GBHEM Scholarship Portals Open Jan. 7 for U.S. and International Students
GBHEM’s scholarship portal for United Methodist undergraduate and graduate students opens Wednesday, Jan. 7. (Photo by Kathleen Barry, UM News).
The General Board of Higher Education and Ministry (GBHEM) application portal opens on Wednesday, Jan. 7, for United Methodist students seeking scholarships for undergraduate and graduate study at colleges, universities, and seminaries worldwide. Potential scholarships awarded range from $500 to $1,200, on average.
The application portal for the International Grants and Scholarship Program (GRASP) also will open on Jan 7. This date, a shift from past cycles for GRASP, aligns the application timing for students worldwide. Applications for both scholarships will be accepted through Friday, March 6.
“These scholarships help open doors to higher education for United Methodist students and prepare future leaders for both the church and society,” said GBHEM General Secretary Roland Fernandes.
So far in 2025, GBHEM has awarded scholarships to more than 2,500 undergraduate and graduate students, valued at nearly $4.5 million, at over 600 schools worldwide. These scholarships help students from diverse backgrounds pursue their education, preparing them to become the next generation of leaders, including:
Dinah Mombo is pursuing her master of divinity at Saint Paul School of Theology to become an ordained elder in the Great Plains Annual Conference. “Receiving this scholarship is not only a financial blessing for my family but also a profound encouragement to continue pursuing my goals with focus and determination,” Mombo said. “It allows me to concentrate more fully on my studies, engage in meaningful activities within my school and church communities, and aim higher in all that I do.”
Brodney Talley will major in cybersecurity at Clark Atlanta University. “College is where I will not only build and develop more skills in my industry, but it is also where I will build my network with other students, professors and industry professionals,” Talley said. “I was truly honored to receive these scholarships to help fund my first year of college.”
Noella Barron plans to pursue a Ph.D. in clinical psychology after graduating from Duke University, a path that will include several years of post-baccalaureate research followed by graduate school. “I am fascinated by the human brain and the ways in which we can better take care of it. This scholarship allows me to attend Duke, my dream school, and to prepare for graduation with a B.S. in psychology. These funds also give me the opportunity to save for my future graduate studies.”
Garikai Malunga, a lecturer at Africa University pursuing his DPhil in public health, received a scholarship through GBHEM’s International Grants and Scholarship Program to help with his graduate studies. “I am so happy that this GRASP scholarship will allow me to do data collection for the first part of my research,” Malunga said.
Students may submit one application to the GBHEM portal each year. The application is then screened for the appropriate GBHEM scholarship program. Learn more about scholarships.
About General Board of Higher Education and Ministry
As stewards of the educational mission and intellectual life of The United Methodist Church, the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry (GBHEM) connects the church and the academy and develops transformational leaders for the ministry of the church. Elders, deacons and licensed local pastors benefit from training and candidacy programs. Young adults find help in clarifying their vocation and God’s call on their lives through leadership and discernment programs. GBHEM also supports and connects networks of more than 1,000 United Methodist and Methodist-related schools, colleges and universities around the world.
Related Posts
During its June meeting, the University Senate of The United Methodist Church updated the list of approved non-United Methodist theological schools, based on University Senate requirements for preparing candidates for ordination in The United Methodist Church.
In May, nine United Methodist chaplains and campus ministers stepped onto Spain’s El Camino de Santiago, not simply to walk, but to listen for God more deeply. The journey created sacred space for discernment, renewal and connection among leaders who spend their days guiding others. The eight-day pilgrimage, supported by the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry (GBHEM), was part of the Office of Collegiate Ministries Spiritual Development program, which provided $2,000 stipends for the nine participants.
The General Board of Higher Education and Ministry’s revised Course of Study (COS) curriculum will reshape how local pastors in The United Methodist Church are formed for ministry through a streamlined, 16-course structure that is more integrated, flexible, and responsive to today’s church.
