Scholarship Opportunities

Admitted students are automatically considered for internal scholarships, and a separate application is not required. The LL.M. Program offers scholarships in amounts ranging from $500 to a limited number of Nonresident Tuition Exemption waivers each year.

Those that apply by the March 1 priority deadline will have priority consideration for the internal scholarships. It is recommended to apply to the program by December if you plan to apply for scholarships, both internal and external.

Internal third-party scholarships offered by our scholarship partners exclusively for admitted and current students require a separate application and have their own internal deadline. The class becomes full very soon after the March 1 priority deadline.

Do not wait until March 1 to apply, especially if you plan to qualify and apply for internal, internal third-party, or external scholarships with deadlines of March 1 as applications can take 4-6 weeks to go through the review process, including interviews when offered.

Prospective and admitted international LL.M. students are encouraged to apply for external scholarships from their home countries. The LL.M. Program has assembled a list of external scholarships that are country-specific and criteria-specific (details below). Additionally, AccessLex, eduPASS, and International Student Organization have compiled lists of scholarships for international students.

Browse scholarship opportunities listed on this page by type:

Internal Scholarships for Admitted Students

  • Ariel & Ileana Ramos LL.M. Scholarship in Energy Law or Project Finance (no application required).
    • The Ariel & Ileana Ramos LL.M. Scholarship in Energy Law or Energy Finance was established by Ariel Ramos and his wife Ileana Ramos in 2018. Mr. Ramos is a partner in Mayer Brown’s global Energy group and Banking & Finance practice and is based in the firm’s Mexico City office. Mr. Ramos is a 1995 distinguished graduate of the LL.M. Program at The University of Texas School of Law. Mr. Ramos was a recipient of the J. Curtiss Brown Scholarship while he was enrolled in the LL.M. Program at The University of Texas School of Law. Mr. and Mrs. Ramos hope that their scholarship enables the LL.M. Program to bring the best Energy Law or Project Finance students to Texas, enriching their development as future leaders while benefiting those students who face the prospect of serious loan debt. Preference shall be given to students who have lived or studied in Mexico. Should no students meet this preference, distribution may be used to provide tuition support for LL.M. students pursuing a degree at the School of Law.
  • David D. & Priscilla R. Sliwa Scholarship in Human Rights or Refugee Law (no application required)
    • The David D. & Priscilla R. Sliwa LL.M. Scholarship in Human Rights or Refugee Law was established by Dr. Abdul D. Knowles for international LL.M. students interested in Human Rights Law or Refugee Law, including legislation and policies pertaining to asylum-seekers, migrants, and forcibly displaced persons at risk. The scholarship was established in honor of David and Priscilla Sliwa, strong advocates for human rights (including migrant rights issues) who played a significant role in his upbringing, development, and education about serving and protecting disadvantaged persons, including those at risk. Dr. Knowles is a 2022 graduate of the LL.M. Program at The University of Texas School of Law. Dr. Knowles hopes that his scholarship enables the LL.M. Program to bring the best Human Rights or Refugee Law students to Texas Law, enriching their development as advocates and future leaders in the field to safeguard the rights and well-being of disadvantaged persons deprived of fundamental human rights and enhance their access to justice. The scholarship will benefit self-funded students who face the prospect of serious loan debt.
  • Mary Mikeska LL.M.  Scholarship (no application required)
    • The University of Texas School of Law established the Mary Mikeska LL.M. Scholarship in 2013 in honor of Mary Mikeska, a former longtime program coordinator of the LL.M. Program. Gifts to the Mary Mikeska LL.M. Scholarship enable the LL.M. Program to bring the best students to Texas, enriching their lives and nurturing their development as future leaders while benefiting those students who face the prospect of serious loan debt.
  • MD Anderson Research Fellowship in Transnational Law (no application required)
    • Each MD Anderson Research Fellow receives a scholarship to commit 280 hours to the Institute for Transnational Law over the course of the year. One or more research fellowships will be awarded.
  • Nonresident Tuition Exemption Waiver (no application required)
    • Admitted LL.M. students will be considered for an NRTE. The nonresident portion of tuition is exempted by the NRTE, and the student is responsible for payment of resident tuition. The LL.M. Program will also award the NRTE recipient a $1,000 scholarship. Please note, the LL.M. Program has a limited number  of NRTEs.
  • Rod & Merry Laine Wetsel LL.M. Scholarship (no application required)
    • The Rod & Merry Laine Wetsel LL.M. Scholarship was created by Rod Wetsel and his wife Merry Laine Wetsel in 2018. Mr. Wetsel is a founding partner at the firm of Wetsel, Carmichael & Allen, L.L.P. in Sweetwater, Texas, where he has practiced law for 36 years. A recognized leader in energy law, Mr. Wetsel taught Wind Law at The University of Texas School of Law from 2012-2018. The Wetsels hope that their scholarship enables the LL.M. Program to bring the best LL.M. students to Texas, enriching their development as future leaders while benefiting those students who face the prospect of serious loan debt.

