UChicago 4+1 Scholars FAQ
Here are the answers to frequently asked questions from students interested in the 4+1 Scholars Program. Learn what you need to know about eligibility, application processes, and program benefits.
General
UChicago 4+1 Scholars empowers talented College students to continue their intellectual journey and advance their career by securing a UChicago master’s degree. In addition to a streamlined application process, UChicago 4+1 Scholars receive a guaranteed merit scholarship to support their success in their master’s program. You can learn more about this program and the portfolio of Master’s programs on our website.
All UChicago 4+1 Scholars benefit from:
A facilitated admissions process to select UChicago master’s degree programs
A $5,000 scholarship toward your master’s program, directly after you have completed your bachelor’s degree
Additionally, students admitted to a 4+1 program in their second or third years are guaranteed a one-time $5,000 stipend for an unpaid summer internship or research opportunity.
Congratulations! You are amongst a small handful of students who distinguished themselves in the application process with your commitment to pursuing advanced education. Please consult your award letter to confirm your scholarship and internship award amounts. Prior to graduation, please apply for any 4+1 Scholars Master’s Programs that you are interested in. Our staff will flag your application as an Accelerated Scholar in the application review process.
Please reach out to Alyssa Nelson at alyssanelson@uchicago.edu with any questions.
Please contact UChicago 4+1 Masters Enrollment Program Director, Alyssa Nelson at alyssanelson@uchicago.edu.
Application & Admissions
For the 4+1 Scholars program, we only require your transcripts, resume, a one-page statement of interest, and a video profile (for select programs only). No test scores, letter of recommendation, or writing samples required!
We are happy to accept unofficial transcripts.
Career Advancement is here to help! Dedicated 4+1 Scholars Program career advisers are available via individual appointments on Handshake. They can discuss how to determine a best-fit master’s program or review application materials like your statement of interest. If you have specific curricular or programmatic questions about an individual master’s program, their staff is also happy to assist.
You can view a list of world-class master’s programs open to UChicago 4+1 Scholars on the program website. Program advisers will work closely with you to help you choose the program that matches best with your interests and goals.
Students will confirm their enrollment into their chosen master’s program according to the following deposit deadlines:
If admitted as a 4th year
Round 1 (Early Decision): January 16, 2026
Round 2: April 15, 2026
Round 3: May 29, 2026
Rolling Round: June 15, 2026
If admitted as a 2nd or 3rd year - deposit timeline for their 4th year
Partial Deposit - October 3, 2025
Remaining Deposit Amount - April 15, 2026
Yes, you are welcome to apply to as many programs as you would like. Though we do encourage you to consider which programs are the best fit for your interests. The Division of Arts & Humanities and Harris School of Public Policy only consider one application for their divisions, so you may only submit one application for their programs. Please feel free to schedule an individual appointment on Handshake to discuss the programs further.
Students are welcome to reapply to programs. However, we do highly recommend that you schedule an individual appointment on Handshake with one of our dedicated 4+1 Scholars advisors to discuss the best course forward and to review any feedback on your application.
Applying through the 4+1 Scholars Program is free! There are no fees associated with the 4+1 Scholars application process.
Applications will open on September 1, 2025
Round 1 – November 3, 2025
Round 2 – January 12, 2026
Round 3 – April 13, 2026
Rolling Applications through – May 29, 2026 (4th years only)
Please note that it is not guaranteed that all programs will participate in each round. Applicants are encouraged to apply as early as possible.
Decisions are typically made within 4-6 weeks of the application deadline.
We would love to discuss your application with you to provide any feedback the review committee might have left. Please schedule an individual appointment on Handshake with one of our dedicated 4+1 Scholars Program advisors to discuss the best course forward and to review any feedback on your application.
Students are also welcome to apply directly to the programs. These applications typically require more information and can therefore allow for a more holistic review for students who may not meet the admissions criteria outlined for 4+1 Scholars applicants.
After Admission
No. You will be an undergraduate while earning your bachelor’s degree and enrolled in the College. After you graduate from the College and matriculate into the master’s program, you will be a graduate student. Typically, a student is in the College for four years, and in the master’s degree program for one year or more.
You will receive your master’s scholarship during the academic year after you graduate from the College. It does not impact your undergraduate financial aid package.
You will hear directly from your graduate program in the coming months about next steps. Please be on the lookout for their upcoming email communications.
Your master’s program may require that you maintain a certain GPA and complete certain pre-requisite courses before matriculation. Visit the UChicago 4+1 Scholars website to learn more. It is your responsibility to work with your academic adviser to ensure you remain on track. Your master’s program will review your transcript and other materials to ensure that you meet all requirements before formally matriculating into the program.
To secure your spot, you will need to pay any deposits required by your specific graduate program. Your program will be in touch with you directly with more information.
All deposits are paid directly to your program. The deposit deadlines are listed below. For any extension requests or questions, please reach out directly to your program of admittance.
If admitted as a 4th year
Round 1 (Early Decision): January 16, 2026
Round 2: April 15, 2026
Round 3: May 29, 2026
Rolling Round: June 15, 2026
If admitted as a 2nd or 3rd year - deposit timeline for their 4th year
Partial Deposit - October 3, 2025
Remaining Deposit Amount - April 15, 2026
No. You are being admitted to the UChicago 4+1 Scholar program, which provides you with access to the master’s degree program to which you were admitted if you accept admission to the program, remain a full-time student in good standing, and satisfy the GPA and other applicable prerequisites (depending on the master’s degree) while earning your undergraduate bachelor’s degree. You will not need to take the GRE or fill out the external master’s application.
