The George J. Mitchell Scholarships

The George J. Mitchell Scholarships are named in honor of former U.S. Senator George J. Mitchell for his pivotal contribution to the Northern Ireland peace process. These scholarships allow American post-graduates to pursue one year of study at institutions of higher learning in Ireland and Northern Ireland. There are no restrictions concerning academic field of study.

The Mitchell Scholarship maintains an extensive Web site. Also visit the Universities and Colleges in Ireland Web site.

2009 Mitchell Scholarships Competition

Eligibility:

To qualify for the 2009-2010 Mitchell Scholarships, applicants must:

1. Be US citizens Be at least 18 years old but not yet 30 on October 1, 2008.
2. Have a Bachelor's degree before study begins under the Mitchell Scholarship in Fall of 2009.
3. Be enrolled at or a graduate of UNC-CH.
4. Have a 3.8 GPA.
5. Must demonstrate both academic distinction and potential for leadership.

Application Process:

1. Attend a Mitchell Scholarship workshop (Hosted by the UNC Office of Distinguished Scholarships (ODS)). If you are unable to attend a workshop, email the ODS to schedule an appointment to discuss the scholarship.
2. Preliminary Application (Due September 8, 2008 by 12:00 p.m.). Please submit one original and 5 copies of the following items to the UNC ODS by the above deadline:
   1. Application Form: These are not yet available for the 2009 competition. Forms will be available from the Mitchell Scholarship Website and a link will be posted here at that time.
   2. A 1000-word personal statement.
   3. At least five letters of recommendation. UNC recommends giving references this letter. These should be sent directly to the UNC ODS by your reference.
   4. One original transcript and five copies for each college or University attended (Internal UNC transcripts can be ordered through the Registrar at no cost).
   5. Proof of American citizenship to be considered for the UNC endorsement.
3. UNC Interviews (Mid September) : Based on your preliminary application, students will be asked to interview with the UNC Mitchell Committee. Students unavailable for on-campus interviews must contact the ODS one month in advance to discuss other available options.
4. Revise Applications: Those students nominated by the UNC committee (this number varies based on the regions from where applicants can apply) will have two weeks to revise all parts of their application with assistance from the ODS.
5. Final Submission (Deadline: First week of October, 2008): The regional application will be submitted online with the assistance of the ODS. Hard copy materials will be sent to the regional Mitchell committee by the ODS.
6. Finalists will be flown to Washington for an interview before the national selection committee in November, 2008.

   The Office of Distinguished Scholarships is located in 225 Graham Memorial. Applications can be submitted via mail to the following address:

   • Office of Distinguished Scholarships
   • The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
   • 225 Graham Memorial, CB#3510
   • Chapel Hill, NC 27599-3510

For further information about the application process or to schedule an appointment with Dr. George Lensing, Director of the Office of Distinguished Scholarships, please email or call 919-843-7757.