Fellowships and Funding for Current Students

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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. More eligibility criteria (PDF).
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. Top candidates are nominated for the Royster Dissertation Fellowships.
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.

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.
Eligibility
Students must have passed course requirements, written and oral examinations, and have an approved dissertation prospectus 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. More eligibility criteria (PDF).
Selection
Application packets are available in the Graduate School, which includes instructions for writing a dissertation project summary, forms for faculty recommendations, and information concerning departmental review. Graduate programs rank and nominate their applicants before final selection by the Fellowship Committee of the Graduate School.
Application
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.

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. More eligibility criteria (PDF).
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.

Interdisciplinary Research Scholars Fellowship

This fellowship is designed to assist doctoral students in making rapid progress with their doctoral dissertations and to support students who would like to explore and pursue interdisciplinary research. The purpose of these fellowships is to give doctoral students an intensive period of time and experience to focus on completing their 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 Scholars Fellowships are available to doctoral students who have completed most or all of their coursework.
Application Deadline
Applications must be received by 5pm on the due date: October 15, 2007. Awardees will be notified about November 15th, 2007.
Application
Interdisciplinary Research Scholars Fellowship Application and Instructions (PDF, 73KB)
Questions
For additional information, e-mail the Graduate School Fellowships Office.

Smith Graduate Research Grants

Grants are provided to assist with some expenses necessary for the preparation of a thesis or dissertation, such as data base acquisition, microfilms, special software for analyzing data and certain other expenses.
Eligibility
Smith Grants are available to Doctoral and Masters students for research related to a dissertation or thesis paper. Grants may be received only once and cannot be used for costs accrued prior to the date of an award.
Application Deadline
Requests are considered once each semester and must be accompanied by a supporting letter from the student's faculty advisor. Graduate programs 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. Graduate School deadlines are posted on the Fellowships & Funding Calendar.
Application
Smith Grant Application for applicants (PDF, 71KB)
Smith Grant Departmental Ranking Form for departments (PDF, 40KB)
Questions
For additional information, e-mail the Graduate School Fellowships Office.

Transportation Grants

Transportation grants, for travel expenses only, are available for doctoral and masters students presenting research papers at international, national, regional academic conferences or meetings of professional societies. Students may receive this grant only once. Applications are considered throughout the year and may be submitted prior to travel or within 30 days after completion of travel.

More information and FAQ.
Application and Additional Information
Transportation Grant Application and Frequently Asked Questions
Questions
For additional information, e-mail the Graduate School Fellowships Office.

Graduate Student Opportunity Fund

The Graduate Student Opportunity Fund assists graduate students at Carolina with unusual and unexpected expenses for which no other funds are typically available. A private donor initiated this fund to help students from incurring large debt burdens during their graduate education.
Eligibility
Doctoral students and master's degree students enrolled in an UNC-Chapel Hill graduate program are eligible. Students who have received funding from the Graduate Student Opportunity Fund within the previous three years are not eligible.
Application
Apply by completing the application form (PDF, 67KB).
Questions
For additional information, e-mail Beverly Wyrick .

North Carolina Minority Presence Grant

The University of North Carolina seeks to enhance access to and diversity within the graduate programs at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Diversity is broadly defined, including consideration of 1) educational preparation, 2) life experiences, 3) factors that may contribute to diversity of presence, 4) demonstrated ability and motivation to overcome disadvantage or discrimination, 5) desire and ability to extend knowledge-based services to enhance the quality of life of all citizens, and 6) motivation and potential to make a positive contribution to the educational environment of the University. Recipients must be residents of North Carolina and full-time students pursuing doctoral degrees at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Awards provide a competitive stipend plus tuition and student health insurance. Stipends are available for the traditional academic year (9 months), with an option of additional support for study in the summer session.
Application Deadline
Currently enrolled students should ask their departments to nominate them for the award by early February.
Selection
Prospective students cannot apply directly for this assistantship but are nominated by their graduate program. If you are interested in being nominated for this award please contact your department. Graduate programs nominate a limited number of their most promising students into a university-wide competition. The Fellowship Committee of the Graduate School then selects applicants who will receive grant offers. Priority is given to new applicants.
Questions
Contact the department in which you are currently enrolled, or e-mail gradfunding@unc.edu.

North Carolina Native American Incentive Grant

The University of North Carolina seeks to enhance access to and diversity within the graduate programs at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Recipients must be 1) Native American, defined as an individual who maintains cultural and political identification as a Native American through cultural and political identification through membership in an Indian Tribe recognized by the State of North Carolina or by the United States; 2) residents of North Carolina for tuition purposes; and 3) full-time students pursuing doctoral degrees at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. These non-service awards provide a competitive stipend plus tuition and student health insurance, as funds available from the state of North Carolina allow.
Application Deadline
Currently enrolled students should ask their departments to nominate them for the award by early February.
Selection
Current students cannot apply directly for this fellowship but are nominated by their graduate program. If you are interested in being nominated for this award please contact your department. Graduate programs nominate a limited number of their most promising students into a university-wide competition. The Fellowship Committee of the Graduate School then selects applicants who will receive grant offers. Priority is given to new applicants.
Questions
Contact the department in which you are currently enrolled, or e-mail gradfunding@unc.edu.

Graduate Dean's 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
After programs have selected a nominee, the nominee is responsible for submitting the following material to the Graduate School by the due date: January 7, 2008.
Selection
Current students cannot apply directly for this fellowship but are nominated by their graduate program. Each graduate program may nominate one doctoral student who has completed/will complete his/her doctoral degree during the 2007/08 academic year. Eligible students will include those who graduate during the period of May 1, 2007 to May 11, 2008. 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, 2008.
Application
Dean's Distinguished Dissertation Award applicationpdf icon (49KB)
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 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 teaching assistants may apply for a GTIS award to cover the cost of tuition (at the 3-hour dissertation/thesis rate.)
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:

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.