These 6 hand-curated scholarships are open to Independent Researchers. We highlight the award amount, deadline, and eligibility for each, ranking fully funded opportunities first so you never miss a deadline that matters to you.
Fully funded
Worldwide
Undergraduate
Watson Foundation
- Amount
- $40,000 plus insurance, eligible loan-payment assistance, and accommodation support
- Deadline
- Varies by partner institution; national
Graduating seniors nominated by a Watson partner institution for a self-designed year of independent international exploration.
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Partial
Worldwide
Graduate and doctoral
Closes in 9 days
The Explorers Club
- Amount
- $2,500–$5,000
- Deadline
- Aug 31, 2026
Graduate or postgraduate students and early-career scientists worldwide proposing rigorous, knowledge-building field research in any discip…
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Partial
Worldwide
High school and undergraduate
Closes in 9 days
The Explorers Club
- Amount
- Approximately $2,000 on average
- Deadline
- Aug 31, 2026
High school students, undergraduates, and equivalent-level independent researchers worldwide proposing genuine scientific field research.
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Partial
Worldwide
Any level
Closes in 23 days
The Explorers Club and Rolex
- Amount
- $10,000
- Deadline
- Sep 14, 2026
Explorers under 35 proposing original fieldwork that addresses a novel scientific, environmental, or historical question.
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Partial
Worldwide
Graduate and doctoral
Closes in 37 days
The Explorers Club and Kensington
- Amount
- $10,000
- Deadline
- Sep 28, 2026
Adults in graduate, postgraduate, early-career, or independent exploration pathways proposing impactful conservation fieldwork with strong …
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Partial
Worldwide
Undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral
Closes in 41 days
The Explorers Club and the Philip Stephenson Foundation
- Amount
- $10,000
- Deadline
- Oct 2, 2026
Undergraduates, graduate students, and independent explorers under 35 proposing rigorous marine research, exploration, or conservation fiel…
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