Fellowships and Funding for Current Students

Departmental Awards

Teaching and Research Assistantships

The majority of assistantships available to graduate students are awarded by academic departments. Approximately 2,500 graduate, research, and teaching assistantships are available through specific departments. Graduate assistantships are also available through the University's various research institutes and centers. Stipends, responsibilities, selection criteria, application and notification procedures vary from department to department. Enrolled students should discuss with their own department the specific opportunities that may be available through teaching and research service to the department.

Federal/State Fellowships and Traineeships

A number of state and federally funded fellowships and traineeships are also available in some departments. Students must be pursuing graduate training in specified fields of study to be eligible for these awards. Interested students should request additional information from their academic departments.
Application Deadline
Currently enrolled students should consult their departments for deadlines for new applications and assistantship renewals.
Questions
Contact the department in which you are currently enrolled

Graduate School Awards

Dissertation Completion Research Fellowship

This non-service award supports doctoral students engaged in research and writing toward the completion of their dissertations.
Application Deadline
Applications are considered once each year in early spring. Graduate School deadlines are posted on the Fellowships & Funding Calendar. Graduate programs rank and nominate their students and submit the application to the Graduate School by the posted due date. Students should check with their departments regarding internal deadlines.
Awards
Students receive a competitive stipend, tuition, fees, and student health insurance for one academic year.
Fields of Study
Students in all doctoral programs within the UNC-CH Graduate School are eligible.
Eligibility
This fellowship is to support students during their final year of graduate study: they must have passed course requirements, written and oral exams, and have an approved dissertation prospectus prior to application. They must be registered for doctoral dissertation credit only. Generally, no service award, fellowship, scholarship or outside employment may be held during the award period.
Selection
The Dissertation Completion Fellowship application packet includes instructions for writing a dissertation project summary, forms for faculty recommendations, and information concerning departmental review and nomination. Graduate programs select, rank, and nominate their applicants before final selection by the Fellowship Committee of the Graduate School and the Society of Fellows Faculty Committee.
Application
Dissertation Fellowships Application (for applicants)
Dissertation Completion Fellowship Departmental Ranking Form (for departments)
Questions
Contact the department in which you are currently enrolled, or email the Graduate School Fellowships Office.

Society of Fellows Dissertation Fellowships

Endowed through the generous gifts of many friends of the University, most notably Dr. Thomas S. and Mrs. Caroline Royster Jr., these fellowships support the most promising doctoral candidates at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in the final phase of completing their dissertations. In addition to the financial award, the Society of Fellows supports and nurtures members through the mentoring of senior faculty, interdisciplinary learning, and leadership development opportunities. The fellows engage in interdisciplinary seminars and are sometimes called upon to represent graduate students of the University. More information....
The Society of Fellows includes the following named fellowships among others: Caroline H. and Thomas S. Royster Jr. Fellowship, Thomas S and Helen Borda Royster and Snowden and Elspeth Merck Henry Fellowship, Lovick P. Corn Fellowship, Jessie Ball duPont Fellowship (Adolescent Studies), Paul C. Hardin Fellowship, Ross and Charlotte Johnson Family Fellowship and the Sequoyah Fellowship for American Indian Students/Studies.
Application Deadline
Applications are considered once each year in early spring. Graduate School deadlines are posted on the Fellowships & Funding Calendar. Applicants who apply for a Dissertation Completion fellowship are considered for the Society of Fellows if they submit a short statement of their interest. Students should check with their department regarding internal deadlines.
Awards
Students receive a competitive stipend, tuition, fees, and student health insurance for one academic year. An additional travel stipend is provided. Fellows have the opportunity to develop mentoring relationships with senior faculty and to engage in interdisciplinary forums and discussions.
Fields of Study
All doctoral programs within UNC-Chapel Hill are eligible.
Eligibility
Student should be about to begin their final year of dissertation writing, they must have passed course requirements, written and oral exams, and have an approved dissertation prospectus prior to application. Students must be registered for doctoral dissertation credit only. Generally, no service award or outside employment may be held during the award period.
Selection
Top candidates for the Graduate School's Dissertation Completion Awards are considered for Society of Fellows if they have indicated their interest in the Society of Fellows. The Dissertation Completion Award application packet includes instructions for writing a dissertation project summary, forms for faculty recommendations, instruction for indicating interest in the Society of Fellows, and information concerning departmental review. Departments select, rank, and submit their top applicants before final selection by the Fellowship Committee of the Graduate School and the Society of Fellows Faculty Committee.
Application
Dissertation Fellowships Application (for applicants)
Dissertation Fellowships Departmental Ranking Forms (for departments)
Questions
Contact the department in which you are currently enrolled, or email the Graduate School Fellowships Office.

