Fellowships and Funding for Prospective 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. Applicants should discuss with the program to which they are applying the specific funding opportunities available through graduate programs.


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
Prospective students may indicate when applying for admission their interest in an assistantship and should discuss application deadlines with their prospective departments.
Questions
Contact the department to which you are applying.

Graduate School Interdisciplinary Fellowship Programs


Thomas S. and Caroline H. Royster, Jr. Fellowships

Endowed through the generous gifts of Dr. Thomas S. and Mrs. Caroline H. Royster Jr., these fellowships support exceptionally talented doctoral students. In addition to a very competitive financial award, a Royster Fellowship in the Society of Fellows supports and nurtures members through the mentoring of senior faculty, interdisciplinary learning, and leadership development opportunities. More information about Royster Fellows....
Application Deadline
Prospective students cannot apply directly for this fellowship but are nominated by the graduate program to which they are applying. If you are interested in being nominated for this award please contact your department. To ensure full consideration for Graduate School funding, applicants should submit their complete application for admission to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill as early as possible. We strongly recommend your full application be received by the Graduate School by January 1.
Awards
Fellows receive a competitive stipend, tuition and fees, and health insurance each academic year for five years. The first and last years are non-service awards, but Fellows may perform teaching and research activities for their departments in the intervening years. Fellows receive additional travel funds to present research findings at national conferences. Fellows have the opportunity to develop mentoring relationships with senior faculty and to engage in interdisciplinary forums and discussions.
Fields of Study
All doctoral degree programs at UNC-Chapel Hill.
Selection
Graduate programs nominate a limited number of their most promising applicants into a university-wide competition. The Fellowship Committee and Society of Fellows faculty then select applicants who will receive fellowship offers in March
Questions
Contact the department to which you are applying, or email gradfunding@unc.edu.

University Fellows

(Named in honor of Joseph E. Pogue, William R. Kenan, Jr., William N. Reynolds, and Mrs. Victor Humphreys) The Graduate School offers privately funded named fellowships to exceptional new graduate doctoral students. In addition to a very competitive financial award, a University Fellowship within the Society of Fellows supports and nurtures members through the mentoring of senior faculty, interdisciplinary learning and leadership development opportunities. More information about University Fellows....
Application Deadline
Prospective students cannot apply directly for this fellowship but are nominated by the graduate program to which they are applying. If you are interested in being nominated for this award please contact your department. To ensure full consideration for Graduate School funding, applicants should submit their complete application for admission to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill as early as possible. We strongly recommend your full application be received by the Graduate School by January 1.
Awards
Fellows receive a competitive stipend, tuition, fees, and student health insurance each academic year for five years. The first year is non-service, but Fellows may perform teaching and research activities for their departments in the subsequent years. Fellows have the opportunity to develop mentoring relationships with senior faculty and to engage in interdisciplinary forums and discussions.
Fields of Study
All doctoral degree programs at UNC-Chapel Hill.
Selection
Graduate programs nominate a limited number of their most promising applicants into a university-wide competition. The Fellowship Committee and Society of Fellows faculty then select applicants who will receive fellowship offers in March.
Questions
Contact the department to which you are applying, or email gradfunding@unc.edu. 

Weiss Urban Livability Fellowships

Endowed through generous gifts from Professors Emeriti Charles and Shirley Weiss, this program provides students with an interest in urban livability a competitive financial award and an opportunity for inter-disciplinary learning in the area of urban livability. More information about Weiss Fellows....
Application Deadline
Prospective students cannot apply directly for this assistantship but are nominated by the graduate program to which they are applying. If you are interested in being nominated for this award please contact your department. To ensure full consideration for Graduate School funding, applicants should submit their complete application for admission to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill as early as possible. We strongly recommend your full application be received by the Graduate School by January 1.
Awards
Doctoral and masters students receive a competitive stipend, tuition and health insurance. The Weiss Urban Livability Fellows meet regularly within an inter-disciplinary forum to discuss and collaborate on topics of mutual interest. Guest lecturers and senior faculty from various departments meet with and provide mentoring for the fellows throughout the year.
Eligibility
New students entering a doctoral or masters program at UNC-Chapel Hill.
Selection
Graduate programs nominate a limited number of their most promising applicants into a university-wide competition. The Weiss ULP Faculty Board then selects applicants who will receive fellowship offers.
Email
For additional information contact your department, or email gradfunding@unc.edu.

To see the 2003-2004 Weiss Fellows group project, click here.

University Merit Assistantships

Merit Assistantships are one-year awards which provide a competitive stipend for entering master's/doctoral students and students entering professional, terminal degree master's programs. Full tuition and student health insurance are provided. Students pay only fees. Students awarded university merit assistantships will assist with teaching or research activities, not to exceed twenty hours per week, within their department.
Application Deadline
To ensure full consideration for Graduate School funding, applicants should submit their complete application for admission to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill as early as possible. We strongly recommend your full application be received by the Graduate School by January 1.
Selection
Prospective students cannot apply directly for this assistantship but are nominated by the graduate program to which they are applying. If you are interested in being nominated for this award please contact your department. Graduate programs nominate a limited number of their most promising applicants into a university-wide competition. The Fellowship Committee of the Graduate School then selects applicants who will receive assistantship offers.
Questions
Contact the department to which you are applying, or email gradfunding@unc.edu.

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
To ensure full consideration for Graduate School funding, applicants should submit their complete application for admission to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill as early as possible. We strongly recommend your full application be received by the Graduate School by January 1.
Selection
Prospective students cannot apply directly for this assistantship but are nominated by the graduate program to which they are applying. If you are interested in being nominated for this award please contact your department. Graduate programs nominate a limited number of their most promising applicants 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 to which you are applying, or email 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) resident 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
To ensure full consideration for Graduate School funding, applicants should submit their complete application for admission to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill as early as possible. We strongly recommend your full application be received by the Graduate School by January 1.
Selection
Prospective students cannot apply directly for this fellowship but are nominated by the graduate program to which they are applying. If you are interested in being nominated for this award please contact your department. Graduate programs nominate a limited number of their most promising applicants 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 to which you are applying, or email gradfunding@unc.edu.

Other Programs at UNC

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 gradinfo@unc.edu so that our list will be complete.