Academic Programs Catalog

Specific information on registration requirements for fellowship recipients is given under Maximum and Minimum Credits heading in this section of this catalog.

To be eligible for this fellowship, Education Opportunity Fellowship (EOF) applicants must 1) demonstrate a need for financial assistance and have a minimum undergraduate federal loan indebtedness of $25,000, both as determined by the Michigan State University Office of Financial Aid; 2) be a U.S. citizen or a permanent resident of the United States.  Exact awards will vary depending on need.  Students must be in good academic standing meeting department, college, and university standards. Enrollment requirements include a minimum of 6 credits each semester, 3 credits for the summer semester, or 1 credit if comprehensive exams are complete.  Applications are only available between mid-January and mid-March for the next aid year.  Applications must be renewed each year.  Funds are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis until all are disbursed. Students with undergraduate federal indebtedness of $25,000 or greater may qualify for the EOF or Student Aid Grant for Medical Student (SAG); they cannot receive both awards in the same academic year.
 

These fellowships allow students to devote full time to writing the doctoral dissertation. The stipend is at the discretion of the college but may not exceed $10,000 for the semester. This fellowships program is for students in the final months of their programs. About 200 fellowships are awarded each year. Application must be made directly to your department, school, or program https://grad.msu.edu/fellowships/dissertation.
 

The Graduate School offers fellowship programs that provide financial support for outstanding students who plan to enroll in a doctoral or master of fine arts program. We are particularly aware of the special role that graduate education plays in training the next generation of leaders in academia, government and the private sector.  In assisting MSU achieve its educational mission, our goal is to foster an intellectually vital and inclusive educational community that will prepare graduate students to assume their professional roles in a diverse society. The Graduate School’s recruitment fellowships assist departments and programs in attracting a cohort of students who: have demonstrated academic excellence; articulate their commitment to research goals well matched to department or program doctoral emphasis areas; show evidence of leadership potential or  the capacity to make a distinctive professional or scholarly contribution; contribute to an inclusive educational community, as evidenced in personal history and experience, research goals, or the promotion of understanding among persons of different backgrounds and ideas; have different racial, ethnic, gender, socio-economic, geographic, and disciplinary backgrounds. Visit http://grad.msu.edu/universityfellowships .

Two kinds of fellowship awards are available:

University Distinguished Fellowships recognize academic achievement, research goals, demonstrated leadership potential, and contribution to a diverse educational community and a record of overcoming obstacles.

Fellowship recipients beginning study in Fall 2024 will receive a 12-month graduate assistantship with a stipend of $31,400, plus a supplemental fellowship of $10,000, health insurance and up to 9 credits in the fall spring and up to 5 credits in the summer.  

The first year is funded by The Graduate School. During the second through fifth years of support, students receive a department assistantship that may require them to assist in teaching or research. The Graduate School will also provide a $10,000 fellowship in years two through five.

Master of Fine Arts students are jointly supported by The Graduate School and their departments for three years.