Another of the most frequent requests we receive at Ask The UMC, especially from outside the United States, is for scholarships. Scholarships for college or university study are available through general agencies, annual conferences or episcopal areas, United Methodist-related colleges and universities, and through some local United Methodist congregations. There are also specialized scholarships available through the Ministerial Education Fund for seminarians who are certified candidates for ordination and attending a United Methodist theological school in the United States.
Scholarship managed by General Agencies
The general agencies of the United Methodist Church manage a substantial collection of scholarship funds for students in the United States, as well as a few focused on students from outside the United States. United Methodist students who have been professing members of a local United Methodist congregation for at least one year are generally eligible to apply.
The General Board of Higher Education and Ministry (GBHEM) manages many of these scholarships. Their website houses a series of pages that guide applicants through the application process. For students in the United States, there is a unified application system allowing them to apply for all GBHEM scholarships for which they may be eligible.
GBHEM’s scholarships home page provides a basic overview of the scope of scholarships available through GBHEM along with with links to learn more about the GBHEM application process and the programs available from other agencies.
For students in the United States, the application can be accessed, completed and submitted from January through at least part of March each year for classes starting the fall semester of that year. If you are seeking to apply for a scholarship and you are not reading this article within that period of time, you may sign up on this page to be notified when the window opens so you can proceed with your application. If you arrive there within that window, the same page will provide a link to the application form and instructions for completing your application.
For students seeking to enroll or get support for enrollment in institutions outside the United States, this page provides links to three other programs, GRASP (International Grants and Scholarship Program, also including help for high school students), the World Communion Scholarship through Global Ministries, and the Young People’s Ministries International Scholarships. The application window for GRASP and Young People’s Ministries International Scholarship is the same as for GBHEM-managed scholarships in the United States. Contact Global Ministries at [email protected] for more information about the application windows and requirements for the scholarships they offer.
Annual Conference or Episcopal Area Scholarships
In addition to scholarships offered through the general agencies, some annual conferences or episcopal areas manage their own scholarship programs for qualified students. If you are in the United States, check your conference website for information about these scholarships and how to apply for them. If you are outside the United States, contact your episcopal area office (Europe, Africa, Philippines).
College, University and United Methodist Education Foundation scholarships
Many United Methodist related colleges and universities also manage scholarship programs for qualified United Methodist students. So always be sure to check with your college or university’s admissions office to inquire about these scholarships, whether you may be eligible and how to apply. Many of these are funded by or in partnership with the United Methodist Higher Education Foundation. Full information about their programs and application processes is on their website.
Local Church Scholarships
Some United Methodist local churches have scholarship funds available for qualified students who are church members as well. As these are not generally publicized on local church websites, if you are wondering whether your church may be able to support your education from a scholarship program it offers, call your church office and ask.
Ministerial Education Fund Scholarships
If you are a certified candidate for ordained ministry and are attending a United Methodist theological school to obtain your required educational credentials (Basic Graduate Theological Education Diploma for deacons, Master of Divinity for Elders), you are eligible to receive some scholarship funding toward your education through the Ministerial Education Fund. These funds are not available to all United Methodist students at United Methodist theological schools, only to those who are certified candidates. Discuss with your theological school what it requires as documentation of your certified candidacy to be able to apply these funds to your account. Ministerial Educational Fund scholarships are a perk of going through the process of becoming a certified candidate through your local church and district committee on ordained ministry and for choosing a United Methodist theological school to complete your required coursework. Even with reductions to the budget for the Ministerial Education Fund made by the 2024 General Conference, these funds remain a substantial help to United Methodist candidates for ordained ministry.
If you are a United Methodist seeking higher education anywhere in the world, a certified candidate or ordained ministry, or even a high school student outside the United States, the United Methodist Church provides a panoply of resources to help you reach your educational goals. Do not leave these resources on the table! Be sure to check out all the opportunities for which you may be eligible, then follow the process and the timelines for each to make your application.
Burton Edwards is Lead for Ask The UMC, the information service of United Methodist Communications.