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Internal Third-Party Scholarships for Admitted Students

If you plan to apply for internal third-party scholarships for admitted students, you need to submit your application for admission by December 1.

  • Association of International Energy Negotiators Student Scholarship Program (separate application required and April deadline)
    • Created in 2009, the annual Scholarship Program awards students who demonstrate strong character, academic ability, and a potential to make a significant contribution to the field of international energy negotiations. Up to 10 scholarships can be awarded annually in honor of long-time member and contributor Gordon Barrows. Each scholarship is in the amount of $2,000, split $1,000 for each semester, and paid directly to the winner’s university. Scholarship applications are reviewed annually by the committee. Qualified applicants may be working towards an energy, commercial or law degree, but must be attending a university that supports AIEN by having a professor on its Education Advisory Board, including The University of Texas at Austin. Admitted LL.M. students are eligible to apply. Prospective students are strongly encouraged to submit their application for admission by December.
  • Energy & Mineral Law Foundation Law Student Scholarship (separate application required and April deadline)
    • Law school students for the current academic year are eligible to receive scholarships. The scholarship can only be used in connection with a degree program sponsored by a law school which is a Member of the Energy & Mineral Law Foundation. Law students must demonstrate an interest in the study of natural resources, energy or mineral law. Scholarship awards generally range from $1,000 to $5,000.  Multiple applicants will receive scholarships. Admitted LL.M. students are eligible to apply. Prospective students are strongly encouraged to submit their application for admission by December.
  • Foundation for Natural Resources and Energy Law (separate application required and March deadline)
    • For most scholarships, a law student who is enrolled full-time at one of the Foundation’s Constituent Law Schools and who can demonstrate a commitment to the study of natural resources or energy law is eligible to apply. LL.M. students and incoming 1Ls who have applied to one of these schools but have not yet been accepted may also apply. Application instructions: Prospective students are strongly encouraged to submit their application for admission by December since the deadline to apply for a scholarship from the Foundation is mid-March.
  • International Bar Association Section on Energy, Environment, Natural Resources and Infrastructure Law (SEERIL) Law Studies Scholarships (separate application required and April deadline)
    • SEERIL awards an amount of up to £18,000 (divided amongst successful applicants) to pursue post-graduate studies that may involve master, PhD or post-doctoral research topics in the energy and natural resources field. This scholarship is open to all qualifying academic institutions and their students free of charge. A ‘qualifying academic institution’ is one where at least one member or adjunct member of the faculty is a member of the IBA and a SEERIL committee. In order for the Scholarship Committee to authorize further qualifying academic institutions, applicants should provide, on their application form, the name and contact details of a member or adjunct member of their prospective faculty of study who is also an IBA and SEERIL member. Admitted LL.M. students are eligible to apply. Prospective students are strongly encouraged to submit their application for admission by December. Application instructions: For the name and contact details of a member of our faculty who is a member of the Oil and Gas Committee within SEERIL, please email LLM@law.utexas.edu.
  • Rapoport Center Human Rights Scholars Program (separate application required and April deadline)
    • Each Human Rights Scholar receives a $5,000 scholarship to commit 300 hours to the Center over the course of the year. One or more scholarship(s) will be awarded. Admitted LL.M. students are eligible to apply. Application instructions: (1) Your current standing is other/LL.M. (2) Search the Course Schedule for fall courses you are interested in taking. (3) LL.M. students should list the Law School’s Assistant Dean for Graduate & International Programs as a reference. Email LLM@law.utexas.edu for the Assistant Dean’s contact information. The other two references can be academic or professional references outside Texas Law. (4) Search the Richard and Ginni Mithoff Pro Bono Program, student journals, and student organizations for extracurricular activities you are interested in joining as a Texas Law student.

