scholarships
FIELD SCHOOL COST IS A SIGNIFICANT BARRIER FOR ENTRY
Whether you seek a career in academic archaeology or in the cultural resource management sector, the cost of a field school is a serious financial challenge. We try to minimize costs and make our programs as affordable as we possibly can. For many students, this is not enough. So, we try and provide as many scholarships as we can.
In addition to scholarships offered directly for CFS field school, we list here external offerings of various organizations and foundations that provide funding for students seeking field school experience. We encourage students to explore these funding opportunities for eligibility. We also encourage students to consult with their Study Abroad/Study Away departments as many schools offer internal funding for field school experiences off campus.
The Center for Field Sciences SUN DUCK SCHOLARSHIP
status:
Open
Login to our enrollment system & choose this scholarship from the program options
The Center for Field Sciences is offering four individual $1,500 Sun Duck scholarships to help cover the cost of any field school in our 2025 offering. The Sun Duck scholarships are designed to support students with demonstrated financial need so to reduce barriers for entry to academic archaeology and/or the Cultural Resource Management sector. While focusing on financial need, a minimum level of merit is required.
This scholarship has no cash value and will only be used to cover a portion of a CSF field school tuition.
Application Deadline: March 7, 2025 at 5:00pm Pacific Time
Award Decision: March 21, 2025 at 5:00pm Pacific Time
- Must be enrolled as a student in an academic institution (undergraduate or graduate level) or have completed a BA/BS degree the past three years or an MA/MS degree in the past two years.
- Must be at least 18 years old on the day the field school begins.
- Must have a minimum GPA of 3.0 (a B or 80% average in none US based academic systems).
- Students from any major may apply.
- Students from any country may apply – you DO NOT need to be a US Citizen.
- Must apply and be admitted to a CFS field school. No need to pay the nonrefundable deposit to be eligible for this scholarship.
- Must complete and submit the Sun Duck scholarship application.
- Apply, and be admitted to any CFS 2025 field school.
- Complete Sun Duck scholarship application and answer all essay questions.
- Upload unofficial copy of transcripts showing GPA.
- Upload your latest FAFSA application. If you are not a US Citizen, upload tax records showing your/your family financial status.
- Submit application on time.
The CFS Sun Duck scholarship evaluation will be based on the following criteria:
- 60% Financial Need
- 20% Merit
- 20% potential to pursue a career in academic archaeology or Cultural Resource Management
THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSISSIPPI MEDICAL CENTER ASYLUM HILL MINORITY FIELD SCHOOL SCHOLARSHIP
STATUS:
OPEN
Login to our enrollment system & choose this scholarship from the program options
The Center for Field Sciences and the University of Mississippi Medical Center is offering one scholarship to cover the full tuition cost (including housing) for the Asylum Hill 2025 field school. This scholarship was created to support the education of students from groups historically underrepresented in anthropology and archaeology, who wish to pursue a career in bioarchaeology. While encouraging diversity is a goal of many anthropological institutions, it is crucial to the mission of the overall Asylum Hill Project. The diversity of the population of the asylum and its cemetery in particular demands the input of diverse voices.
This scholarship will fund one $4,350 award to help cover the cost of tuition for the 2025 US (MS) Asylum Hill Field School. This scholarship has no cash value. This scholarship may not be applied to any other field school outside or within CFS offered programs.
Application Deadline: Feb 7, 2025 at 5:00pm Pacific Time
Award Decision: Feb 24, 2025 at 5:00pm Pacific Time
- Must be enrolled as a student in an academic institution (undergraduate or graduate level) or have completed a BA degree in the past three years
- Must be at least 18 years old on the day the field school begins
- Must have a minimum GPA of 3.0
- Students from any major may apply
- Must apply to the CFS US (MS) 2025 Asylum Hill field school
- Must complete and submit scholarship application
- Must be of African, Hispanic, Native American, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander, or Asian descent.
- Must be enrolled as a student in an academic institution (undergraduate or graduate level) or have completed a BA degree in the past three years
- Must be at least 18 years old on the day the field school begins
- Must have a minimum GPA of 3.0
- Students from any major may apply
- Must apply to the CFS US (MS) 2024 Asylum Hill field school
- Must complete and submit scholarship application
- Must be of African, Hispanic, Native American, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander, or Asian descent.
- Apply to the CFS 2025 US (MS) Asylum Hill field school
- Complete the UMMC Asylum Hill Minority Field School Scholarship application and answer all essay questions
- Provide unofficial copy of transcripts showing GPA
- Provide a letter explaining your financial need in your own words. Financial need consideration will account for 40% of this scholarship evaluation.
- Submit application on time
The UMMC Asylum Hill Minority Field School Scholarship evaluation will be based on three criteria:
- 40% Financial Need
- 40% Merit
- 20% potential to pursue a career in Bioarchaeology
The RPA/Italy Prene Siddi Scholarship
status:
OPEN
Contact Dr. Emily Holt to be nominated for this scholarship (emilyholt2013@gmail.com)
The Register of Professional Archaeologists offers three Field School Scholarships, which are awarded annually to students from Register-certified field schools. One scholarship in the amount of $1,000.00 will be awarded by each of three of the organization’s sponsoring institutions (AAA, SAA, AIA) to the director of an Register-certified field school. The director will then be free to award the scholarship to a deserving student or students.
