Keegan Fellowship
The Michael B. Keegan Traveling Fellowship enhances the development of future leaders through world travel and experiential learning. The concept of the fellowship is simple: give a graduating senior the opportunity of a lifetime by equipping them with resources to travel the world, learning everything they can about a topic of their choosing. With few to no strings attached, this immersive experience is designed to build upon the Fellow’s undergraduate education and offer a pathway to global education, citizenship, and leadership.
Currently, the post-graduate Fellowship award is $25,000/student each year. The student’s project proposal must involve travel to multiple countries (typically this includes numerous countries on at least three continents).
Learn more details, including information of previous fellows and their projects here.
The Full Keegan is open to Vanderbilt University seniors who will graduate by May 2026, including December 2025 graduates.
Application
Complete the application, including 1000-word project proposal, 500-word leadership essay and destination countries on InfoReady by 5:00 pm CST Tuesday, January 20, 2026 and upload the following documents:
- CV/Curriculum Vitae
- Two letters of recommendation (one must be from proposed faculty advisor)
- Transcript
A selection committee will name finalists, who will be interviewed in-person at Vanderbilt early March 2026. Recipients will be notified by phone and/or email shortly thereafter.
Full Keegan Timeline
November 3, 2025: Application Live!
November 10, 2025: Fall Information Session - 6:00-7:00 pm
January 7, 2026: Spring Information Session - 6:00-7:00 pm
January 12, 2026: Application Writing Workshop
*January 20, 2026: Application Due by 5:00 PM*
Mid-May 2026: Decisions will be released
Please look on AnchorLink for the links for both Info Sessions.
Summer Keegan
The Summer Keegan is a program that awards four students per summer $5,000 to pursue international travel for at least eight weeks during the summer to research a topic of their choosing. Students must claim the Summer Keegan as an immersive experience and complete the Independent Experience form. Learn more details here.
Rising juniors and seniors may apply during their sophomore and junior years, respectively.
The application is due by 5:00 pm on January 20, 2026.
Summer Keegan Timeline
November 3, 2025: Application Live!
November 10, 2025: Fall Information Session - 7:00-8:00 pm
January 7, 2026: Spring Information Session - 7:00-8:00 pm
January 13, 2026: Application Writing Workshop
*January 20, 2026: Application Due by 5:00 PM*
Mid-May 2026: Decisions will be released
Please look on AnchorLink for the links for both Info Sessions.