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Internal Third-Party Scholarships for Current Students

  • Aviation Law Section of the State Bar of Texas Scholarship (separate application and April deadline)
    • The Aviation Law Section of the State Bar of Texas is pleased to announce the second year of its law school scholarship program being open to all Texas law schools. Every year, the Section awards a $1,000.00 scholarship to a student who has an interest in aviation law. All applicants will become members of the Aviation Law Section for one year at no cost to the applicant. Students who apply must be in good standing at their law school, join the Aviation Law Section of the State Bar of Texas, and express a desire to practice in aviation law. Each student will submit a brief discussing a recent aviation case decision. The top five briefs will be posted on the Section’s website with credit to the authors. Current LL.M. students are eligible to apply.
  • Bobby R. Inman Award for Student Scholarship on Intelligence (separate application and June deadline)
    • The Intelligence Studies Project of The University of Texas at Austin announces the fifth annual competition recognizing outstanding student research and writing on topics related to intelligence and national security.  The winner of the “Inman Award” will receive a cash prize of $5,000, with two semifinalists each receiving a cash prize of $2,500.  This competition is open to unpublished work by undergraduate and graduate students enrolled in degree programs at accredited U.S. higher education institutions during the 2020-2021 academic year.  The deadline for submitting papers is June 30, 2021. Current LL.M. students are eligible to apply.
  • Oil, Gas & Energy Resources Law Section of the State Bar of Texas Scholarship Program (no application required)
    • The Oil, Gas & Energy Resources Law Section awards two (2) scholarships at each of the Texas law schools each semester or quarter for the students receiving the 1st and 2nd highest grades in the introductory oil and gas course. The student receiving the highest grade is awarded $2,000 and the student receiving the second highest grade receiving $1000. The Section coordinates the scholarship program with the law schools. Current LL.M. students are eligible for this scholarship.
  • Tax Section of the State Bar of Texas Scholarship (separate application and April deadline)
    • The Tax Section of the State Bar of Texas annually awards up to three $2,000 scholarships to students demonstrating academic excellence and commitment to the study and practice of tax law. Any student who is enrolled in an ABA accredited law school at the time the application is submitted, and who intends to practice tax law in Texas, is eligible to apply. Thus, persons who have been accepted to law school, but have not yet started classes at the time the application is filed, are ineligible to apply. However, persons who have recently graduated at the time the scholarship is awarded are eligible to apply.
  • Texas Young Lawyers Association Diversity Scholarship Program (separate application required and October deadline)
    • TYLA intends to award three scholarships (first place: $5,000; second place: $3,000; and third place: $1,500) to one or more law students from the ABA-accredited law schools or ABA-provisionally approved law schools in Texas. The recipient must be attending one of these Texas law schools.
  • Lisa Atlas Genecov and Dr. Jeffery S. Genecov Endowed Presidential Scholarship (separate application required and June 14 deadline)
    • The Lisa Atlas Genecov and Dr. Jeffery S. Genecov Endowed Presidential Scholarship, through the Center for Women in Law, is being offered for the 2024-2025 academic year.  The Genecov Atlas scholarship will provide $3,750 scholarships for three 2L, 3L or LL.M. students with a demonstrated commitment to advancing women’s issues and gender parity.  This includes legal work in nonprofit, pro bono, government, and/or legislative settings. 

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External Scholarships for Prospective and Admitted Students

External Law School Scholarship Databanks

Criteria-Specific Scholarships

Special Interests

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