Bonderman Travel Fellowship

Graduate/professional applications are coordinated by the Office of Fellowships and Awards in the Graduate School. Undergraduate applications are coordinated by the Office of Merit Scholarships, Fellowships and Awards. More details about each stage of the application process are outlined below.


SELECTION PROCESS

We are searching for applicants who are curious, open, and creative. We seek those who demonstrate self-knowledge, interpersonal and cross-cultural skills and interests, and resilience and fortitude. We look for proposals that balance challenging the applicant in new ways with careful planning and thoughtful engagement with those challenges.

A committee of past Bonderman Fellows, faculty, and staff review applications. Selected applicants will be invited for an interview in April, with final awards announced mid-Spring Quarter.

AWARD CRITERIA

We are searching for applicants who are curious, open, and creative. We seek those who demonstrate self-knowledge, interpersonal and cross-cultural skills and interests, and resilience and fortitude. We look for proposals that balance challenging the applicant in new ways with careful planning and thoughtful engagement with those challenges. Bonderman Fellowships enable students to undertake independent international travel to explore, be open to the unexpected, and come to know the world in new ways.  The Bonderman selection committee will evaluate applications based on the following questions:

  • Does the applicant demonstrate self-knowledge, integrity, maturity, and commitment in their proposal?
  • Does the applicant indicate a desire and ability to travel independently for eight months?
  • Does the applicant show potential for thoughtful participation in the global community?
  • Does the applicant describe goals for personal growth in their proposal?
  • Is the itinerary feasible for the applicant?
  • Does the applicant demonstrate interpersonal and cross-cultural skills and interests, and resilience and fortitude?
  • Does the proposal balance challenging the applicant in new ways with careful planning and thoughtful engagement with those challenges?
  • Does the applicant have previous international experience? If so, how will the Bonderman travel experience be different than their previous experience(s)?

For undergraduate applicants, review and interview committees will give extra consideration to undergraduate applications that demonstrate these characteristics/backgrounds:

  • Applicants from low-income backgrounds, have received need-based financial aid, or those who have not/would not generally have the opportunity to travel independently.
  • Applicants who have a demonstrated commitment to public service and plan to pursue a future career in public service. We welcome a wide range of public service interests and types of service. Public service careers can happen in all realms (government, nonprofit, or private sector) and all fields through which you intend to work toward solving the world’s most complex problems and enriching the lives of others (teachers, community organizers, scientists, entrepreneurs, socially impactful businesses, arts, etc.). Past majors of Bonderman Fellows include music, social work, neuroscience, international studies, communication, industrial design, and more.
  • Applicants who carefully plan to deepen their experience in each country on their itinerary, ideally spending more than one month in most countries.
  • Applicants who approach their Bonderman travels as a continuation of their educational experience, rather than as an award, reward, vacation or time off.
  • Please see FAQs for more details!

SELECTION PROCESS AND TIMELINE

Recruitment & Selection Process Dates & Details
Application Opens Application opens by November 15, 2024 online.
Application Deadline Applications are due January 16, 2025 by 5 pm PST via online submission.
Interviews Finalist interviews will take place early in spring quarter.
Decision Announcement Finalists will be notified mid-spring quarter informing them of their selection status.

After the application deadline

  • A selection committee of past Bonderman fellows, UW faculty and UW staff reviews all applications.
  • 20-24 undergraduate finalists and 20-24 graduate/professional finalists are chosen.
  • Finalists are invited for an interview.

Interviews

  • Interviews last about 30 minutes.
  • They may be in person or virtual.
  • Interview panels consist of 4-5 past fellows, UW faculty and UW staff from all three campuses, who:
    • Have an interest in and experience with international travel, international work and student development;
    • Come from different disciplines, personal identities and lived experiences.
  • Questions focus on the applicant’s proposal, motivation for having applied, the proposed itinerary, any issues that might arise, etc.