Fellowships for New and Continuing Students

Central Awards by Departmental Nomination

Central fellowship awards are based on nomination by departments and selection by a central faculty fellowship committee. Procedures are outlined in an annual memo from Graduate Division to departments each fall. The annual memo specifies categories of awards, departmental nomination procedures, selection timelines and is available for review by departments on GradPoint.

Departmental Awards for New Students

Departments may model awards after the packages listed above to provide additional fellowship opportunities to students. A departmental package may include a full or partial stipend. Full tuition fellowship awards to top students are preferable to small partial awards to all nonresidents. All awards to students must be confirmed in writing to the student. If awards span more than one year, funding for all years of the award must be clearly outlined in the award letter. If your department chooses to supplement a centrally administered fellowship with departmental resources, please see the Graduate Division Supplementation Limits Chart for guidelines and restrictions.

Occasionally, departments experience a higher than usual take-rate of their offers to outstanding doctoral students. The Graduate Division may consider supporting an over-commitment of block grant funds, but only to the most outstanding new recruits. Written requests to cover an over-commitment of funds by the Graduate Dean are required prior to the over-commitment and should include a justification based on the take-rate ratios used in making the offers, and an explanation of the student's credentials warranting the request. Overcommitted offers made to students without Graduate Division pre-approval will not be guaranteed. Detailed procedures are provided by the Dean of the Graduate Division in the annual block grant memo to departments.

Cross-Divisional Fellowships for New Students by Nomination

Ralph M. Parsons Foundation Fellowships provide graduate support for students in science and engineering who are re-entering education and/or parents of young children.

Clare Boothe Luce Fellowships provide graduate support specifically for women in Engineering, Physics, or Earth Science.

Central Awards by Departmental Nomination

Central fellowship awards for continuing graduate students are based on nomination by department and review by a central faculty fellowship committee. Procedures are outlined in an annual memo from Graduate Division to graduate departments. The annual memo specifies categories of award, departmental nomination procedures, and selection timelines and is available for review by departments on GradPoint.

Block Grant and Departmental Awards

Every academic year, a lump sum of fellowship funds is allocated to departments in the form of a block grant. Block grant allocations are made in the fall for the following academic year. Departments may use these funds to recruit excellent new students and to support continuing students. Departments may model awards after the packages listed above to provide additional fellowship opportunities to students. A departmental package may include tuition, fees, and health insurance, a nonresident tuition fellowship, and full or partial stipend. Students should consult their academic departments for specific information regarding the process by which they might be considered for such fellowship support.

Gift and Endowment Funds

Many departments have endowments designated for graduate student support. Students should contact their departments for more information about designated endowment funds.