SPIE - John Kiel Scholarship

John Kiel Scholarship

You will receive a one-off payment of US $10,000 (about 9,200 EUR) for one academic year. This amount will be applied towards your tuition fees, other fees and course-related costs such as books, materials and equipment required by your university. The funding comes from SPIE, the International Society for Optics and Photonics. SPIE established the award in memory of its founding member, John Kiel, to support students showing great potential in the fields of optics and optical engineering.

Who can apply

• Field of study: You are studying optics and photonics or a closely related subject.
• Level of study: Any stage, from high school and technical college to bachelor's, master's and PhD students.
• SPIE membership: You are an active SPIE student member (membership fee: $20, US dollars; free for school pupils and students in pre-university programmes). Your membership will remain valid from 15 February until 30 June, whilst your applications are being assessed.
• Nationality and location: You can apply from anywhere in the world.
• No final degree yet: You do not yet hold a final academic qualification such as an MD, JD or PhD.
• Selection basis: You will be assessed on the basis of your potential to make a long-term contribution to this field, compared with other applicants at your level. Financial need alone is not sufficient to qualify.

How to apply

Applications must be submitted via the SPIE online portal. A single application covers all SPIE scholarships. The application deadline is 15 February each year at 17:00 Pacific Standard Time. You will need two letters of recommendation (not from family members), your academic transcripts, a CV and a short essay (maximum 400 words) about your connection to optics and your goals. You will receive a response in May or June.

How realistic are your chances?

The prize is open to applicants worldwide and at all levels of study, so many people can apply. However, it is strictly focused on optics and photonics, which limits the pool of applicants to students in this field. Your essay and your arguments for making a long-term contribution are more important than grades alone, as this is the main criterion. If you are clearly suited to the subject area and can demonstrate genuine potential, you stand a good chance amongst applicants at your level.