Submitted by Stephen Dunne
on
Where would you go if you had eight months to travel solo? Which two continents and six countries would you visit? What experiences would you seek out? How would you be transformed?
Each year a handful of lucky University of Washington students get to make those decisions as they embark on the adventure of a lifetime with the support of a Bonderman Fellowship. The 2026 application is open and you may be eligible to apply for this $26,000 fellowship that supports independent exploration and travel abroad.
Bonderman Fellows undertake international travel on their own for eight months, to six or more countries in two or more major regions of the world. Through solo travel fellows focus on exploration and discovery, learning about the world and themselves in it. Each Fellowship carries a $26,000 award to be used only for extended solo international travel. Fellows may not conduct research, pursue an academic project, or participate in a formal program or organization.
Applications are due before 5:00 pm PT on January 14, 2026. In person and online information session information can be seen here.
More information and the application can be found at bonderman.uw.edu - please review the eligibility requirements below to see if you may apply.
Eligibility:
In 2026, the Bonderman Fellowship will offer University of Washington undergraduate graduating seniors, graduate and professional students from the Seattle, Tacoma, and Bothell campuses an opportunity to engage in independent international travel. Open to all fields of study.
Students with limited/no international experience are particularly encouraged to apply. Undergraduate students from low-income backgrounds are also encouraged to apply.
To be considered, applicants must:
- Be U.S. citizens or permanent residents.
- Be enrolled in a University of Washington degree program.
- Graduate/professional students must be enrolled in a degree program the quarter the application is due (Winter Quarter 2026).
- On leave status is not considered “enrolled”.
- Professional students include those in Law (JD), Medicine (MD), Dentistry (DDS), and Pharmacy (PharmD) degree programs.
- Undergraduate applicants must be planning to graduate in winter 2026, spring 2026, summer 2026 or autumn 2026 and must be enrolled in at least two quarters between autumn 2025 and autumn 2026.
- If you are not graduating in winter 2026, spring 2026, summer 2026 or autumn 2026, you are not eligible to apply this year.
- If you are selected as a Bonderman Fellow, you must graduate before you start your travels.
- Be in good academic, conduct and disciplinary standing during the quarter the application is due.
- If awarded, good academic, disciplinary and conduct standing is a prerequisite of receiving the fellowship.
- Please thoroughly review all guidelines and preferences.
To learn more about this extraordinary opportunity, please review the Applying and FAQ sections of the website.