The Watson Foundation selects about 40 winners from a national pool of 160 nominated by about 40 small liberal arts colleges similar to Colby. The national Watson Foundation awards seniors a $40,000 stipend to travel the world for a year after graduation, as well as paying most student loans for the year. Unlike Marshall or Fulbright, the Watson is not related to academic achievement.

Selection is based on leadership potential (broadly defined), not the project per se. Your project is a means of realizing your potential through a year of intense self-exploration. The outcome is you after your Watson journey. Projects are highly individual, but they must take place for a year outside of the U.S., and not involve returning to a country you’ve spent more than six weeks previously (with a few exceptions).

Past winners from Colby have explored environmental challenges besetting the world’s rivers, compiled oral history from survivors of Stalin’s Terror, and participated in running cultures around the world.

If you would like to know more, please visit:

• Thomas J Watson Fellowship Website
• Colby Watson Fellowship Portal (password protected, contact Lisa  for the password)

Our campus deadline is October 2, 2026, 12:00pm noon. You apply on the national Watson Fellowship website. Your two recommenders must respond to several questions on the national website by the campus deadline as well, so contact them well in advance.

Feel free to reach out to [email protected] with any questions and for additional information about this and other fellowship opportunities.  Inform sessions are held year-round.   

Colby nominees must submit final applications to the Watson Foundation electronically by November 4, 2026, 12:00pm noon ET (your submit button does not work until we nominate you).