Application Planning

This roadmap for funding for graduate/professional study provides step-by-step advice and detailed timelines.

Timeline overview for application process:

• April: (i.e. the spring before the fall application deadline): 

  • Consider postgraduate plans, explore deadlines for the coming academic year, and book a Fellowships advising appointment.
  • Read about the Scholarship on the official website as well as about the Wellesley application process here

• By May 1, 2024: opt-in to Postgraduate Fellowship Summer Support program by submitting this Getting Started worksheet to this form to help plan and build your applications (outlining, essay review, choosing recommenders, etc.) - and gain access to additional check-ins to help you stay on-track and craft strong applications with minimal stress!

• June: Start to plan for your application, including talking with people you might ask to write letters of reference. (Pro-tip: folks travel over the summer, whether for work or vacation, and may be hard to reach, so don’t wait to reach out!)

• July 24: Optional Draft Deadline for postgraduate fellowships—submit drafts to guarantee draft review appointment before relevant fall deadline.

• October 28, 2024: Apply for Wellesley’s nomination for the David-Weill Scholarship through this form.

• By November 15, 2024: Apply directly for admission to one of the eligible master’s programs at Science Po.

• November: Campus interviews, nominees selected.

• February - early March: Finalists invited to interview in New York City; Scholar is announced shortly thereafter.

Eligibility

Eligible are currently-enrolled Wellesley seniors aged 19-25, who are American citizens with a minimum GPA of 3.70, and who are applying for a Master's program at Sciences Po.

• There are no constraints on the field of study, although candidates wishing to pursue a Master's degree related to Economics are especially encouraged to apply. Dual degrees with partner institutions, and/or executive training courses are not eligible.
• Sciences Po imposes no blanket language requirement for its incoming students; thus, the candidate must only consider the language requirements (if any) established for the Master’s program to which he/she seeks admission. Proficiency in French will, however, be an asset regardless of strict language requirements.

The scholarship seeks those who exemplify the core values embodied by Michel David-Weill – excellence, leadership, multiculturalism, tolerance and high achievement. Candidates will thus be selected on the basis of their literary and scholastic accomplishments, their capacity to analyse critically, their morals and character, demonstrated history of leadership, and proven commitment to community – local or global.

*Don't miss other scholarships for study at Sciences Po, for students from around the globe!

How to Apply

A complete application for the Michel David-Weill Scholarship includes the following items, which should be submitted via the form here before the campus application deadline:

1. A completed official candidate information form.

2. A "letter of motivation" or statement of purpose, of no more than 1,000 words, explaining the course of study proposed, reasons and motivation for this choice, and how it fits into longer-term plans/aspirations.

3. A copy of a graded term paper from an appropriate course (8-10 pages), with the professor's comments.

4. A resume or cv (2 pages max).

5. Transcripts: unofficial transcripts suffice for the campus competition, along with copies of relevant transcripts from other institutions, if any. (Note, however, that official transcripts will be required for application to the Sciences Po Master's program.)

6. Wellesley Fellowships office signature document (please print, sign & date this form, then submit a scanned pdf or other image of the signed document along with your application materials)

In addition:

7. Three letters of reference: usually academic references relevant to the proposed graduate study at Sciences Po, although one letter might be a professional reference of similar relevance. Please give your recommenders this link to allow them to submit their letters. (Letters should ideally be on letterhead and contain a signature, rather than simply a typed name. Should they have any difficulty with the online form, please ask them to email their letters to fellowships@wellesley.edu.)

7. The nominee must also have applied separately to the Master’s degree program of their choice at Sciences Po by the late October deadline, per the David-Weill guidelines.

Questions? Email fellowships@wellesley.edu or call Caitlin Roberts-Donovan at 781.283.2347.  You can also book a Fellowships advising appointment via Handshake to talk over the program, whom to ask for references, drafts of application materials, etc. Appointments are available during the summer as well as during the academic year, via Zoom.  Cannot find an available appointment? Drop by Fellowships Pop-Up Advising: no appointment required - offered virtually and during term in person as well (see Events listings for details)