Office of Connected Learning

Join Global Scholars

Become part of a supportive, diverse community!

Students from diverse — often marginalized — backgrounds have valuable perspectives, impressive aspirations, and meaningful reasons to pursue global education and the Global Scholars Program seeks to enhance the resources and support to launch their global journey.

One of the goals of Global Scholars is to consider identity as central to global engagement. The majority of Scholars are first in their families to be pursuing a 4-year-degree, receive Pell Grants and use financial aid to help fund the cost of their study abroad or global internship program (virtual or in-person). They have a wide range of diversity in their backgrounds which includes socioeconomic status, as well as race, ethnicity, nationality, immigration status, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, and disability. They vary by academic disciplines and class standing. Program Directors work with every Scholar to help them identify funding resources and apply for scholarships.

UW Bothell students can apply to Global Scholars each autumn quarter. Students who apply after the priority deadline will be considered if all cohort spaces have not been filled. The Global Scholars Program expects to accept 20-30 students each year.

Year-long commitment

Selected students are required to participate in:

  • Winter Quarter workshops,
  • BIS 318, a 3-credit course during Spring Quarter,
  • a global experience during the summer, and
  • BIS 418, a 5-credit course in Autumn Quarter.

Application Components

The online application asks you to share information about you and your background, and respond to two essays prompts. It is estimated to take 60 min to complete.

Essay prompts:

  • Explain your interest in this program. In what ways do you expect that Global Scholars will align with your interests and aspirations? We want to hear about your specific interests and questions about global citizenship and global engagement, as well as specific ideas about how you think the program will impact you. (300-600 words)
  • What are your motivations for engaging with a diverse community of peers? In your response, describe a past experience collaborating with others that led to your growth and learning. We want to hear about a specific experience from your life (not a generic group project :-)) and how it shifted how you see yourself, others, and/or a specific issue. (200-300 words)

Students will be selected based on the following criteria:

  1. Perceived effort in application responses. When writing the essays, we are expecting responses that are specific, authentic, and personal, written by you in your own voice. Generic or vague responses written by ChatGPT or another AI tool will not be accepted.
  2. Interest in the topics of global citizenship and global engagement.
  3. Curiosity and cultural humility: willingness to learn about self and other cultures and engage positively with diverse others.
  4. Potential impact of program involvement on self and the community.

Application Timeline

Applications open during September and are due in mid-November of each year for the following year’s cohort.

Questions?

Contact uwbworld@uw.edu for support in your application submission and questions you have about Global Scholars!