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USA · Undergraduate · Fully Funded

University of RichmondUniversity · USA

University of Richmond Richmond Scholars Program 2027 in USA (Fully Funded)

Richmond’s most prestigious merit award: full tuition plus housing and food for four years — and there is no separate application. Your admission file, on time, is your scholarship application.

Deadline 1 Dec 2026 · 37 days left Open Updated 16 Oct 2026 By University of Richmond
Award
The Richmond Scholars Program is the University of Richmond’s top academic merit award: full undergraduate tuition plus university housing and food, renewable for up to eight consecutive semesters of full-time enrollment. About 25 incoming first-year students receive it each year. Scholars also get a one-time enrichment grant of up to $5,500 for faculty-mentored activities (study abroad, research, unpaid internships), priority course registration, guaranteed on-campus housing, dedicated faculty mentorship, cultural event vouchers and specialized scholar advising.
Eligible
First-year undergraduate applicants — U.S. and international students are both eligible. For 2027 entry Richmond is test-optional (SAT/ACT not required). Selection is on four criteria: academic achievement, engaged leadership, a strong sense of purpose, and interest in a diverse and inclusive community. Note: admission for international applicants is need-aware, but non-U.S. citizens are fully eligible for this merit award.
How
There is no separate Richmond Scholars application. Submit a complete University of Richmond first-year admission application — via the Common Application or the Coalition Application (Scoir), with the Richmond supplemental questions, transcript, school report, recommendation and English-proficiency evidence where required — by 1 December 2026, and you are automatically considered. Finalists are notified through the Spider Portal by February 1 and interviewed by a faculty selection committee over Zoom in mid-February; final selections are completed by March 1.
Deadline
1 December 2026 — your complete admission application must be on file by this date for Richmond Scholars consideration. (Regular Decision closes 1 January 2027, but that is too late for the scholarship.)
Fine print
The award is merit-based and renewable for eight semesters, subject to the university’s requirements. Airfare, visa costs, health insurance, books and personal expenses are not covered. Reaching the interview stage does not guarantee admission or the scholarship.

About the scholarship

The Richmond Scholars Program is the University of Richmond’s most prestigious merit award, offered to approximately 25 incoming first-year students each year. It is designed to attract high-achieving students defined by academic success, leadership, purpose and commitment to diversity — and it covers the three biggest costs of a U.S. undergraduate degree: tuition, housing and food, for the full four years.

What makes this award unusually simple is the application: there is no separate scholarship form. Every first-year applicant whose complete admission application is on file by December 1 is automatically considered. The admission application — your grades, essays, activities and recommendations — is the entire scholarship application.

Eligibility

  • Be a first-year undergraduate applicant to the University of Richmond (not a transfer or postgraduate applicant).
  • U.S. and international students are both eligible — non-U.S. citizens can be considered for this merit-based award.
  • Submit a complete admission application by 1 December 2026.
  • SAT/ACT scores are optional for students entering in 2027 (Richmond is test-optional).
  • International applicants must meet general admission requirements, including English-language proficiency (IELTS, TOEFL, Duolingo, or a waiver where it applies) and financial certification.
  • Selection looks at academic achievement, engaged leadership, a strong sense of purpose, and interest in a diverse and inclusive community.

Benefits

  • Full undergraduate tuition for up to eight consecutive semesters.
  • University housing and food (on-campus accommodation and meal plan).
  • One-time enrichment grant of up to $5,500 for a faculty-mentored activity such as study abroad, research or an unpaid internship.
  • Priority course registration and guaranteed on-campus housing.
  • Dedicated faculty mentorship, cultural event vouchers and specialized scholar advising.
  • Membership in a small, multidisciplinary scholars’ community with dedicated programming.

Documents required

  • Complete first-year admission application via the Common Application or the Coalition Application (Scoir), including the Richmond supplemental questions.
  • High school transcript (grades 9–11), school report, senior progress grades, and at least one recommendation from a school official.
  • Activities and achievements record.
  • English-proficiency evidence where the university requires it.
  • Optional: SAT/ACT scores (not required for 2027 entry), arts portfolios where eligible.

How to apply

  1. Start your Richmond applicationCreate an account on the Common Application or the Coalition Application (Scoir) and select the University of Richmond.
  2. Complete the Richmond supplementAnswer the university’s supplemental questions thoughtfully — this is where leadership, purpose and community engagement show.
  3. Arrange your documents earlyTranscript, school report, recommendation and English evidence all take time; your counselor needs a head start too.
  4. Submit everything by 1 December 2026Your complete admission application must be on file by this date — this is what puts you in the Richmond Scholars pool. No separate scholarship form exists.
  5. Watch the Spider PortalFinalists are notified by February 1 and interviewed by a faculty committee over Zoom in mid-February; final selections are completed by March 1.

FAQs

Do I need a separate Richmond Scholars application?

No. Students who submit a complete University of Richmond admission application by 1 December 2026 are automatically considered for the Richmond Scholars Program.

Can international students win it?

Yes. Non-U.S. citizens are fully eligible for this merit-based award. Note that Richmond’s admission process is need-aware for international applicants, which is separate from the merit decision.

How many scholarships are awarded?

Approximately 25 incoming first-year students each year.

Are SAT or ACT scores required?

No. For students entering in Fall 2027, the University of Richmond is test-optional — scores are not required for Richmond Scholars consideration.

Is there an interview?

Yes, for finalists. Applicants who advance are notified through the Spider Portal by February 1 and interviewed by a faculty selection committee over Zoom in mid-February.

Does it cover everything?

It covers full tuition, housing and food for eight semesters, plus the enrichment grant. Airfare, U.S. student-visa costs, health insurance, books and personal spending are not covered.

Verified 23 Oct 2026: opportunities247.org — deadline 1 Dec 2026, full tuition + housing + food, ~25 scholars, automatic consideration, 4 selection criteria, Zoom interviews mid-Feb; daadscholarship.com (checked 14 Sep 2026) — no separate application, Common/Coalition via Scoir, enrichment grant $5,500, finalists notified by Feb 1 via Spider Portal, final selection by Mar 1, RD 1 Jan 2027 vs scholarship deadline 1 Dec 2026; pontly.africa — international eligibility with need-aware admission context, test-optional for 2027. Queue deadline “December 2026” confirmed as 1 December 2026.

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