Graduate Tuition Incentive Scholarship (GTIS)
The Graduate Tuition Incentive Scholarship (GTIS) award helps to cover the remaining cost of tuition for graduate students who are receiving external funding awards in support of their thesis or dissertation research that do not include tuition.
Eligibility
You are eligible if:
- You are a masters or doctoral student in a program within The Graduate School
- You are enrolled full-time and in good standing with your program
- You are receiving an external funding award in support of your thesis or dissertation research which does not include tuition
- You do not hold a University service or non-service award in addition to your external award
If you received a Graduate Tuition Incentive Scholarship (GTIS) in the past, you may apply again.
You are not eligible if you are a student in a distance-education or certificate program.
Selection Criteria
Only certain types of external funding awards can apply towards your eligibility for the GTIS.
What can apply towards the GTIS:
- The award must be from outside the University
- It must have been awarded through an open competition on a regional or national/international level
- You must have applied directly for the award yourself (a faculty member cannot apply on your behalf)
Examples of some eligible external funding awards include:
- Charlotte W. Newcombe Doctoral Dissertation Fellowship
- Spencer Dissertation Fellowship
- AERA Dissertation Grant
- Jennings Randolph Peace Scholar Dissertation Fellowship
- Harry Frank Guggenheim Foundation Dissertation Fellowship
- AAUW American Dissertation Fellowship
- Ford Foundation Dissertation Fellowship
- Mellon-CES Dissertation Completion Fellowships in European Studies
What cannot apply towards the GTIS:
- Training grants or other funding awarded directly to the University
- Awards that are processed through the Office of Sponsored Research are considered "Research Grants" and are ineligible for GTIS support
- Any awards that include tuition costs
- Any awards where the stipend exceeds $20,000 (excluding summer support)
- Need-based financial aid
- Loans
- Employer tuition plans
- Travel awards
- Awards for research expenses
- Family support
Examples of awards that are ineligible for GTIS support include:
The external award stipend should be:
- Doctoral students: $14,000-$20,000 ($7,000-$10,000/semester)
- Masters students: $10,000-$16,000 ($5,000-$8,000/semester)
We may be able to count an award that is otherwise eligible but has a smaller stipend. This depends on how much funding we have available.
Award Amount
The GTIS award varies and will cover up to the cost of your in-state tuition. The amount that we can offer you depends on how much funding we have available. Your graduate program must be willing to provide tuition remission for you if you are not an in-state resident for the entire fellowship year. Student fees will remain your responsibility.
| Stipend | No |
|---|---|
| Tuition | Varies, up to full in-state tuition* (Deptartments must be willing to provide tuition remission for out-of-state students) |
| Fees | No |
| Health insurance | Varies; Depending on your award, GTIS may cover the cost of the mandatory UNC insurance program administered by Pearce & Pearce. GTIS will not provide reimbursement for other insurance plans. |
| Length of support | One semester or one academic year |
| RA/TA position | No |
*Students who are ABD are eligible to receive in-state tuition support for 3 credit hours of dissertation completion (994) only.
Depending on funding, this award may change from year to year.
Nomination
There is no limit on how many students each department can nominate per year.
Deadline
The nomination deadline for the fall semester is in late September.
The nomination deadline for the spring semester is in late January.
Deadlines are posted on the funding deadlines calendar. Deadlines will be posted in the summer. The award will only be offered if funding is available.
You may ask for a GTIS pre-determination outside of the application window in certain circumstances. Please contact gradfunding@unc.edu for more information. You will need to submit a copy of your award letter.
You (and your department) should not assume you will receive a GTIS award, even if you meet all of the eligibility requirements. Funding is limited and awards are dependent of the number of applicants.
How to Apply
- Please check with your department for their internal deadline. You must complete your application early enough for your department to nominate you to The Graduate School by the deadline.
- We accept applications for either one semester or one academic year.
- If your external award covers two semesters in the same academic year, submit only one application for both fall and spring semesters.
- If your award covers more than one academic year (a multi-year fellowship/award), submit a new application for each year. Unfortunately, because our funds vary each year, we cannot guarantee funding from year to year
- With your application, you must submit a copy of the award letter that includes:
- Terms and conditions of the award
- Award amount
- Award period (start and end dates)
- Agency contact information
- Any other relevant information
- Complete the Graduate School Award Online Application.
View Frequently Asked Questions about the online award application.
- The fellowship and award approver for your department will receive an email notifying them that you submitted your application.
- Once you have completed your application, your department must approve your application. If your department approves your application, they must nominate it to The Graduate School by the deadline.
- We will notify you as soon as possible. Be sure to include the required documentation. Otherwise, we may be delayed in reviewing your application.
Award Conditions
- You must report all funding received to all relevant internal and external parties, i.e. any funding sources at UNC or external to UNC who are giving you funding.
- You must abide by all requirements and conditions set forth by the external agency.
Contact Us
Graduate School Fellowships Office
gradfunding@unc.edu