Purpose of the Program
The Stamps Scholarship at University of Miami is described as the institution’s most prestigious merit award available for high-school seniors entering undergraduate study. The idea behind it is to attract exceptional students—those who demonstrate academic achievement, leadership potential, and a readiness to make an impact. As the scholarship’s umbrella foundation explains, Stamps Scholars programmes exist “to enable extraordinary educational experiences for extraordinary students.”
At UM, that means not only covering the typical costs of a U.S. university education, but also giving recipients access to enrichment opportunities (research, internships, study abroad) and a supportive community of fellow scholars.
Quick summary of the program:
Program: Stamps Scholarship at University of Miami
Coverage: Full cost of attendance (tuition, fees, housing, meal plan, insurance, textbooks, laptop) + $12,000 enrichment fund
Nationality: Open to U.S. and international students (all nationalities)
Degree Level: Undergraduate (Bachelor’s)
Duration: Up to four years (full undergraduate program)
University: University of Miami
Host Country: USA
Deadline: November 1 (for current cycle)
Eligibility
If you’re wondering whether you qualify, here are the key eligibility factors for applicants to UM’s Stamps Scholarship:
Basic Eligibility
- You must be entering as a first-time undergraduate student at University of Miami.
- All nationalities are eligible: both U.S. citizens/residents and international students.
- You should present an outstanding high school academic record, demonstrating high achievement and rigor.
- If English is not your first language, you will be required to submit a test of English proficiency (e.g., TOEFL or IELTS).
Selection & Ongoing Requirements
- Once admitted and named a Stamps Scholar: maintain full-time status (minimum of 12 credit hours each fall and spring) and at least 24 credit hours per academic year.
- Maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0 at the end of your second semester and beyond.
- Be prepared that the award may be adjusted if you receive other unanticipated major grants, prepaid tuition, or housing aid not originally accounted for.
Important – Timing/Automatic Consideration
- For UM’s Stamps Scholarship, early admission applicants (via Early Decision I or Early Action) who submit a complete application by November 1 are automatically considered.
- Because this is a very competitive award, you’ll want to make your application stand out not just academically, but via leadership, meaningful extracurriculars, clear direction, and strong essays or supplemental materials. (Reddit commentary echoes this: “the best and brightest students in the world win…”
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Benefits
If you are selected, the benefits are comprehensive and generous. According to the University of Miami website:
- Full tuition and fees for up to eight semesters (or the standard duration of your undergraduate degree) at UM.
- On-campus housing (standard room) and a meal plan.
- University health insurance coverage.
- Textbooks allowance and a laptop allowance.
- A dedicated $12,000 enrichment fund (at UM) which may be used toward study abroad, undergraduate research, unpaid internships, leadership development, other educational pursuits (subject to approval).
- Access to the Stamps Scholars community (on-campus and national network), special programming, leadership enrichment, events and resources.
In short: You’re not just getting a tuition check. You’re getting a fully-fledged scholarship package designed to support your full undergraduate experience—academics, living, enrichment, leadership.
Fields of Study
One of the nice things about this scholarship is that it does not force you into a narrow set of majors. The information from third-party sites suggests that at University of Miami many undergraduate majors are eligible under the Stamps Scholarship umbrella, including (but not limited to):
- Accounting
- Business studies
- Art
- Biology
- Civil engineering
- Computer science
- Marine science/engineering
- Health & fitness
- Sports science
And since UM is a comprehensive university with arts & sciences, professional schools, the breadth of study options is quite large. The key focus is on you as a student-leader rather than your specific major.
Deadlines
The key deadline you need to know: November 1 of the year you are applying for first-year admission at University of Miami.
Make sure this applies to your specific admission cycle and check UM’s official admissions site for any variations (early vs. regular admission, domestic vs. international). Late applications may not be eligible for this scholarship.
Application Process
Here’s a step-by-step of how to apply for the Stamps Scholarship at University of Miami (based on official and secondary sources) — you’ll want to treat this as a checklist and double-check UM’s official admissions webpage for any updates.
- Apply for admission to University of Miami as a first-year undergraduate student (via the Common Application, or UM’s application portal) and submit all required application materials by November 1.
- Make sure your high school transcripts, standardized test scores (SAT/ACT, TOEFL/IELTS if applicable), school report (guidance counselor input), letters of recommendation, and personal/essay materials are ready and submitted.
- Indicate that you would like to be considered for merit scholarships at UM—although for Stamps you may be automatically considered if you apply by the deadline (especially via Early Decision I or Early Action) and meet the requirements.
- If selected as a semi-finalist, you may be asked to write a short response to a predetermined essay prompt.
- Finalists may be interviewed (by the Stamps Family Charitable Foundation or UM admissions/staff) and the final award announcements are typically made by early March (based on historical patterns) for admitted students.
- If selected, you accept the award and engage with the obligations: full-time enrollment, maintaining GPA, participating in scholar programming, and using the enrichment fund responsibly.
Final Thoughts
If you’ve ever looked at studying in the U.S. and worried about how you’d afford it or whether you could truly embrace all the opportunities (research, internships, study abroad) then the University of Miami’s Stamps Scholarship deserves your attention. It’s a bold commitment—and if you are someone who matches high academic standards, strong leadership potential, meaningful involvement, and a genuine desire to engage deeply in your undergraduate journey, then this could be a transformative opportunity.
My encouragement: go for it. Start preparing now: polish your academic record, engage deeply in activities you care about, articulate your story with clarity and heart, and meet that November 1 deadline. It’s ambitious—but when you’re aiming high, that’s exactly where you want to be.
Here’s to your future, to making the leap, to being the kind of student who doesn’t just study for four years—but makes four years count. All the best with your application!
Official program website: University of Miami Stamps Scholarship