Thomas Jefferson’s University of Virginia is a place where producing leaders for a self-governing people has always been a primary goal. This goal of nurturing future leaders is at the heart of the Jefferson Scholars Foundation’s mission: to attract to the University the most promising leaders, scholars, and citizens in the world and to give them sufficient financial support so that they are free to develop their talents and to use them for the good of the University community.
The undergraduate scholarship program began at the inception of Jefferson Scholars Foundation and has been attracting and cultivating undergraduate leaders since 1980, providing them sufficient financial support so that they are free to develop their talents and to use them for the good of the University community. The program currently supports 117 Jefferson Scholars in residence at the University of Virginia.
Awarded solely on the basis of merit, Jefferson Scholarships are granted to candidates who have undergone a rigorous selection process.
Nomination - No one may apply for a Jefferson Scholarship directly. For the regional competitions, a prospective Jefferson Scholar must be nominated by his/her school (eligible schools may nominate one or two students per year from the senior class). Currently, over 4,200 secondary schools are eligible to nominate in the regional competitions.
Selection - Once nominated, students are placed into regional competitions which will determine the 120 finalists who will be invited to Charlottesville for the Jefferson Scholarship Selection Weekend in late March.
Established in 1819, University of Virginia is a non-profit public higher education institution located in the suburban setting of the medium-sized town of Charlottesville (population range of 10,000-49,999 inhabitants), Virginia. This institution has also branch campuses in the following location(s): Wise. Officially accredited and/or recognized by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, University of Virginia (Uva) is a large (uniRank enrollment range: 25,000-29,999 students) coeducational higher education institution. University of Virginia (Uva) offers courses and programs leading to officially recognized higher education degrees such as bachelor degrees, master degrees, doctorate degrees in several areas of study. See the uniRank degree levels and areas of study matrix below for further details. This 200 years old higher-education institution has a selective admission policy based on entrance examinations and students' past academic record and grades. The admission rate range is 20-30% making this US higher education organization a very selective institution. International applicants are eligible to apply for enrollment.