Scholarships

Undergraduate Student Scholarships

Undergraduate MALS Major Scholarship: $5,000

Awarded to a rising junior or senior MALS major who has completed at least two MAS courses.

Requirements:

• MALS Major
• Successful completion of at least two MAS courses
• Minimum GPA of 3.0
• Full-time or part-time student
• Both merit and financial need will be considered.

Application Materials:

• Cover Sheet
• Current Unofficial Transcript
• Biographical essay (400-600 words), including a description of your career plans and the impact of MAS courses on your work
• Two recommendations from people familiar with you and your work (may be emailed by recommender directly to cmals@central.uh.edu with YOUR NAME and the word RECOMMENDATION in the subject line)
• Combine all materials (excluding recommendations) into a single pdf and submit to cmals@central.uh.edu

Deadline: June 12, 2026 by 11:59 pm

Undergraduate MAS Minor Scholarship: $1,000

Awarded to a rising junior or senior MALS Minor who has completed at least two MAS courses.

Requirements:

• MALS Minor
• Successful completion of at least two MAS courses
• Minimum GPA of 3.0
• Full-time or part-time student

Application Materials:

• Cover Sheet
• Current Unofficial Transcript
• Biographical essay (400–600 words), including a description of your career plans and the impact of MAS courses on your work
• Two recommendations from people familiar with you and your work (may be emailed by recommender directly to cmals@central.uh.edu with YOUR NAME and the word RECOMMENDATION in the subject line)
• Combine all materials (excluding recommendations) into a single pdf and submit to cmals@central.uh.edu

Deadline: June 12, 2026 by 11:59 pm

Undergraduate Student Essay Prize: $500 [Not accepting applications]

CMALS awards a prize of $500 to the best undergraduate essay focusing on the Mexican American and/or broader Latino experience in the US. CMALS retains the right to not grant an award.

Requirements:

• Entrants may be students in any UH department, not necessarily a CMALS student
• Essays must be the student's own original work, written for a UH class in the academic year of the application and focusing on the Mexican American and/or broader Latino experience in the US. Course name, semester and professor's name must be indicated on the essay

Application Materials:

• Cover Sheet
• Essay, including course name, semester and professor's name
• Combine all materials into a single pdf and submit to cmals@central.uh.edu

Deadline: Not accepting applications

Graduate Student Scholarships

Graduate Student Research Grant: $3,000

Awarded to a graduate student working on a thesis or dissertation focusing on the Mexican American and/or broader Latino experience in the US. Selection is based on the merit of the student's project and academic record.

Requirements

• Minimum GPA of 3.0
• Full-time student in both fall and spring semesters of fellowship 

Application Materials

• Cover Sheet
• Summary of your project and its current status (2 page max)
• Current unofficial transcript covering all graduate coursework
• Two letters of recommendation from people familiar with you and your work (may be emailed by recommender directly to cmals@central.uh.edu with YOUR NAME and the word RECOMMENDATION in the subject line)
• Combine all materials (excluding recommendations) into a single pdf and submit to cmals@central.uh.edu

Deadline: June 12, 2026 by 11:59 pm

Graduate Student Essay Prize: $500 [Not accepting applications]

CMALS awards a prize of $500 to the best graduate essay focusing on the Mexican American and/or broader Latino experience in the US. CMALS retains the right to not grant an award.

Requirements:

• Entrants may be students in any UH department.
• Essays must be the student's own original work, written for a UH class in the academic year of the application and focusing on the Mexican American and/or broader Latino experience in the US. Course name, semester and professor's name must be indicated on the essay.

Application Materials:

• Cover Sheet
• Essay, including course name, semester and professor's name
• Combine all materials into a single pdf and submit to cmals@central.uh.edu

Deadline: Not accepting applications

Graduate Student Travel Grant: Up to $750 [Not accepting applications]

Graduate students currently enrolled in a master’s or doctoral program at the University of Houston may apply for funds to facilitate travel to present at professional conferences on topics related to the Mexican American and/or broader Latino experience in the US. The maximum amount awarded per student will be up to $750. Prior authorization from the university is required before travel. Preference will be given to students who have previously not received travel funding from CMALS. 

Application Materials:

• Cover Sheet
• Current CV
• Conference Presentation Abstract
• Participation description (150-250 words): Please explain how your participation in this conference relates to the Mexican American and/or broader Latino experience in the US
• Full Budget: Include a full budget for the proposed conference travel, specifying any funding expected from other sources, both inside and outside the university.
• Combine all materials into a single pdf and submit to cmals@central.uh.edu

Deadline: [Not accepting applications]
Future Deadlines: September 2026 for Fall 2026 conference travel, February 2027 for Spring/Summer 2027