Fellowships and Funding for Current Students

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Graduate Tuition Incentive Scholarship (GTIS)

Note: Graduate Tuition Incentive Scholarships (GTIS) applications for academic year 2012-2013 are not yet available. Please to return in August for new information and applications for academic year 2012-2013.

Purpose:

Graduate Tuition Incentive Scholarships (GTIS) are for graduate students receiving external funding in support of their thesis or dissertation research which do not include tuition.

Eligibility:

This scholarship is available to masters and doctoral students in a program within the UNC Graduate School. Students must be enrolled full-time and in good standing with their department. Students in distance-education or certificate programs are not eligible.

If the amount of the external award is at least the recommended minimum stipend for research assistants, a student may receive a GTIS award to cover the cost of tuition.

The recommended minimum stipend amounts for the academic year 2011-12 are as follows:

Eligible external awards must be from sources of funding outside the University and students should have applied directly for the awards themselves. The awards should be awarded through an open competition on a regional or national/international level.

Awards that are not eligible for this scholarship include training grants or other funding awarded directly to the University, need-based financial aid awards, loans, employer tuition plans, travel awards, awards for research expenses, family support, and any grants, fellowships, training programs or other types of awards that include tuition costs or where the stipend exceeds $20,000 (excluding summer support.)

Examples of some eligible awards include:

The Graduate School will review each GTIS application to determine eligibility. Funding is contingent upon the availability of funds within the Graduate School.

Award Conditions:

Application Procedure:

Note: Graduate Tuition Incentive Scholarships (GTIS) applications for academic year 2012-2013 are not yet available. Please to return in August for new information and applications for academic year 2012-2013.

Apply for a GTIS award by completing the online application. Departmental approval is required, therefore, applications should be submitted early enough for your department to approve it and submit it to the Graduate School by the deadline. Graduate School deadlines are posted on the Fellowships & Funding Calendar. Please check with your department for earlier internal deadlines.

A copy of the award letter is required with your application which includes the following information:

  1. Terms and conditions of the award
  2. Award amount
  3. Award period (start and end dates)
  4. Agency contact information
  5. Any other relevant information

Applications are accepted for either one semester or one academic year. A new application is not necessary for both fall and spring semesters. For awards that cover more than one academic year, a new application must be submitted each year of the award. Subsequent years are not guaranteed since funding is contingent upon the availability of funds each year.

Frequently Asked Questions:

When will award notifications be sent out?
Applications are reviewed as they are received; award notifications are sent out as soon as possible. Be sure to include the required documentation for your award or the processing of your application will be delayed.
If I received a Graduate Tuition Incentive Scholarship (GTIS) in the past, am I eligible to apply again?
Yes.
If my award covers two semesters in the same academic year, can I apply for both semesters at the same time or do I have to submit an application for both semesters?
You should submit only one application for the entire academic year if your award covers both semesters.
If I have a multi-year fellowship/award do I need to apply each year of the award?
Yes. Subsequent years are not guaranteed since funding is contingent upon the availability of funds each year.
Can I apply on behalf of a student?
No, the student must apply for the GTIS themselves by filling out the online application, which then requires their department's/program's approval.
What is the process from the student applying to the department submitting applications to the graduate school?
  1. student submits application online.
  2. those marked with the role of “fellowship and award approver” for your department in the graduate school contact directory will receive an email notifying them the student submitted their application.
  3. the department can mark the student’s application for selection, and submit it to the Graduate School via the online system by the Graduate School deadline.
What do the statuses associated with an application mean?
The statuses are as follows:
  • Submitted — your application has been submitted, your department will be notified via email and emails for your requested recommenders will be sent out.
  • Waiting Letters of Recommendation — your application is waiting for letters of recommendation to be submitted. Your application cannot be submitted to the Graduate School until all letters have been submitted.
  • Waiting Department Selection — all letters of recommendation have been submitted (if applicable); your application is ready for your department to mark it for selection to the Graduate School
  • Department Selected — your application was selected for submission to the Graduate School
  • Department Nominated — your application has been submitted to the Graduate School
  • Reopened — your department reopened your application so you can make changes and resubmit it.

Questions:

For additional information, e-mail the Graduate School Fellowships Office.