Academic Programs Catalog

Graduate Education

Fellowships

A variety of graduate fellowships are available to Michigan State University students. Stipends and sources of support vary widely. In addition to applying for fellowships offered by the university and through the university by outside agencies, students are encouraged to apply for any outside sources of funds for which they may be eligible. Students are encouraged to consult such publications.

You can find a summary by visiting: http://staff.lib.msu.edu/harris23/grants/3gradinf.htm.

Michigan State University annually awards a number of fellowships and tuition scholarships to encourage and assist high-achieving students to pursue study leading to a graduate degree. A recipient of one of these awards must be enrolled in a degree program but is not required to give formal service to the university or to the department or school.

For a student not currently enrolled in a graduate program at Michigan State University, the application for admission also serves as an application for these awards. A student currently enrolled may apply through the respective department, school, or college.

 


Registration and Credit Load Requirements

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


Education Opportunity Fellowships

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 or 3 credits for the summer semester.  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.
 


Graduate School Dissertation Completion Fellowships

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.
 


University Distinguished and University Enrichment Fellowships Programs

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

Fellowship recipients beginning study in Fall 2023 will receive a 12-month stipend of $32,000, plus a supplement for health insurance.  In addition, tuition and related fees will be waived up to a maximum of ten credits during fall and spring semesters (up to three credits/semester in final year) and thee to five credits during summer session.  The first and final years are funded by the Graduate School, with no teaching or research service required of the student.  During the second, third and fourth years of support, students receive a departmental assistantship that may require them to assist in teaching or research.  Master of Fine Arts students are jointly supported by the Graduate School and their departments for three years. In addition, a specified number of tuition credits and related fees will be waived during the fall, spring, and summer semesters.