh also provides different scholarships that have unique eligibility requirements and awards. Some of these awards are provided by the school while others are externally funded.

11. USF – Department of Religious Studies Scholarships & Awards

Award Amount: $100 to $1,000

Through the Department of Religious Studies at the University of Florida, you won’t only focus on those social forms widely recognized as religions –such as Christianity, Judaism, Islam, and Hinduism but also those that test the boundaries of that category in interesting ways –such as Voodoo, ecological movements, and democracy.

At the same time, they provide scholarships such as the E. and T. Pettibone Endowed Scholarship in Religious Studies, and Religious Studies New Major Award, to make the furtherance of this program easier.

12. Patrick J. Tonry, S.M. Scholarship for the Advancement of Women in Ministry

Award Amounts: Partial Funding

Eligibility: To be eligible for this scholarship, you need to enroll full-time or part-time in courses at the graduate level in the Department of Religious Studies at the University of Dayton. You also need to demonstrate financial need and your professional orientation has to be toward ministry in the Church.

13. St. Mary’s College – Theology & Religious Studies Scholarships

Award Amount: $13,000 (renewable for three successive years)

Eligibility: To be eligible for this scholarship, you must be admitted to Saint Mary’s College, express an intention of majoring in TRS, and demonstrate an aptitude for writing and critical thinking.

14. University of San Diego – Theology and Religious Studies Scholarships

Majoring in Religious Studies at USD will be focusing on fostering the understanding of Catholic and other religious traditions. Some of the scholarships solely for religious studies are;

Dr. Joseph A. Colombo Memorial Award in Theology and Religious Studies
James E. Spain Family Endowment Scholarship
The Gwendolyn Brooks Endowed Scholarship for the Study of the Humanities

15. DePaul University – Religious Studies Scholarships

The Department of Religious Studies promotes two types of scholarships throughout the academic year for Religious Studies Majors and Minors. These scholarships include;

The Religious Studies Endowment in Honor of Reverend Bruce Vawter, C.M.
James R. & Beatrice A. Halstead Endowed Scholarship

Conclusion

In summary, it is interesting to further a career in religious studies, and there are several scholarships to back you up on this pursuit. Whether you intend to major in the program or just select it as a minor, there are scholarships for you and the best part is that most schools that offer religious studies provide scholarships to their students.

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