Funding from The Graduate School
The Graduate School offers a number of funding opportunities to support our most talented students.
Fellowship Programs
Fellowships and Assistantships
The Graduate School offers competitive funding packages for incoming students:
The Graduate School also offers funding opportunities to assist with timely progress towards degree:
- Dissertation Completion Fellowship
- Off-Campus Dissertation Research Fellowship
- Summer Research Fellowship
- Bridge Beyond Carolina program
Pre-Selection for External Fellowships
The Graduate School conducts a pre-selection review for the following external fellowships:
Student Assistance Grants and Scholarships
- Graduate Tuition Incentive Scholarship
- Graduate Student Transportation Grant
- Graduate Student Opportunity Fund
Awards
- Distinguished Dissertation Award
- Impact Award
- Boka W. Hadzija Award for Distinguished University Service
Deadlines
| Funding Award | Funding Term | Deadline | Notification date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall 2024 Semester Deadlines | |||
| Spring 2025 Off-Campus Dissertation Research Fellowships1 | Spring 2025 | Fri., Sept. 27, 20241 | November 2024 |
| Dolores Z. Liebmann Fellowship (Pre-selection application) | 2025-2026 | Fri., Sept. 27, 2024 | November 2024 |
| Graduate Tuition Incentive Scholarship (GTIS) | Fall 2024 | Mon., Sept. 30, 2024 | Reviewed as Received |
| DAAD Grants For Study & Research In Germany (Pre-selection application) | 2025-2026 | Fri., Sept. 27, 2024 | October 2024 |
| Impact Awards1 | 2025 | Mon., Oct. 14, 20241 | November 2024 |
| Dean's Distinguished Dissertation Award1 | 2025 | Mon., Dec. 2, 20241 | January 2025 |
| Deadline to submit admissions application for fellowship consideration | 2025-2026 | Tue., Dec. 10, 2024 | N/A |
| Spring 2025 Semester Deadlines | |||
| Recruitment Awards2 |
2025-2026 | Fri., Jan. 24, 20252 | March 2025 |
| Summer Research Fellowship1 | Summer 2025 | Mon., Feb. 24, 20251 | March 2025 |
| Graduate Tuition Incentive Scholarship (GTIS) | Spring 2025 | Fri., Jan. 31, 2025 | Reviewed as Received |
| Boka W. Hadzija Award 3 | 2025 | TBD | April 2025 |
| Dissertation Completion Fellowships1 | 2025-2026 | Fri., Mar. 7, 20251 | April 2025 |
| Fall 2025 Off-Campus Dissertation Research Fellowships1 | Fall 2025 | Fri., Mar. 7, 20251 | April 2025 |
| Bridge Beyond Carolina program | Summer 2025 | TBD | April 2025 |
| Deadline to accept Recruitment Awards (notify The Graduate School in writing) | 2025-2026 | Tue., Apr. 15, 2025 | N/A |
- Departmental nomination required. Earlier internal deadlines will apply. Check with your department for more information.
- Students cannot apply directly. You must be nominated in the admissions application process.
- Students cannot apply directly. You must be nominated by faculty, staff, or a student.
Fellowship Application FAQs
How do I access the application?
What is the application process if I need letters of recommendation?
- You submit your application through the online award application. Do this early enough for your department to review and nominate your application to The Graduate School by the deadline.
- Once you submit your application, your recommenders will receive an email asking them to submit a letter via the online system.
- At the same time, the fellowship and award approver for your department will receive an email notifying them that you submitted your application.
- Once your letters of recommendation have been submitted, your program may nominate you for the award. If your department selects your application, they must nominate it to The Graduate School by the deadline.
What is the application process if I do NOT need letters of recommendation?
- You submit your application through the online award application. Do this early enough for your department to review and nominate your application to The Graduate School by the deadline.
- The fellowship and award approver for your department will receive an email notifying them that you submitted your application.
- If your department selects your application, they must nominate it to The Graduate School by the deadline.
Do all letters of recommendation need to be received in order for my department to submit my application to The Graduate School?
Yes. Your application is not complete without all letters of recommendation (if applicable). The application system will not allow your department to submit an incomplete application to The Graduate School. Letters of recommendation cannot be sent to The Graduate School after the application deadline.
Can the letter of recommendation requests go out prior to submitting my application?
No. The application system can only send the requests out after you submit your application. The submission triggers the emails.
What does my application status mean?
| Status | Definition: |
|---|---|
| Unsubmitted | Your application is in progress. Your program and recommenders have not been notified. |
| Submitted | You have submitted your application. Your department will be notified via email. Emails will be sent to your recommenders. |
| Recommendation Requested | Your letters of recommendation have not yet been received. Your application cannot be selected by your department yet. |
| Recommendation Received | Your letters of recommendation have been submitted by your recommenders, and your application is available to be nominated by your program. |
| Nominated | Your application has been submitted to The Graduate School. |
| Not Nominated | Your application was not selected for nomination to The Graduate School. |
| Under Review | Your application is being reviewed by The Graduate School staff and a faculty review committee if applicable. |
| Awarded | Your application has been selected to receive an award by The Graduate School. |
| Not Awarded | Your application was not selected to receive an award by The Graduate School. |
Contact Us
Graduate School Fellowships Office
gradfunding@unc.edu