Fellowships and Awards
Information about Fellowship and Awards opportunities for Graduate Students through the Graduate School is listed below and arranged according to the normal calendar of submission deadlines.
According to the Council of Graduate Schools Resolution Regarding Graduate Scholars, Fellows,
Trainees and Assistants, "students are under no obligation to respond to offers of financial
support (such as a graduate scholarship, fellowship, traineeship, or assistantship)
prior to April 15; ... an acceptance given or left in force after April 15 commits
the student not to accept another offer without first obtaining a written release from the
institution to which a commitment has been made."
CGR Resolution
A page with links to scholarships for specific schools, colleges, and departments at USC-Columbia can be found here: Office of Financial Aid Scholarship Information
Support for Graduate Student Conferences and Workshops
Grant applications accepted on an ad hoc basis through the academic year (availability of funds permitting).
The Graduate School, in order to encourage the involvement of graduate students in the conduct and hosting of academic conferences, will offer grants ranging from $250-750 to assist in the organization of Graduate Student Conferences. These grants are for scholarly conferences that either (i) feature the presentation of graduate student research or (ii) are wholly organized and hosted by the graduate students of an academic unit.
Travel Grants for participation in professional meetings
2008-2009 Deadlines:
1 September 2008: For travel October 2008 - January 2009
1 January 2008: For travel February 2009 - May 2009
1 May 2008: For travel June 2009 - September 2009
The Graduate School encourages student presentation of research at professional meetings by offering grants to degree-seeking graduate students. These are meant to supplement what has been committed by the unit to support the student's travel. Requests must be submitted before travel.
2008-2009 Travel Grant announcement
Fall 2008 Travel Grant recipients
Graduate School Fellowships
2009 Deadlines:
First Round Review: Monday, 2 February 2009
Second Round Review: Monday, 23 February 2009
Third Round Review: Friday, 27 March 2009
These highly competitive fellowships are "recruiting fellowships" and offered to promising applicants to the Graduate School. Nominations are made by individual graduate programs. Applicant awards must be matched by the department. The fellowships are granted for the first year, and are renewable for an additional two years for doctoral students.
In addition to the Graduate School Fellowships descibed above, the Graduate School will be considering fellowship nominees for the following one-year non-renewable Recruiting Trustee Fellowships:
The Cecil Scott Trustee Recruiting Fellowship will be offered to nominees in the fields of counselling, psychology, and guidance (e.g. the following fields: Clinical-Community Psychology, Communication Sciences and Disorders, Community/Public Health Clinical Nurse Specialist, Counselor Education, Drug and Addiction Studies, Educational Psychology, Rehabilitation Counseling, Psychiatric Rehabilitation, Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner/Specialist, School Psychology, and Social Work). There are four $5,000 one-year recruiting fellowships in this category.
The Rhude M. Patterson Trustee Recruiting Fellowship will be offered to women in the humanities and social sciences. There are two $5,000 one-year recruiting fellowships in this category.
2009 Graduate School Fellowship Program Nomination form
Graduate Incentive Recruiting Scholarships
2009 Deadlines:
First Round Review: Monday, 2 February 2009
Second Round Review: Monday, 23 February 2009
Third Round Review: Friday, 27 March 2009
The primary function of this scholarship is to recruit new African-American graduate students to the University of South Carolina. Priority is given to African-American graduate students seeking degrees in academic majors with low representation. These recruiting awards are for one year and are not renewable. Applicants may indicate to programs their desire to be nominated. Nominations are made by individual graduate programs to the Graduate School.
2009 Graduate Incentive Recruiting Scholarship Program Nomination form
2009 Graduate Incentive Recruiting Scholarship Student Nomination form
USC Education Foundation
Outstanding Graduate Teaching Assistant Award
2009 Deadline: 6 February 2009
Graduate programs are invited to submit nominations for the USC Education Foundation Outstanding Graduate Teaching Assistant Award, to be given to a graduate teaching or instructional assistant. The award will be made on the basis of outstanding performance in teaching.
Two awards will be made, one for a teaching/instructional assistant in humanities, social sciences, education, and related professional programs, and one for a teaching/instructional assistant in science, math, and related professional programs. Nominations are made by individual graduate programs.
2009 Outstanding Graduate Assistant Teaching Award announcement
2008 Outstanding Graduate Assistant Teaching Award recipients
Dean's Award for Excellence in Graduate Study
2009 Deadline: 6 February 2009
This award is for graduate students who have demonstrated achievement in their graduate studies while a student at this University. Four awards will be made. Nominations are made by individual graduate programs.
2009 Dean's Award for Excellence in Graduate Study announcement
2008 Dean's Award for Excellence in Graduate Study recipients
Trustee Fellowships
2009 Deadline: 2 March 2009
The following awards will be made to graduate students who exhibit excellence in graduate study, research, and scholarship. Each program may nominate up to two students for these awards, and these nominees must be ranked. All nominees will be considered for all appropriate fellowships. Nomination must be made through the Graduate Director.
