Scholarships and Awards

The Department of Philosophy offers a small number of scholarships and awards to philosophy students each year. In addition, the College of Letters & Science offers multiple scholarships for majors within the College, which includes philosophy majors. Most application deadlines are in spring (March & April) for the following school year (i.e. apply in March 2026 for scholarships paid beginning in September 2026).

The scholarship process for all undergraduates and all scholarships (both major specific ones and all general scholarships) begins with UWM’s Panther Scholarship Portal. Graduate students can also follow this process, though most of the available scholarship funding is for undergraduates. See the graduate student funding page for more information.

How and when to apply:

  1. Log into the portal and your general application. This must be done a minimum of once per school year but we recommend doing this twice a year at the start of each semester (September and January).
  2. In the portal, complete the Letters & Science scholarship application. Here is where you will upload a copy of your transcript (also recommended to be done in September and January).

    Completing steps 1 and 2 will match you to most scholarships based on the information you enter.
  3. You may see scholarships on your Panther Scholarship Portal dashboard that you can “Apply To.” These are scholarships which require additional information beyond steps 1 and 2. Complete any of these you wish to apply for.

The Panther Scholarship Portal can also be used to find non-UWM (private) scholarships that have registered with UWM. These may be scholarships sponsored by local or national organizations, fraternal clubs or other companies outside of UWM.

Students are responsible for reading and understanding UWM’s policies regarding scholarship applications. Please pay particular attention to the section on the use of AI (such as Chat GPT).

Visit the UWM Panther Scholarship Portal

In the portal, the Philosophy Department offers these scholarships and awards just for their students.

Department of Philosophy Award

The Department of Philosophy will award prizes for two essay competitions this year:

  1. The Brian Undergraduate Philosophy Essay Competition
  2. The Peltz Undergraduate Award
  3. The Peltz Graduate Award

Students will submit their applications directly to the department. Questions? Email Miren Boehm (boehmn@uwm.edu) and Matthew Knachel (knachel@uwm.edu).

Award: Varies

View in Portal

Brin Award in Philosophy

When funds are available, the Brin Award in Philosophy is given to graduate students in philosophy with demonstrated academic merit. Students are selected by the faculty and no separate application is required.

Award: Varies

Donor: Mr. Bradley M. Brin and Mrs. Glenna Cose Brin

View in Portal

Chancellor's Graduate Student Award in Philosophy

Chancellor’s awards for graduate students in philosophy as chosen by the department. Students do not need to submit an application to be considered for this award.

Award: Varies

View in Portal

William J. Seidler Scholarship

Eligibility Criteria -Declared Philosophy Major -Minimum GPA 3.25 -Documented financial need as shown on the FAFSA -Must be a continuing student

Award: Varies

Donor: The late William J. Seidler

View in Portal

UWM Land Acknowledgement: We acknowledge in Milwaukee that we are on traditional Potawatomi, Ho-Chunk and Menominee homeland along the southwest shores of Michigami, North America’s largest system of freshwater lakes, where the Milwaukee, Menominee and Kinnickinnic rivers meet and the people of Wisconsin’s sovereign Anishinaabe, Ho-Chunk, Menominee, Oneida and Mohican nations remain present.   |   To learn more, visit the Electa Quinney Institute website.