Graduate Fellowship Info & FAQs

About the Fellowships

Alpha Lambda Delta awards one $7,000 fellowship, one $5,000 fellowship, four $4,000 fellowships, four $3,000 fellowships, and eighteen $2,000 fellowships. These fellowships have been established to help qualified members obtain graduate or professional degrees. Candidates will be considered on the basis of merit.

Each chapter is allowed a maximum number of awardees based on last year’s induction numbers (between June 1, 2024 and May 31, 2025):

  • One awardee for any chapter,

  • Two awardees for chapters inducting 150-299 members,

  • Three awardees for chapters inducting 300+ members

Please note, students may only receive an Alpha Lambda Delta Graduate Fellowship once. Direct any questions to scholarships@nationalald.org. The selection committee begins reviewing applications in mid-February, and decisions will be announced in June.

FAQs

Q: I am currently enrolled in a 5 (or 6) year program that will result in a bachelor's and master's (or doctorate) degree. Can I still apply?
A: Yes, as long as you are a full-time student working towards a graduate degree, you can apply for a Fellowship. 

Q: I am already enrolled in a graduate program and my GPA is lower than 3.5. However, my undergraduate GPA was above a 3.5. Can I apply for a Fellowship?
A: Yes, as long as you maintained a minimum 3.5 cumulative grade point average through graduation from your undergraduate institution.

Q: Am I eligible to apply for a fellowship if I am an international student?
A: Yes, ALD fellowships can be awarded to international students.

Q: Does the fellowship apply towards tuition only or can it also be applied towards room/board, books, fees, etc.?
A: The funds are to defray college expenses. Once the student has fully paid tuition and fees for the term, the funds will be disbursed to the student to cover other college expenses. Note that all Graduate Fellowship checks are sent to the graduate institution, so any remaining funds after tuition and fees are sent from the graduate institution, not Alpha Lambda Delta.

Q: Does my undergraduate chapter have to be active at the time I apply?
A: While we never like to see chapters go inactive, you are a lifetime member and so can apply for a Graduate Fellowship at any time, no matter the status of your undergraduate chapter. 

Q: Can official transcripts be delivered via email directly from the university?
A: No, they must be uploaded online as part of the application.

Q: Do you need official transcripts of my test scores (GRE, MCAT, LSAT, etc.)?
A: If you have test scores, we do need a copy of them. We do not require official test score transcripts (although we certainly will accept them). Unofficial copies of your test scores will be accepted.

Q: I work a full-time job, and will be enrolled in a course this upcoming summer and then six hours in the fall. Will that be acceptable for the purposes of the scholarship next year?
A: Yes. Summer and winter courses typically count toward fall and spring, respectively.

Eligibility

Any inducted member of Alpha Lambda Delta who has maintained a 3.5 (on a 4.0 scale) cumulative grade point average through graduation is eligible to apply. Members graduating this year may apply if they have achieved this average at the end of the first semester (or first quarter) of the current year. In determining the average of eligibility, the decimal point must be a .5 or above, not a .49 or any other average less than a .5. Selection will be based on academic records, references submitted, essay questions, and campus and community activities. Please note, you may only receive an Alpha Lambda Delta Graduate Fellowship once.

Fellowship Stipulations

  • Acceptance of the fellowship obliges the recipient to begin and complete the year of study outlined in the application. The recipient must be enrolled full-time and must be working toward an advanced degree. Any request by a recipient for an exception to the previously stated must be directed to ALD Headquarters.

  • Fellowships can not be deferred; applicants who are not studying during the year specified would need to decline the scholarship and reapply.

  • Fellowship recipients are limited to one ALD scholarship award within the same year.

Responsibilities of the Recipient

  • Notify ALD Headquarters promptly of the acceptance of the fellowship.

  • Upon registration, send your enrollment verification to ALD Headquarters. Fellowship funds will be sent directly to the recipient's university.