Scholarships

Departmental Scholarships

The Department of Physics and Astronomy awards two kinds of undergraduate scholarships: the Alabama High School Physics Contest scholarships, and the E. Scott Barr Scholarships.

students in a physics classHigh School Physics Contest

The High School Physics Contest Scholarships are for full in-state tuition for four years. They are awarded to the two top performers in the annual contest given the first Friday in February on the University of Alabama campus. Further information about the contest will be made available on the UA High School Physics Contest page. Recipients do not have to major in physics, but they are highly encouraged to do so!

Barr Scholarships

The Barr Scholarships were established with an endowment from former faculty member E. Scott Barr. They are awarded to outstanding students who plan to major in physics. They come in amounts of $1200 per year and are renewable for up to four years. Barr Scholars are expected to make good progress toward a degree in physics, and must maintain a grade-point average of 3.0 overall, and 3.25 in physics/astronomy courses. Applications, including two letters of reference, should be submitted by early February.

The Barr Scholarship application form for prospective students and application form for current students are available for download in PDF format and contain additional information.

Application materials should be emailed to vice chair of undergraduate studies Dr. Adam Hauser.

Other Physics Scholarships

The Department of Physics and Astronomy participates in the University of Alabama Noyce Scholars Program, which offers support for students seeking high school teacher certification. Noyce Scholarships of $16,000 per year are available for juniors and seniors and summer internships are available for freshmen and sophomores.

The Department of Physics & Astronomy also participates in the University of Alabama APEX Program (Alliance for Physics Excellence), which offers APEX Scholarships of up to $16,000 per year to pre-service students in physics education.

The Alabama Space Grant Consortium offers $1,000 scholarships, with applications due in March.

The American Physical Society offers the APS Scholarship for Minority Undergraduate Physics Majors, consisting of $2000 per year (new scholars) or $3000 per year (upon renewal) for tuition, room & board, and educational materials (deadline 2 February).

The American Association of Physics Teachers offers $2,000 Lotze Scholarships for Future Physics Teachers (deadline 1 December).

University and External Scholarships

Information about other scholarships can be found at the UA scholarship website.

Information about other prestigious external scholarships can be found at the Honors College website.

Federal grant opportunities for STEM undergraduate students are also available.