Commonwealth Honors College Bloom International Fellows Program

The Commonwealth Honors College Bloom International Fellows Program is an honors student mentorship initiative for students who study abroad and want to integrate and expand their international experiences into their future post-graduation careers. We seek to select applicants who are not only ready to study abroad and curious to learn from other cultures, but more importantly, students who plan to build on their study abroad experiences when they return to campus and develop a long-term vision of bold careers with a global impact. The Bloom International Fellows are required to enroll in a mentorship program after their return from their study abroad. The mentorship portion provides further student enrichment under the guidance of a faculty mentor and consists of 8 meetings (4 each semester, 1.5 h) and of community building activities, and workshops on debriefing your international experience, preparation of a cultural presentation for the campus conference and peers in Residence Life, career readiness, preparation to apply for the Fulbright scholarship or other national scholarships, and attendance to international events on campus. A core focus of the mentorship portion of the program is to help students apply for the Fulbright scholarship. Participation in the mentorship portion is required.

To be considered for the Bloom International Fellows Program, you must have a committed application in UMass Abroad by December 3, as applications in any other status are not eligible. If there is a compelling reason that you cannot commit by this date, email abroad@umass.edu and copy your study abroad advisor to request an exception. You must send this email before December 3.

The selection committee will pay particular attention to:
1. Academic Merit Demonstrated by superior academic performance and a clear, compelling intellectual rationale for specific course of study in a particular country and program
2. Leadership Potential Evidence of leadership potential or experience, initiative, and the capacity to make a positive contribution in your community or field of study (membership/leadership of student academic and co-academic programs, community engagement, peer support and mentorship, advocacy, and others).
3. Ambassadorial Potential Does the applicant have the skills and ability to engage with others? Does the applicant have a record of building productive relationships with people inside or outside of their peer group or field of expertise? Does the applicant appreciate the needs and concern of others?
4. Commitment to enroll in the mentorship portion of this program, which consists of 2 supplemental post-study abroad semesters, 8 meetings (1.5h each, 4 per semester). Is the applicant interested in applying for the Fulbright scholarship or another national scholarship?

Award
$3,000.00
Deadline
12/03/2026
Supplemental Questions
  1. CHC Bloom International Fellows Program Application Questions
    • 1. Why this program? Why have you chosen this specific country, city, university, and provider? How does it connect to your current major or career goals?
    • 2. Academic plan: what courses do you plan to take abroad, and how do they integrate with your degree requirements before and after you return?
    • 3. Adaptability and resilience: describe a time you faced an unfamiliar environment or a difficult obstacle. What did you do, and how does that prepare you to live abroad?
    • 4. Intercultural curiosity: what do you hope to learn from the local community, and how do you plan to engage respectfully with a culture different from your own?
    • 5. Leadership Potential: write about a time when you initiated something and carried through to an outcome? This may be through your intellectual or artistic contributions or in other ways.
    • 6. Ambassadorial Potential: write about a time when you developed relationships with people inside or outside of your peer group or field of expertise.
    • 7. Adaptability and resilience: describe a time when you faced an unfamiliar environment or a difficult obstacle. What did you do, and how does that prepare you to live abroad?
    • 8. The Bloom International Fellows Program requires a commitment to enroll in a mentorship program in the next two semesters after you return from your study abroad. Does your graduation timeline affect this requirement?
    • 90. The core focus of this program is to mentor students to apply for the Fulbright scholarship or another national scholarship. Are you interested in preparing a competitive application for a national scholarship?
    • 91. To be considered for the Bloom International Fellows Program, you must have a committed application in UMass Abroad by December 3, as applications in any other status are not eligible. If there is a compelling reason that you cannot commit by this date, email abroad@umass.edu and copy your study abroad advisor to request an exception. Do you have a committed application with UMass Abroad? Or did you email them as suggested? Please explai
    • 91. To be considered for the Bloom International Fellows Program, you must have a committed application in UMass Abroad by December 3, as applications in any other status are not eligible. If there is a compelling reason that you cannot commit by this date, email abroad@umass.edu and copy your study abroad advisor to request an exception. Do you have a committed application with UMass Abroad? Or did you email them as suggested? Please explain.
  2. Please upload a current copy of your resume.
  3. Please enter the name and email address of the faculty member who will be providing your letter of recommendation. (Optional)