Anabaptist Scholarship

The Anabaptist Scholarship was created to increase accessibility to graduate-level Anabaptist theological and leadership education.

• Recipient: Awarded annually to a student beginning a master’s program on campus who identifies with the Anabaptist tradition but is not a member of a congregation affiliated with Mennonite World Conference or a related Anabaptist group
• Amount: Full tuition for full-time students; 75 percent of tuition for part-time students
• Application deadline: Priority will be given to applications received by March 15

Other scholarship information

• Scholarship type: Merit-based
• Duration: Three years for the Master of Divinity program; two years for MA programs (provided the recipient meets certain conditions each year)
• Recipient’s program: Master of Divinity Campus; MA in Christian Formation; MA: Theology and Global Anabaptism; MA: Theology and Peace Studies
• Recipient’s location of study: On campus
• Recipient’s enrollment status: Full time or part time
• Recipient’s permanent residence: U.S. or Canada
• Recipient’s church affiliation: Applicant identifies with the Anabaptist tradition but is not a member of a congregation that is affiliated with Mennonite World Conference or a related Anabaptist group

Criteria for Anabaptist Scholarship recipients

1. Have earned a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university with an overall minimum GPA of 3.0.
2. Leadership potential and demonstrated skills, based on information gained from references.
3. Reflection of Anabaptist values, as described in an essay of 1,200 to 1,800 words:
   • Describe the Anabaptist core values and beliefs that you affirm and claim as your own.
   • Describe the congregational and personal practices that you see as central to a lived faith.
4. Personal character and emotional health, based on information gained from references.

Procedures to apply for the Anabaptist Scholarship

Applicants must submit the following for the coming academic year: 

1. A completed Admissions Application with all supporting materials, including transcript(s), references and admissions essay.
2. Completed Financial Aid and Scholarship applications.
3. A 1,200–1,800-word essay describing the applicant’s Anabaptist values.
   • Describe the Anabaptist core values and beliefs that you affirm and claim as your own.
   • Describe the congregational and personal practices that you see as central to a lived faith.

The Admissions Committee will review essays and award scholarship(s). Scholarships will be limited to a total of three (counting new and continuing) each academic year.

Understandings for Anabaptist Scholarship recipients

1. Recipients will be enrolled as full-time or part-time students. (“Full-time” is defined as nine credit hours or more per semester plus one Intensive Term course.)
2. Students in the MDiv program are eligible to receive the award for three years. Students in an MA program are eligible to receive the award for two years. Note: To finish a degree in the allotted time frame, a student must complete 27-30 credit hours per year, which generally consists of 12 hours per semester plus one or two Intensive Term courses.
3. Eligibility from year to year will be based on satisfactory progress toward the completion of the degree, including:
   • Maintaining a minimum 3.0 GPA
   • Supporting and adhering to AMBS community life standards
   • Supporting and participating in enrollment and recruitment activities and initiatives
   • Actively participating in campus activities
   • Assuming leadership responsibilities on the AMBS campus