Tips for Graduate Students Seeking Funding
- Be proactive on your investigations of funding sources for your academic career.
- Do not wait for someone to seek you out and hand you a fellowship or assistantship.
- Think creatively!
Where to Find Funding Information
Your Department
Many departments have their own pool of funds from private sources, alumni, grants, etc. to be used specifically for their students. Be sure to check with your advisor, or dissertation chairperson for funding from their grants.
Funding from Rackham
Our website has detailed information on Rackham administered fellowships, grants and scholarships. Fill out our brief questionnaire to help you determine your eligibility for a Rackham fellowship.
Funding from U-M
There are many offices on campus that offer assistance for graduate students for links to all of these offices and others, go to our article on Funding from U-M.
Other Funding Resources
We provide a listing of websites that may be of assistance in your search for funding. Some sites are specific to certain foundations. Others contain useful general advice and many include search engines to identify sources of aid for which you may qualify. This list is not intended to be all inclusive. Browse around and you’re sure to find even more sources. Do not subscribe to any searches where they charge a fee.
How to Apply
Start Early
- It’s never too early to start looking.
- You will need to apply at least 6-12 months in advance for most fellowships.
Do Wide Searches
- Apply for as many fellowships as you find. Don’t limit yourself to just one or two.
Eligibility
- Make sure you meet all eligibility criteria for the fellowship.
- Check guidelines closely before filling out applications.
Share Your Statement of Purpose
- Show a draft of your statement of purpose to your committee members (including your cognate member) as well as peers in your department.
- Be sure it does not contain jargon that would not be understood by reviewers outside of your area of expertise or interest.
- Be sure to comment on the project’s originality, theory and process.
Letter of Recommendation
- Ask professors to keep copies of letters of recommendation (in case you ask them for more than one recommendation or they get lost in the mail).
- Give them a copy of your statement or project to remind them about what you are working on.
- Remind them of the deadline.
- Only ask professors who are familiar with you and your work since a one paragraph letter that states they taught you in a class is not helpful to any committee.
Follow Directions
- Keep to the limit and criteria that is set for the applications, statement of purpose and attachments.
Paper Applications
- Most offices need to receive your paper application by the deadline date, not postmarked.
- Follow up with your recommenders to be sure they send in their letters.
- Make sure any extra materials, for example, transcripts and language reports, arrive in the office.
- You may have put together the most outstanding application ever seen but it won’t matter if it arrives too late to be considered.
Electronic Applications
- Submit your completed application by the deadline.
- Read and follow the instructions provided.
- Make sure all sections of the online form have been completed and, if applicable, any PDF documents are attached.
- If your recommenders must complete a section of the online application be sure that section of the application is complete.
- Confirm that the application has been submitted.
- Most often, you will receive a notification that the application process is complete.
Before Accepting Fellowships
- Do you completely understand what it is you will be receiving?
- Does it provide a living stipend?
- Does it cover tuition?
- Does it require someone else to pay your tuition?
- What are the stipulations to accept it?
- Will accepting it impact other funds you have already received?
Supplemental Funds
- Are there funds available for extras such as travel, conferences, research expenses from your fellowship?
- Is it possible to accept other supplemental funds from outside sources?
Working Stipulations
- Are you required to work for your fellowship?
- Are you able to accept employment while on the fellowship?
- Would working help or hinder your progress and skills?
- Is there a limit (hours per week or dollar amounts) that you can accept while on the fellowship?
Combining Awards
- Is it possible to accept more than one at a time?
- Is there a limit?
- What about the timing of various grants?
- Can you defer or overlap fellowships?
Benefits
- Does it come with health and/or dental insurance or other benefits?
Taxes and the IRS
- Keep copies of all correspondence, letters, e-mails, guidelines, etc., for your reference as well as for your files.
Offices You Need to Check in With When You Begin
Your Funding Source
- Be sure they know how to contact you.
- Have you registered correctly in order for the fellowship to be released?
- Have you set up a direct deposit through the Payroll Office?
- Are you sure how the funds can be used?
- Is it a stipend and/or tuition?
- Will it be applied directly?
- Does it need to be renewed each year or term?
Your Department or Program
- See Funding Source above.
Graduate Administrator or Student Services Assistant
- If your fellowship is handled through your department this person will most likely be your greatest source of information.
Graduate Advisor
- Is everything set up with your advisor or in the lab for you?
Registrar’s Office
- Do they have your most recent address? If not, be sure to change it on the web via Wolverine Access.
Financial Aid Office
- Some sponsored fellowships are distributed through the Office of Financial Aid. If you have applied for loans, your fellowship will affect them.
Health and Dental Insurance and Other Benefits
- If your fellowship comes with health insurance, please be aware that it is not automatic.
- You will need to follow through to make sure your coverage has been uploaded and then you will need to make benefit selections.
- Depending on your selections there may be a cost to you.
Future Funding
Keep Looking
Keep looking at all times during your academic career for extra funding, as you progress your needs will grow and change.
Hidden Costs of Dissertations
Everyone will need to have their dissertation copied and bound, so be aware of these costs before your defense.
Conferences
Conferences are valuable for your academic and professional development, but can be expensive.
Research
Research can be very costly. You may need to travel, do field work, conduct archival study, purchase books, carry out surveys, or pay participants.
Defense Tuition
You must register for eight hours of 995 to defend for all Ph.D. students no matter what term (Fall, Winter or Spring/Summer).
Job Search Interviews
Please be aware, there are no funds to assist with this.
More to say? Give us your feedback!