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These questions may help you decide:

• Am I interested in engaging with a wide range of political, economic, and philosophical perspectives?
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• Would I value being part of a community that emphasizes open, respectful discourse and intellectual diversity?
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• Am I willing to attend regular events, lectures, and reading groups that challenge my thinking?
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• Do I enjoy exploring big questions about history, culture, politics, and the role of ideas in society?
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• Am I looking for a structured fellowship that includes both academic and community-building components

If you answer yes or even feel intrigued by these questions, we encourage you to apply.

The Benson Fellowship provides an annual $3,000 award (renewable each year) and, more importantly, the opportunity to join an intellectual community that values free inquiry, academic freedom, and engagement with diverse perspectives. Fellows participate in seminars, lectures, and discussions led by faculty, visiting scholars, and peers, exploring enduring questions in politics, philosophy, economics, and culture. They also gain access to mentoring, networking, and academic support, along with priority consideration for competitive grants such as the John J. Wehman Scholarship, CU in DC financial support, and research or language study funding—all designed to help students think independently and contribute meaningfully to public dialogue.

The Benson Center promotes the study of the intellectual, artistic and political traditions that characterize Western Civilization. The Center offers a forum for free inquiry and supports academic freedom and intellectual diversity on campus in a time of increasing political polarization and homogeneity. The Center is organized around a diverse group of faculty and student scholars including a Center Director, Associate Faculty Director, Visiting Scholars in Conservative Thought and Policy (CTP), Scholars in Residence, Faculty Fellows, Harper Graduate Fellows, and�� Undergraduate Fellows, and an ongoing series of campus seminars, lectures and programs, faculty and student grants, undergraduate classes, a summer institute and community outreach. These programs, guided by a national board of advisors and a CU faculty executive committee, provide a forum for free and open discourse across the university and the broader community. Our aim is to promote a lively and balanced conversation that respects both conservative and liberal ideals, thus fostering the full diversity of political, economic and philosophical perspectives on the ��ɫ��Ƶ campus and broader community, and serving as a model for other institutions.��More Information��

The Benson Undergraduate Fellowship had a little over 500 applications in AY 2025-26, and 25 outstanding students were selected to participate in the BUF program. Check out our social media channels to see profiles of previous Benson Center Fellows and why they enjoyed the program!

• Fellows receive up to a $3,200 stipend for the academic year provided they are contributing to the life of the Center.
• Fellows will be given priority for student grants such as the John J. Wehman Scholarship, Internship and Language Study Grants, financial support for CU in DC internships, and are welcome to submit individual grant requests to support research and other academic pursuits.
• Access to visiting scholars, lecturers, and CU faculty, as well as a community of like-minded students.
• Fellows will be invited to special Benson Center receptions.
• Fellows can reserve space in the Benson Center suite for academic purposes like study groups or a quiet place to study.
• Fellows receive access to the Benson Center Library, located in the Benson Center Suite.��

• Students must be enrolled��in an undergraduate program on the ��ɫ��Ƶ campus. Students must be enrolled in classes in order to receive scholarship funding. Scholarships are not offered in the summer term.
• Students are expected to actively participate in the life of the Center, which means attending Center events as their schedules allow. At the core of the mission of the Undergraduate Fellows Program is the desire to create an active student community. This means that students should expect to attend events in person more often than not, though exceptions can be made if students make prior arrangements with Center staff by emailing bensoncenter@colorado.edu.
• Students are responsible for knowing the Center’s schedule (posted on our website) and communicating with Center affiliates if they are unable to participate as originally planned.
• Students must submit the application before the posted deadline on the Benson Center website.

The AY 2026-27 application has the following questions:

1. In 300 words or less, name a book from the Western tradition written before 1945 that has influenced the way you think or live and – without simply summarizing the book – explain how and why it has influenced you. (Note: We reserve the right to reject applications for suspected AI use.)
2. Please identify a sponsored by the Benson Center of interest to you and record a 3 – 5 minute video reflection explaining why you found it interesting.

The Center organizes a wide range of events. Recent topics have included the rule of law, moral discourse, political polarization, and the role of capitalism in intellectual life. Recordings are available on the , and an archive of past events can be found��here.

We suggest uploading a video to YouTube, Google, or Vimeo. Simply record yourself on your phone or computer and download the file. Follow this on how to upload a video to YouTube and keep it “unlisted,” or follow this on how to upload a video to Google drive. Then, take the link from YouTube, Google, or Vimeo and enter it into the application. Please be sure the privacy settings are such that the reviewers can actually view the video. ����
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Yes, fellowships are renewable, but current Fellows are required and encouraged to reapply for the Fellowship every year. Applications for one-semester Fellowships will be considered, though preference may be given to applicants able to participate in the Fellowship for the entire academic year.

As long as students are enrolled in courses during the semester they are fellows, students are eligible to apply for the fellowship. Seniors graduating in the fall term are eligible to receive $1,500 in the final semester of their senior year. Similarly, spring transfer students may apply, though it is preferred students apply for the full academic year.

The Benson Center faculty affiliates are responsible for organizing events at the Center. Faculty affiliates have diverse backgrounds and research interests, which results in the diversity of events and speakers at the Center. Faculty affiliates of the Center have included faculty with backgrounds in Philosophy, Economics, Law, Environmental Studies, Herbst Program in Engineering, Leeds School of Business, Spanish and Portuguese, and English.

The mission of the Undergraduate Fellows Program is to foster a community of undergraduate students who are interested in engaging in the mission of the Center. Because of this, students should expect to participate in events in person as much as possible. Of course, the Center understands exceptions need to be made; undergraduate fellows should reach out to Center staff if they need an exception or need to participate virtually for an event. The intent is for virtual participation to be the exception instead of the norm.

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Applicants selected to receive a scholarship will be notified mid April. If you haven’t heard by May 1st, you haven’t been selected. Students can check their status in the ��ɫ��Ƶ Scholarship Application by clicking the My Applications tab.

The Benson application is open from November 1st through March 15th. Applications must be submitted before 11:59 pm Mountain Time (Colorado time) on March 15th.��