Off-campus Dissertation Research Fellowship

This non-service award supports students conducting dissertation research away from the Chapel Hill campus.
Application Deadline
Applications are considered once each semester. Graduate School deadlines are posted on the Fellowships & Funding Calendar. Graduate programs select, rank, and nominate their students and submit the applications to the Graduate School by the posted due date. Students should check with their departments regarding internal deadlines.
Awards
Students receive a competitive stipend, tuition, fees, and student health insurance for one academic semester or one academic year for the specialized fellowships.
Eligibility
Students must have passed course requirements and have an approved dissertation prospectus prior to application. Applicants must pass written and oral examinations prior to receipt of the award. Off-campus research must be necessary for the conduct of their research. Generally, no service award or outside employment may be held during the current period.
Selection
Applications will be competitively reviewed each semester (once a year during the fall semester for Friedrich and Lurcy Fellowships) and awards made as Graduate School funding is available. Students must submit their applications to their academic department. Graduate programs select, rank, and nominate their applicants before final selection by the Fellowship Committee.
Application
Off-Campus Dissertation Fellowships Application (for applicants)
Off-Campus Dissertation Research Fellowship Departmental Ranking Form (for departments)
Questions
Contact the department in which you are currently enrolled, or email the Graduate School Fellowships Office.

Interdisciplinary Research Fellowship

5/13/09: The Graduate School deeply regrets that we will not be able to offer Interdisciplinary Research Fellowships during the 2009-2010 academic year. The current economic situation and subsequent reduction in available financial support necessitates a temporary suspension of this fellowship program, which has been supported through gifts from private donors. We intend to resume this fellowship as soon as possible.

The purpose of this fellowship is to give doctoral students who have completed most or all of their coursework an intensive period of time and experience to focus on completing their interdisciplinary dissertation prospectus or research proposal. These fellowships are also intended to encourage and support doctoral students’ exploration of potential interdisciplinary scholarship and provide an opportunity for students to collaboratively discuss and learn about the opportunities and obstacles in conducting research that extends beyond the normal boundaries of their primary discipline.
Eligibility
Interdisciplinary Research Fellowships are available to doctoral students who have completed most or all of their coursework.
Questions
For additional information, e-mail the Graduate School Fellowships Office.

Smith Graduate Research Grants

5/26/09: The Graduate School deeply regrets that we will not be able to offer Smith Research Grants during the 2009-2010 academic year. The current economic situation and subsequent reduction in available financial support necessitates a temporary suspension of this program. We intend to resume this grant as soon as possible.

Transportation Grants

4/15/09: The Graduate School regrets that funding for graduate student travel must be temporarily suspended, effective immediately. The economic climate has created hardships in many ways including depleting the funds that we have used for student travel. We understand how important travel grants are to enabling graduate students to present their research nationally and internationally and we hope to resume travel grants at the earliest opportunity. When travel grants are resumed, we will send a message to all graduate programs.

Linda Dykstra Distinguished Dissertation Award

To recognize the scholarly contributions of UNC-Chapel Hill doctoral students as revealed through their dissertation projects and to highlight the timely completion of doctoral training.
Application Deadline
Students cannot apply directly for this fellowship but are nominated by their graduate program. Students should check with their departments regarding internal deadlines. Graduate School deadlines are posted on the Fellowships & Funding Calendar.
Selection
Each graduate program may nominate one doctoral student. Eligible students include those who graduate between July 1, 2008 and May 9, 2010. Students who have not yet graduated by the nomination deadline will need to demonstrate sufficient progress to indicate that they will complete in time to meet graduation deadlines for spring, 2010.
Application
Linda Dykstra Distinguished Dissertation Award application
Questions
Contact the department in which you are currently enrolled, or e-mail gradfunding@unc.edu.

Graduate Student Tuition Support

Information about the administration of tuition remission and tuition support

Payroll Deduction of Tuition and Fees
Graduate students who are receiving financial aid or other funding sufficient to cover tuition and fees would NOT be allowed to sign up for payroll deduction. For those students that are eligible, departments should assist them in completing a payroll deduction form. Completed forms (original and copy) with the student's PID should be forwarded to the University Cashier's Office (contact Cashier’s Office for deadline dates). Forms must be approved by the Cashier's Office before submission to Payroll. Should you have questions about please contact Tina Zimmerman at 962-5846 or via email at tina_zimmerman@unc.edu.

Graduate Tuition Incentive Scholarship

GTIS awards are for graduate students receiving external funding in support of their thesis or dissertation research.
Eligibility
Doctoral or masters students enrolled in a UNC-Chapel Hill graduate program who receive an external award that is at least the recommended minimum stipend for research assistants may apply for a GTIS award to cover the cost of tuition.
Application Deadline
Application deadlines are posted on the Fellowships & Funding Calendar.
Application
Apply by completing the application form
Questions
For additional information, e-mail the Graduate School Fellowships Office.

Nationally Competitive Fellowship Opportunities

The following is a partial list of external fellowship opportunities. Please visit the GrantSource Library for comprehensive information on funding opportunities.

For additional external fellowship opportunities, please visit the GrantSource Library

Nationally Competitive Fellowship Winners

The Graduate School is pleased to announce UNC-Chapel Hill graduate students who have won external, federal and foundation fellowships, grants and awards.

To the students who have won these awards — congratulations! You bring prestige and honor to your departments and to the University.

Carolina Winners of National Awards

Although we congratulate graduate students on winning any external award, the Graduate School can only use the following criteria for inclusion on our list. Here are the eligibility criteria:

The award has to total at least $1,000.
The student must have personally applied to the external agency.
It must be an open competition.
In exchange for the financial award, the awarding agency must not require that the student work a significant amount of time.

If you meet these criteria or know of another graduate student who does, please let us know by e-mail at gradfunding@unc.edu so that our list will be complete.