No, this is not a scholarship. The Global Scholar designation is an academic honor, awarded upon graduation to students who meet the criteria. The ten Global Scholar Prizes awarded to students each year are for the purpose of post-baccalaureate study. Prize recipients must show evidence of enrollment in a graduate program of study. Students have up to five years after completing the Bachelor’s degree to request disbursement of the Prize.

No. Only undergraduates who are enrolled in an undergraduate major may apply for the Global Scholar designation.

Yes, in principle you may submit in any discipline. However, in order to qualify, a submission outside the major should be comparable in scope and substance to a capstone project within the other discipline.  Ideally, non-major submissions should be linked to a declared minor or honors program.

You may contact the Office of Undergraduate Programs at (213) 740-1741 or ugp@usc.edu for more information. You can also follow us on Twitter @USC_Ugrad for more information and deadline reminders.

A detailed description of how to become a Global Scholar can be found on our Become a Scholar  page. In short, to become a Global Scholar, students must have spent a minimum of ten weeks abroad as part of their undergraduate experience.  Global Scholars applicants are expected to complete a capstone paper, project, or research paper and a reflective essay about their international experience.  Eligible students must graduate in no more than five years at USC with a minimum 3.5 cumulative grade point average.

You may apply for the Global Scholar designation during the spring semester of your final year at the University. Applicants have the option of submitting an Intent to Submit form online by early February to declare their interest in applying for the Global Scholars designation.  If this form is not submitted it will not disqualify a student from the Prize Competition but students are encouraged to submit the form so their respective Schools can prepare accordingly for the anticipated number of submissions.

All applicants interested in being eligible for both the Global Scholars designation and the Prize Competition must submit their materials by the Primary Project Submission Deadline.  This process is only live from January to March each year.  The Primary Project Submission Deadline is midnight on the Monday following Spring Break.  December graduates should plan on completing this step after their degree completion.  Spring or Summer graduates should plan on completing this step during their final Spring semester at USC. 

Following the submission deadline, the Office of Undergraduate Programs will then distribute submission materials to the respective schools.  Each school will nominate a short-list of Prize Competition Finalists from the roster of Global Scholar candidates within that school. A university panel will then select the Prize Awardees from the list of Prize Competition Finalists.

Students not interested in being eligible for the Prize Competition can complete their project submission any day prior to the Last Day of Classes in the Spring semester of their final year at USC.

No. If you graduate in the fall semester, you must apply for the Global Scholar designation and prize competition to be awarded in the Spring after your graduation. Be sure to keep apprised of and comply with all of the deadline requirements and updates that are published on the Global Scholars website for the appropriate term in order to ensure your eligibility.

The Global Scholar Prize Committee is composed of faculty members from departments across campus. They have compiled their suggestions and expectations here to help you compile a cohesive and complete project submission.

No, to earn both the Global Scholar and Discovery Scholar designations, you must submit two completely separate projects for consideration.

If you submit the same project for both programs, your school will certify you for just one of the designations based on which program criteria (if any) best fits your submitted work.

Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism
Abigail Kaun, Associate Dean, Academic Programs and Student Affairs

Davis School of Gerontology
Maria Henke, Associate Dean
Aaron Hagedorn, Clinical Assistant Professor

Dornsife College of Letters, Arts & Sciences
Erica Lovano McCann, Program Advisor

Keck School of Medicine
Elahe Nezami, Associate Dean and Director for Undergraduate Studies in Health Promotion

Marshall School of Business and Leventhal School of Accounting
Kim West, Associate Dean, Undergraduate Programs

Price School of Public Policy
Nam Ung, Undergraduate Program Administrator

Roski School of Fine Arts
Penelope Jones, Assistant Dean of Student Services

Thornton School of Music
Phillip Placenti, Assistant Dean, Admission and Financial Aid

USC Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy
Ann Neville-Jan, Associate Professor

USC School of Architecture
Kim Coleman, Chair of Undergraduate Studies and Professor

USC School of Cinematic Arts
Asiroh Cham, Manager of Student Services

USC School of Dramatic Arts
Leon Strayer, Academic Advisor

Viterbi School of Engineering
Louise Yates, Senior Associate Dean, Admissions and Student Affairs

For General Questions about the USC Global Scholars program please contact the Office of Undergraduate Programs.

Click on the name of your school to download the capstone project criteria specific to your school:

• Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism
• Davis School of Gerontology
• Dornsife College of Letters, Arts, and Sciences
• Keck School of Medicine
• Marshall School of Business and Leventhal School of Accounting
• Roski School of Fine Arts
• Sol Price School of Public Policy
• Thornton School of Music
• USC Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy
• USC School of Architecture
• USC School of Cinematic Arts
• USC School of Dramatic Arts
• Viterbi School of Engineering

The deadline for schools to submit Prize Competition Finalist nominations to the Office of Undergraduate Programs is at the beginning of April. You will be notified whether you are a Prize Competition Finalist during the following weeks.

A university-wide panel will select the Prize Awardees in time for announcement approximately two weeks before commencement.

Your immediate plans do not have to be concrete. Once your undergraduate degree has been awarded, you have up to five years to request disbursement of your prize. Global Scholar prize recipients must demonstrate evidence of enrollment in a graduate program in order to receive the prize amount.

Yes, if you meet each set of program requirements you may earn two or even all three designations.  However, to earn both the Global Scholar and Discovery Scholar designations, you must submit two completely separate projects for consideration.

In addition, you may be considered for each program’s Prize Competition; however, no student will be awarded more than one prize.