The NRF Foundation x Licensing International Scholarship aims to promote awareness of career paths in brand licensing within the retail industry.
If you are an undergraduate college student, in a four-year college program or a two-year community college program, with an interest in careers in the retail industry and brand licensing, you could earn a $5,000 tuition scholarship and a trip to New York City to attend the 2026 NRF Foundation Student Program.
By attending this conference, you will have the opportunity to meet with dozens of retail recruiters hiring for both internships and entry-level roles, hear from top leaders and executives in the industry, and learn about careers in brand licensing.
Enrolled full-time at a fully accredited U.S. college, university or a community college.
Undergraduate level: sophomore, junior or senior in a four-year college program, or a first- or second-year undergraduate student enrolled in a community college.
Minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
Legal U.S. citizen or resident over 18 years of age.
Pursuing studies in business, marketing, design, engineering, e-commerce, merchandising, product development, entrepreneurial studies or other brand licensing industry-related program.
Have not previously attended the Student Program through a scholarship from the NRF Foundation.
Must be available to attend the NRF Foundation Student Program, Jan. 8-11, 2026 in NYC.
No affiliation with Licensing International or with NRF or the NRF Foundation.
Bilingual students are highly encouraged to apply, including students proficient in sign language.
The scholarship will open for applications on August 25, 2025, and close on October 20, 2025.
Students will be notified of their application status and selection by November 12, 2025.
The scholarship will open for applications on August 25, 2025, and close on October 20, 2025.
Students will be notified of their application status and selection by November 12, 2025.
The NRF Foundation x Licensing International Scholarship application consists of a written statement, a short video response to a choice of prompts, a resume, and an unofficial transcript to verify enrollment.
Compose a written statement in response to the following question (maximum of 300 words):
Describe your career interest in the retail industry and brand licensing. What motivated you to apply for this scholarship, and what excites you about the industry?
Record your answer to the following prompt in a 2-to-3-minute video. We ask that you appear on camera for at least 30 seconds. There are no other format requirements, so you can be creative. Begin your video with a brief introduction of yourself, then respond to the following prompt:
Briefly introduce yourself and then identify an example of a brand licensing deal in the retail industry that you find exciting. What benefits did the licensing agreement bring to the brand and why is it an effective strategy both for the business and for the consumer?
Focus on sound quality and consistency throughout your video and identify locations with low background noise. We are not looking for professional videography, but we must be able to clearly see and hear you throughout your entire video.
You must upload a current resume as part of your application materials.
You must upload a copy of your college transcript (does not have to be official transcripts) to verify your enrollment.