All currently RPA certified field schools are automatically eligible for the scholarships, but must submit an application with current information for each certification year to be considered. The SAA and AAA require that the field school director be a member of their respective organizations in order to be eligible to receive a scholarship from that organization.
In order to apply, please fill out the online Field School Certification application and select AAA, AIA, or SAA as a “Sponsor Organization for Scholarship Consideration.”
- Must be admitted to the 2025 Italy Prenne Siddi field school
- Must be at least 18 years old on the day the field school begins.
- Must apply through Dr. Emily Holt, Field School Director.
Apply, and be admitted to the 2025 Italy Prene Siddi field school.
Get permission to apply, and be endorsed by Dr. Emily Holt (emilyholt2013@gmail.com).
The Los Angeles Natural History Museum MINORITY FIELD SCHOOL SCHOLARSHIP
status:
CLOSED
Login to our enrollment system & choose this scholarship from the program options
The Center for Field Sciences and the Natural Museum Los Angeles County (NHMLA) is offering one $3,000 scholarship to cover a significant portion of the tuition cost for the Zooarchaeology in Theory and Practice 2024 field school. This scholarship was created to support the education of students from groups historically underrepresented in anthropology and archaeology, who wish to pursue a career in archaeology. While encouraging diversity is a goal of many cultural institutions, it is crucial to the mission of the NHMLA.
This Scholarship will award $3,000 to help cover the cost of tuition for the Zooarchaeology in Theory and Practice 2024 field school.
This scholarship has no cash value. This scholarship may not be applied to any other field school outside or within CFS offered programs.
Application Deadline: Feb 2, 2024 at 5:00pm Pacific Time
Award Decision: Feb 23, 2024 at 5:00pm Pacific Time
- Must be enrolled as a student in an academic institution (undergraduate or graduate level) or have completed a BA degree in the past three years
- Must be at least 18 years old on the day the field school begins
- Must have a minimum GPA of 3.0
- Students from any major may apply
- Must apply and be admitted to the CFS 2024 Zooarchaeology field school
- Must complete and submit scholarship application
- Must be of African, Hispanic, Native American, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander, or Asian descent.
- Apply, and be admitted to the CFS Zooarchaeology in Theory and Practice 2024 field school
- Complete the NHMLA Minority Field School Scholarship application and answer all essay questions
- Provide unofficial copy of transcripts showing GPA
- Provide a letter explaining your financial need in your own words. Financial need consideration will account for 40% of this scholarship evaluation.
- Submit application on time
The NHMLA Minority Field School Scholarship evaluation will be based on three criteria:
- 40% Financial Need
- 40% Merit
- 20% potential to pursue a career in archaeology
The Los Angeles Natural History Museum TRAVEL ASSISTANCE FIELD SCHOOL SCHOLARSHIP
status:
close
Login to our enrollment system & choose this scholarship from the program options
The Center for Field Sciences and the Natural Museum Los Angeles County (NHMLA) is offering three individual $1,000 scholarships to help cover the cost of travel and accommodations in Los Angeles in order to attend the Zooarchaeology in Theory and Practice 2024 field school.
This Scholarship will award three $1,000 scholarships to three individuals to help cover the cost of travel to and accommodations for the Zooarchaeology in Theory and Practice 2024 field school.
This scholarship will be provided directly to the student and may not be applied to any other field school outside or within CFS offered programs.
Application Deadline: March 15, 2024 at 5:00pm Pacific Time
Award Decision: March 31, 2024 at 5:00pm Pacific Time
- Must be enrolled as a student in an academic institution (undergraduate or graduate level) or have completed a BA degree in the past three years
- Must be at least 18 years old on the day the field school begins
- Must have a minimum GPA of 3.0
- Students within daily commuting distance to Los Angeles are not eligible for this award. Must be from outside of the Los Angeles area and travelling into Los Angeles and paying for accommodations to attend the field school
- Students from any major may apply
- Must apply and be admitted to the CFS field school
- Must complete and submit scholarship application
- Apply, and be admitted to the CFS Zooarchaeology in Theory and Practice 2024 field school
- Complete the NHMLA Travel Assistance Field School Scholarship application and answer all essay questions
- Provide unofficial copy of transcripts showing GPA
- Provide a letter explaining your financial need in your own words. Financial need consideration will account for 40% of this scholarship evaluation.
- Submit application on time
The NHMLA Travel Assistance Field School Scholarship evaluation will be based on three criteria:
- 40% Financial Need
- 40% Merit
- 20% potential to pursue a career in archaeology
External Scholarships
Pacific Coast Archaeological Society (PCAS) is offering four $1000 scholarships—the Myrtle Soderberg Memorial Scholarship, the Gloria Bogdan Memorial Scholarship, the Sherri Gust Memorial Scholarship, and the Scott Findlay Memorial Scholarship. These awards are in keeping with our mandate to encourage interest and education in the discipline of Archaeology. Undergraduate students who will have upper division status in the fall of the scholarship year are eligible to apply. Applicants can either be transferring from a community college or already enrolled at a four-year university.
