Honors Opportunity Awards

These awards of up to $1,500 support opportunities for intellectual and academic growth.

Criteria

To apply for an Honors Opportunity Award (HOA), students must have a minimum 3.25 GPA and be a member of the University Honors Program with undergraduate status while participating in the opportunity. Eligible activities must be completed prior to a student's graduation for an HOA to be applied.

Qualifying opportunities include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Study abroad programs (with priority given to students traveling abroad for the first time, and consideration given to the length of the program) 
  • Service work
  • Internships (unpaid or with significant financial costs) 
  • Conferences outside of Kansas (with priority given to students presenting) 
  • Off- and on-campus research (KU’s Center for Undergraduate Research also provides on-campus research funding opportunities)

HOAs cannot cover the cost of tuition, graduate school applications, or course/certification fees.

Application process

Applications are evaluated based on the strength of the student’s academic record, their involvement with the honors program, and the value of the experience as it contributes to the program’s Enhanced Learning Experience (ELE) requirement.

To apply, sign in to the University of Kansas Scholarship Opportunities Portal using your KU Online ID and password, then select "Apply" beside the “Honors Opportunity Awards” option. Applications are evaluated based on how well an opportunity enriches a student’s course of study. Priority consideration is given to first-time recipients and those with financial need. You may apply only once per award period and opportunity. 

Honors Opportunity Award application periods and open/close dates.
PeriodApplication OpensApplication Closes
Period IJuly 15Sept. 15
Period IIOct. 2Nov. 15
Period IIIDec. 2Feb. 15
Period IVMarch 2April 15

Award disbursement

Awards are usually distributed within one month of the award decision. Travel-related awards disburse close to the program’s start date, and are dependent on the program’s approval by KU’s International Travel Advisory Committee. Successful applicants will be required to submit additional tax-related paperwork, including a W-9, prior to receiving the funding. Special tax rules, which vary by country, may apply to international students. 

Domestic students who wish to receive funds via direct deposit must complete and return a direct deposit form to KU Endowment. International students wishing to receive funds via direct deposit must complete and return the Authorization for Electronic Deposit form, along with a voided blank check or a statement from their bank listing the routing and accounting number. 

Note: Awards may be considered taxable income to parents or to students who have “independent” financial aid status. 

Cancellations

Honors Opportunity Awards are provided from a variety of sources, some of which are designated for particular types of opportunities. For this reason, if a student’s plans change, we will cancel the existing award but prioritize that student for future consideration. If you have already received your award check, please contact honors@ku.edu to coordinate its return. For any non-refundable expenditures from canceled opportunities, please provide documentation, and we will determine if your award can cover these costs.