The guaranteed $5,000 scholarship will only be available in the year immediately after you graduate from the College. You must enroll that year to receive the scholarship. If you are interested in taking a gap year and foregoing the scholarship, please make a request in writing directly to your graduate program.
Many of our programs offer 4+1 Scholars additional scholarship aid, and we encourage you to reach out to your program for a full financial aid letter if you haven't already received one. Additionally, please visit this website to learn more about additional aid options. The Office of Graduate Aid is also happy to assist you. Contact Graduate Aid at gradfinaid@uchicago.edu.
Please reach out directly to your Master’s Program to request consideration. Please note that you may be required to apply again.
4+1 Scholars Summer Funding
UChicago 4+1 Scholars can use their internship funding for opportunities with all types of lawful employers in any industry as well as unpaid research opportunities at established institutions. The exceptions are that students may not use their funds to work with organizations that charge fees to participate in the internship or with organizations that promote specific candidates for political office.
Summer funding can only be applied to unpaid or minimally paid roles. Paid roles are not eligible.
Previous UChicago students have interned with a highly diverse lineup of organizations ranging from international Fortune 500 companies to tech startups and neighborhood nonprofits.
Career Advancement advisers are available to help you identify internships that fit your interests and goals!
For help with identifying internships or research projects, make an individual appointment on Handshake with a Career Advancement adviser. You are also encouraged to draw on your own personal network (professors, family, friends, etc.) for help finding a summer opportunity. Career Advancement is here to support you!
Summer funding is only available for students still enrolled in the College. Therefore, summer funding can only be claimed following your 2nd or 3rd year.
In order to be eligible for 4+1 Scholars summer funding, a student must be:
In good academic standing
An enrolled student in the College
In their 2nd or 3rd year
Admitted to one (or more) 4+1 Master’s Program
Maintain the admissions criteria GPA for the program you were admitted to
Although the award does not fund independent work experiences, students may use their funding to intern at a startup organization provided that the internship includes a supervisor with a demonstrated connection to the organization.
The 4+1 Scholars Summer Funding cannot be used for tuition payments to third-party program operators (e.g., internship placement agencies, other universities, etc.)
Your internship or research opportunity must be at least 320 hours for the summer to receive the entire $5000 summer stipend. You do not need to work a traditional full-time schedule to accomplish this. You and your employer are free to structure your hours in a way that is mutually convenient as long as you complete the 320 hours of work by the end of the summer. Any roles that will not complete 320 hours of work total for the summer will be subject to smaller stipend amounts following the sliding scale here.
To request your summer funding, you must fill out the following form. For Summer 2026, the deadline to do so is April 30th, 2026. If you have 4+1 Scholars summer funding questions, please contact Alyssa Nelson at alyssanelson@uchicago.edu.
Reach out to Alyssa Nelson at alyssanelson@uchicago.edu as soon as possible to discuss options. Please note that requests made after the deadline may not be funded.
When you fill out the 4+1 Scholars summer funding request form, you will need to provide:
Employer
Supervisor’s name, title, and contact information
Role title & description
Address of employment
Work structure (i.e., remote, hybrid, in-person)
Start & end dates
Hours per week
Total hours for the summer
An offer letter or email from the employer or your supervisor that includes start & end dates, total hours for the summer, and confirmation of any compensation or lack thereof
If you do not have an offer letter, an email from your supervisor or research advisor is also completely valid as long as it includes the above information.
Yes! As long as the work is unpaid for the summer, you are welcome to request your funds to support summer research. Research at other institutions or organizations both domestic and international are also eligible. Thesis research must include weekly check-ins with your faculty supervisor in order to be considered.
Unfortunately, summer classes are not eligible for a 4+1 Summer Funding stipend.
No. The 4+1 Scholars summer funding is not contingent on you committing to a Master’s Program. If you choose not to attend, you will not be required to return your summer funding. The 4+1 Scholars summer funding is an incentive for being admitted, your commitment to the program is your choice!
Yes, students participating in summer roles overseas must consider the following:
If you are going overseas in-person to complete your internship, carefully read the Student Responsibilities and Available Resources for Students Interning Abroad. Please make sure you pay close attention to matters such as visa and work authorization, health insurance, and vaccination requirements!
Please also review the State Department Travel Advisories for entry and quarantine restrictions in the host country. Please review these regularly as they may change and impact your ability to go in-person.
The University of Chicago’s working assumption is that travel to countries or regions with a U.S. Department of State Level 3 or Level 4 Advisory is not permitted for undergraduate participants. We also use as indicators the advisory levels published by the Centers for Disease Control and our emergency provider, International SOS. Thus, if the country or region to which travel is contemplated is listed as Level 3 or 4 in the State Department’s travel advisories OR has a warning level 3 from the Centers for Disease Control OR has an International SOS risk rating of High or Extreme, travel is assumed to be prohibited.
If a student is awarded a stipend for an on-site internship in a restricted country or region, they must successfully petition the University for an exemption to this policy in order to receive their funding. All petitions will be reviewed by the Study Abroad Risk and Security Assessment Committee (SARSAC). For questions regarding the petition process, please contact Chiara Montanari at chiaram@uchicago.edu.