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40 Acres Scholarship Program offers a generous enrichment stipend to be used throughout a your four years in the program.
The stipend may be used for approved activities such as a semester or summer study abroad program, research, service, professional and leadership development, domestic study programs, educational group tours, graduate program expenses, and more! This enrichment stipend helps you travel the world, volunteer for organizations you believe in, and work alongside professionals in your field.
To gain a more global and well-rounded college experience, as the recipient of this grant you will complete a global experience of at least 14 days abroad performing any approved enrichment activity of your choice.
As claimed by one of the previous recipient, there is not another scholarship program that will invest in you more than the 40 Acres Scholarship. It is so much more than a scholarship. Any school could offer you money; but the 40 Acres Scholarship’s benefits made UT the obvious choice.
Here, let’s learn together how this amazing opportunity will benefit you and what you should do to access it.
What is the 40 Acres Scholarship?
The 40 Acres Scholarship is the premier full-ride, merit-based scholarship for The University of Texas at Austin. It is a fully-funded educational experience built on community, connection, and discovery. The scholarship was created to be a catalyst for driving positive change around the world. Since its founding in 2011, the program has been unlocking the potential of our most gifted young minds for the betterment of society. It offers support for your life at University of Texas (UT) at Austin and beyond.
For four years, you will receive the tools and resources to unlock your full potential. From a world-class education and life-changing research to enrichment opportunities and dedicated advisers, the program brings the best to Texas for the best of Texas. And, once here, you will thrive within your close cohort community and a renowned global network of alumni (known as the Texas Exes). Here, you can experience the rich, artistic culture that only America’s No. 1 city to live in can provide.
As the only program of its kind administered by an alumni association, the scholarship program is woven into the fabric of what makes UT exemplary—its proud and accomplished alumni network. Comprised of more than 530,000 alumni, its renowned alumni network spans the globe, industries, and experiences. You will cultivate game-changing connections with alumni through customized opportunities that range from casual conversations and gameday activities to VIP access to red carpet university events.
By graduation, you will have gained inspiring mentors and built your own personal network of alumni.
What are the benefits offered by the 40 Acres Scholarship?
The lasting impact that the Forty Acres Scholars Program offers is indescribable. Some of the most impactful features of the program, including:
Scholar Community
With your fellow scholarship recipients, you will find a tight-knit group with whom you will bond throughout your four years at UT. You will thrive in a cohort of students with various backgrounds, interests, majors, and ambitions and have endless opportunities to learn and grow.
Freshman scholars are matched with an upperclassman “buddy” who acts as a mentor within the program and on campus from the moment our freshmen step foot on the 40 Acres. With your fellow friends, you will benefit from cultural and leadership activities, as well as personal development opportunities. The friendships and memories you make here will become cornerstones of your life.
Exclusive Access
You will have access to successful alumni who share your interests and passions. UT’s alumni network is dedicated, generous, and most importantly, everywhere. You will be part of an elite group with full access to all the university has to offer.
Several of the previous successful candidates have received internships and research opportunities through the connections they have made through the program. You can also receive exclusive invitations to awards ceremonies where you can meet, mingle, and eat with influential alumni. These ceremonies include the Distinguished Alumnus Awards and the Outstanding Young Texas Ex Awards—an invitation not open to other UT students.
Financial freedom
The 40 Acres Scholarship allows students to put their best foot forward in the post-graduate and professional world as they graduate debt-free. In addition, they have opportunities to conduct research, pursue non-paid internships, work on startup companies of their own, travel, and more throughout their four years of college due to the financial freedom the program provides by covering their tuition and living expenses all four years.
The all-inclusive nature of the scholarship alleviates many pressures college students feel, such as the expense of textbooks and housing, and allows them to focus on academic and extracurricular interests as well as expanding their world horizons through study abroad.
Who is eligible to apply for the 40 Acres Scholarship Program?
To apply for the program, several requirements must be met. The program is only eligible to the following candidates:
- High school seniors applying to UT Austin;
- In-state and out-of-state students;
- Must be U.S citizen or permanent U.S. resident at the time of application.
Unfortunately, transfer and international students are not eligible to apply to the 40 Acres Scholarship Program, but are eligible for other Texas Exes scholarships.
Where and how do I apply?
The applications can be made online at https://texasexes.academicworks.com/. You must first submit the Texas Exes General Application and Entering Freshman Scholarship Application before you can access the 40 Acres Scholarship supplemental short answers. You will need to create an account by clicking “Sign Up” and then will be able to begin the application.
Once you have completed the required portions for the General Application and Entering Freshman Application, you can then access the Forty Acres Scholars Program short answers one of two ways:
You can access the essay directly at https://texasexes.academicworks.com/opportunities/2331. You will need to sign in to your account in order to apply.
From the https://texasexes.academicworks.com/ homepage:
- Sign in to your account
- Click the green “Start Applying” arrow
- Type in the search bar “Forty Acres Scholars Program” and click “Search”
- Click the “Apply” button under the Actions column to the right of the 40 Acres Scholarship Program
If you applied for the 40 Acres Scholarship Program, you will see the word “Submitted” in the corner of the status box. Also, for every portion of the application that you successfully submit, you will receive a confirmation of the submission.
When is the application due?
The priority deadline for the 2021-22 Academic Year is November 1st at 11:59 p.m. The final deadline is December 1st at 11:59 p.m. There is no advantage to applying by the preferred deadline. Applying by the preferred deadline will not affect your acceptance decision; however, it allows staff to being the review process earlier.
Whom should I contact if I have any questions about the program?
Reach out to UT at 800-594-3939 or send the staff an email at fortyacresscholars@texasexes.org.
