National Medical Fellowships Scholarships

Scholarship Sponsored by National Medical Fellowships

Introductory Statement
National Medical Fellowships (NMF) has prioritized financial empowerment since its founding. NMF scholarship programs award students based on both merit and financial need. Scholarship funding has been provided by hundreds of foundations and individual donors, and NMF continually pursues partnerships to increase and diversify support for its scholars.

Eligibility Overview
Applicants must meet the following baseline requirements unless a specific program description lists additional or different criteria:

- Proof of U.S. citizenship or an approved Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) notice.
- Permanent residents (Green Card holders) are eligible — see the Permanent Resident document guidelines for accepted documentation.
- Currently enrolled in an accredited, graduate-level health professions program in the United States.
- Note: Each NMF award specifies which degree program types are eligible. Some awards target high school or undergraduate students, while others are limited to graduate-level programs.
- Medical school enrollment must be in U.S. programs accredited by LCME, or in osteopathic programs accredited by COCA/AOA. Applicants should be in culminating degree programs (MD, MD/PhD, DO, or DO/PhD) unless a program states otherwise.
- Demonstrated financial need.
- Demonstrated leadership capacity.
- A continuing commitment to serving medically underserved communities.

Important note: Any “year in school” eligibility should be determined based on the applicant’s status for the academic year referenced in the specific program listing (for example, 2025–26).

Application documents (required)
All scholarship and award applicants must upload the following materials through the online application portal. Individual scholarships may request additional documents and program-specific essays; those instructions appear in each award’s submission section.

Financial documents
- Student Aid Report (SAR) from the U.S. Department of Education.
- Loan history documentation (both current and undergraduate loans) from the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS).
- Official financial aid award letter from your institution.

Academic documents
- Current professional school transcript.

Personal documents
- Curriculum vitae or résumé.
- Verification of citizenship: acceptable items include a scanned copy of one of the following:
- U.S. birth certificate
- Current U.S. passport
- USCIS certificate of naturalization
- Voter registration card (submitted together with a photo ID)
- Verification of DACA status: DACA approval letter.
- Verification of permanent resident status: Green Card or passport stamp plus state ID.

Letters of recommendation
- Most NMF scholarships require one letter of recommendation, though some awards may ask for more or none. Consult the specific application instructions before submitting.
- Applicants will enter the name and contact details of their recommender(s) in the application. Recommenders will receive an email with instructions and a link to upload their letter.
- It is strongly recommended that at least one recommender be a dean, faculty member, or senior administrative official at your institution. Community leaders or supervisors from volunteer/service activities are also appropriate choices, especially if they can speak to your leadership and commitment to underserved communities.

Final reminder
Carefully review each scholarship’s description for any additional eligibility rules or required supplemental materials.