The U.S. Department of State’s Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program enables students of limited financial means to study or intern abroad, providing them with skills critical to our national security and economic prosperity. To be eligible for the Gilman Program, applicants must be receiving a Federal Pell Grant during the time of application or provide proof that they will be receiving a Pell Grant during the term of their study abroad program or internship.
The Gilman-McCain Scholarship is a congressionally funded initiative of the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs at the U.S. Department of State and named after the late senator John S. McCain from Arizona. The Gilman-McCain Scholarship provides awards of $5,000 for child dependents of active duty service members to study or intern abroad on credit-bearing programs. Applicants must be recipients of any type of Title IV federal financial aid during the time of application or provide proof that they will be receiving Title IV federal financial aid during their study abroad program or internship.
Established in honor of AIA Honorary President Jane Waldbaum, this scholarship is intended to help students who are planning to participate in archaeological field work for the first time. Students majoring in archaeology or related disciplines are especially encouraged to apply. The Scholarship Fund provides $1000 each to help pay expenses associated with participation in an archaeological field work project (minimum stay one month/4 weeks). The scholarship is open to students who have begun their junior year of undergraduate studies at the time of application and have not yet completed their first year of graduate school at a college or university in the United States or Canada. Applicants must be at least 18 years old and must not have previously participated in archaeological field work of any kind.
The Wase Scholarships cover the cost of tuition/course fees and books for all classroom and field based courses included in an accredited curriculum to earn a Bachelor=s degree in Anthropology with a Emphasis/Focus/Concentration in Archaeology. A specialization in archaeology determined to be an Emphasis in Archaeology (ENMU students), a focus on Archaeology (NMSU students) or a Concentration in Archaeology (UNM students). The scholarship is renewable for up to five years, as long as the recipient remains enrolled, maintains a 3.0 grade point average, and continues to pursue a Bachelor Degree in Anthropology with a specialization in Archaeology. Amount awarded is variable as is the number of scholarships available each year. Applications are encouraged from women at least 18 years of age who are New Mexico residents and enrolled (or planning to enroll) at Eastern New Mexico University, New Mexico State University, or the University of New Mexico, and majoring in or intending to major in Anthropology with a specialization in Archaeology in pursuit of a Bachelor Degree (BA or BS).
This is an aggregator of scholarships for student planning to study abroad. You need to create a free account with NAFSA to gain access to the scholarship list.
The Institute for International Education list over 100 scholarships for students planning to study abroad.
Lists awards, scholarships, and fellowships that are granted by national and regional classics and ancient studies societies and associations, both large and small, based in the US; opportunities from independent research institutions; and grants from mutual aid groups. Included are also some fellowships offered by humanities organizations such as the American Council of Learned Societies (ACLS).
Recognize the outstanding achievements of aspiring archaeologists and anthropologists currently enrolled in an accredited educational institution through its annual scholarship program. The Sacramento Archeological Society, Inc. (SAS) is seeking applicants for one or more scholarships. The total funds available allow us to award multiple scholarships typically from $500 to $1000.
Provide funding & scholarships that enable individuals to participate in fieldwork in Western Asia and the wider Mediterranean, and also by awarding grants to support the archaeological projects themselves.
The Fulbright-National Geographic Storytelling Fellowship, a component of the Fulbright U.S. Student Program, provides opportunities for selected Fulbright U.S. Student grantees to participate in an academic year of storytelling on a globally significant theme. This Fellowship is made possible through a partnership between the U.S. Department of State and the National Geographic Society. For the 2022-2023 competition, the Fulbright-National Geographic Storytelling Fellowship will accept proposals to undertake an in-depth examination of a globally relevant issue as an enhancement to their Fulbright research or arts project. The National Geographic Society’s focus areas are: Oceans, Land, Wildlife, Human History & Cultures, and Human Ingenuity. Storytellers may use a variety of storytelling tools—including, but not limited to writing, photography, video, audio/podcasts, maps, or graphic illustrations to share their stories.
The Classical Association of the Middle West and South offers a number of awards, grants, and scholarships, including funding for field schools.
The Leakey Foundation exclusively funds research related to human origins. It awards around $1,000,000 in grants annually through five grant programs. Current funding priorities include: (1) Paleoanthropology of the Miocene, Pliocene, and Pleistocene; (2) Primates: Evolution, behavior, morphology, ecology, endocrinology, genetics, isotope studies; and (3) Modern hunter-gatherer groups.
The Native American Scholarships endowment fund was established in 1988 to foster a sense of shared purpose and positive interaction between archaeologists and Native Americans. Since 1998, the SAA has used endowment income to award the Arthur C. Parker Scholarship. In 2009, the Society added two new awards to support undergraduate and graduate education in archaeology and, in 2021, a new award for Native American women. Five different types of scholarships are available.
The Sportula is a no-questions-asked organization focused on supporting Classics and Classics-adjacent undergrad and grad students in the Americas. All you need to inform the Sportula is the amount you need and your accepted method of payment. Currently, the Sportula can only send funds through Venmo, Paypal, and Zelle.