John M. Gunn International Scholarship

About the Scholarship

Washington and Lee University welcomes applicants for the John M. Gunn International Scholarship for Visiting Students.

Through the Gunn Scholarship, eligible students are invited to spend one year at W&L to augment the major studies in which they are engaged at their home institutions. The scholarship pays the full tuition, room, board, and transportation costs for one year. 

Gunn scholars may come from any academic discipline, but preference is given to students who:

1. will focus some of their work in our Williams School, which houses the departments of Accounting, Business Administration, Economics, and Politics (including American Politics, Global Politics, and Political Theory);
2. are interested in a broader education in the liberal arts;
3. are in junior or senior status at their home university.

Gunn Scholars may take up to FOUR courses in the Williams School.  The scholarship requires students to experience the American liberal model of education by taking courses in the College of Arts and Sciences and/or in our many interdisciplinary programs such as “Law, Justice and Society” and “Poverty and Human Capability.”  A complete listing of the university’s interdisciplinary programs is available in the Interdisciplinary Programs section of the University Catalog. A listing of departments, majors, and minors is located in the Degrees, Majors, Minors, Areas of Study section of the University Catalog. Once the Gunn scholar is selected, he or she will be assigned an academic adviser in the Williams School who will work with the scholar to select classes for the fall term.

While at W&L, students have access to a world of academic, athletic, and extracurricular activities and the opportunity to explore unique on-campus housing options such as the Global Service House.

Eligibility

To be eligible, Gunn Scholars will:

• Be currently enrolled in an undergraduate degree program at a non-U.S. university
• Be fluent in English
• Scholarships are available to students who demonstrate financial need

Application Materials

Your application will include:

• Official transcripts
• Two letters of recommendation
• Evidence of a strong extracurricular background
• Two personal essays
• TOEFL or IELTS score, or documentation that English is the language of instruction at your home institution

Applications are due March 2, 2026. The application is now available to submit electronically ONLY. Please do not send paper copies. For more information, contact Kristy Reed.

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