Josephine de Karman Fellowship: Eligibility, Application, Selection and Benefits

Josephine de Karman Fellowship

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Naman Arora

Study Abroad Course Specialist | Updated on - Aug 30, 2025

Initiated in the year 1954 by late Dr. Theodore Van Karman, the Josephine De Karman Fellowship was a step taken forward by Van Karman for students who reflect his ideologies and equal interests.

The Josephine de Karman Fellowship was established to help students with high scholastic aptitude and overall achievements.

Applicable Program, University, and Country

  • The de Karman Fellowship is applicable for Ph.D.students.
  • Students can avail of the fellowship in any university in the U.S.

Eligible Candidates

Josephine de Karman Fellowship program is available for international students enrolled in a U.S. university.

Award Distribution

  • The Josephine de Karman Trust awards eight fellowships per year.
  • The award amount is distributed in two halves, one in September and the other in the following December.

Benefits of Josephine de Karman Fellowship

  • The fellowship gives students access to funding of USD 25,000 per year academically in the fall and spring semesters.
  • The fellowship amount can be used for:
Type of Expense Covered in the Scholarship or Not
Tuition & Fees Yes
Accommodation No
Living Expenses No
Books and Supplies No
Miscellaneous No

Highlights

Scholarship TypeMerit-Based
Offered byTrust
OrganizationN/A
Application DeadlineN/A
Number of Scholarships6
Amount₹2,236,250 ($25,000)
RenewabilityNo
International Student EligibleYes
Scholarship Website Linkhttps://pasadenacf.org/scholarships/josephine-de-karman-fellowship/

Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for the Josephine De Karman Fellowship , the candidates must

  • Be international students studying in the U.S. on a student visa.
  • Be currently enrolled in a Ph.D. degree at any university in the U.S.
  • Applicants studying in one of the following universities will be considered for scholarship:
    • California Institute of Technology
    • Stanford University
    • University of California (all campuses)
    • University of Southern California
  • Applications are due 11:59 PM Pacific Time, January 30, 2025. Late applications will not be considered. Announcement of 2025-2026 award recipients will be made in May, 2025.

Application Process

  • Applications for the Josephine de Karman Fellowship is an online process.

Application Package

Type of Document Required (Yes or No)
Transcripts Yes
LOR Yes
SOP/Essay Yes
Resume Yes
  • Letter of Recommendation(s): Each applicant must submit at least two LORs.
  • Essay: 500-word essay statement of intellectual interest.

Selection Process

Candidates for the De Karman Fellowship are shortlisted on the basis of their scholarship forms and dissertation completion.

Factors Affecting the Scholarship Selection Decision

  • Personal Essay
  • Extra-curricular activities
  • Recommendations
  • Academic performance
  • Scholarly Contributions

Grant Details

Applications are due 11:59 PM Pacific Time, January 30, 2025. Late applications will not be considered. Announcement of 2025-2026 award recipients will be made in May, 2025.

  • The De Karman Fellowship is only for students pursuing a Ph.D.
    • UG, PG, or doctorate students are ineligible.
  • Every year, 8 fellowships of 25,000 USD are distributed to the selected students.
  • Selection is based on an essay of 500 words.

To make a mark and get through the application process, applicants should have outstanding letters of recommendation, along with timely completion of their dissertation at the time of the application.

The candidates should also possess a great history of scholarly contributions along with co-curricular activities. It is also seen that the fellowships are usually won by candidates studying in the top tier schools of the country.

Contact Details

For any further queries, students may contact the trust using the following information

Website www.dekarman.org
Email info@dekarman.org
Phone No. 909-592-0607

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