George M. Reeves Fellowship ($750)
Awarded to a graduate student pursuing either a master's or doctoral degree.
Dera D. Parkinson Fellowship ($1000)
Awarded to a graduate student pursuing either a master's or doctoral degree.
C. C. Royal Fellowship ($2,500)
Awarded to a graduate student pursuing either a master's or doctoral degree.
Charles Coker Fellowship ($3,500/2 awards)
Awarded to a graduate student pursuing either a master's or doctoral degree.
Rhude M. Patterson Fellowship ($2,500/4 awards)
Awarded to female graduate students in the humanities and social sciences.
Cecil Scott Fellowship ($2,000/4 awards)
Awarded to graduate students in counseling, psychology, and guidance.
Summer Dissertation Fellowships
2009 Deadline: 3 April 2008
Awards of $2500 each will be awarded to four outstanding doctorate students who have demonstrated excellence in their doctoral studies at the University, who have an exceptionally worthy dissertation project, and for whom summer support would facilitate their completing their studies in time for August graduation. Nominations are made by individual graduate programs.
Graduate Incentive Continuing Scholarships
2009 Deadline: Monday, 20 April 2009
The primary function of this fellowship is to aid in the financial need of African-American graduate students currently attending the University of South Carolina. This award (together with the unit match) may be applied to tuition and fees, stipend enhancement, or research related expenses (excluding conference travel). Students may indicate to programs their desire to be nominated. Nominations are made by individual graduate programs to the Graduate School.
2009 Graduate Incentive Continuing Scholarship Program Nomination form
2009 Graduate Incentive Continuing Scholarship Student Nomination form
Outstanding Dissertation Awards
2009 Deadline: 1 June 2009
Two awards of $1000 are made in each of two categories each year. The categories rotate.
The categories considered for 2009 are
(1) Biological and Life Sciences
The following list, although not all-inclusive, illustrates the field considered as Biological and Life Sciences: biology; botany; zoology; ecology; embryology; entomology; genetics; nutrition; plant pathology; plant physiology; anatomy; biochemistry; biophysics; microbiology; pathology; pharmacology; physiology; and related fields. Also included are agriculture, forestry, and related fields.
and
(2) Humanities/Fine Arts
The following list, although not all-inclusive, illustrates the fields considered as Humanities/Fine Arts: history; philosophy; language; linguistics; literature; archaeology; jurisprudence; the history, theory and criticism of the arts; ethics; comparative religion; and those aspects of the social sciences that employ historical or philosophical approaches.
Nominees must have completed their doctorate
between July 1 two years prior to the deadline and June 30 in the year of the deadline.
Nominations are made by individual graduate programs.The categories for this
award rotate in a two year cycle, such that next year's (2009) categories will be:
(1) Mathematics, Physical Sciences and Engineering, and (2) Social Sciences.
2009 Outstanding Dissertation Awards announcement
Outstanding Thesis Awards
2008 Deadline: 29 September 2008
Two awards of $500 are made in each of two categories each year. The categories rotate. The categories considered for 2009 are (1) Mathematics, Physical Sciences, and Engineering, and (2) Humanities and Fine Arts. Nominees must have completed their master's between Fall 2006 and Summer 2008. Nominations are made by individual graduate programs. The categories for this award rotate in a two year cycle, such that next year's (2010) categories will be: (1) Life Sciences and (2) Social Sciences, Business, and Education.
Minority Funding Opportunities
(note: These documents and links represent the most recent we have from these sources. Please check with the funding agency directly for the most up-to-date information, and report to us any bad links or outdated information.)
Other Funding Opportunities
(note: These documents and links represent the most recent we have from these sources. Please check with the funding agency directly for the most up-to-date information, and report to us any bad links or outdated information.)
- Cornell University Graduate School -- Fellowship database
- American Council of Learned Societies (ACLS) Competitions and Deadlines
- American-Scandinavian Foundation (ASF) fellowships/grants for research or study in Scandinavian countries
- USC Center for Teaching Excellence Graduate Fellowships
- Dept. of Energy National Nuclear Security Administration Stewardship Science Graduate Fellowship (SSGF) Program
- The Golden Key Graduate Scholar Award
- Humboldt Postdoctoral Research Fellowships
- Institute for Humane Studies (George Mason University)
- The Intelligence Community Postdoctoral Research Fellowship Program
- Mortar Board Honor Society Scholarship --- Application form
- The National Academies Research Associateship Programs
- National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate Fellowship
- Newcombe Doctoral Dissertation Fellowships
- New York State Assembly Graduate Internships
- P.E.O.: Educational Loan Fund, International Peace Scholarship, Program for Continuing Education, Scholar Awards
- SMART (Science, Mathematics, and Research for Transformation) Defense Scholarship/Fellowship Program
- Social Science Research Council Dissertation Proposal Development Fellowship
- Social Science Research Council Award for Outstanding Contributions to Grad Education
- Southern Research Fellows Program
- Woodrow Wilson Dissertation Fellowships in Women's and Gender Studies
For more information, contact Stanley Dubinsky
Phone: 1-803-777-4243
Email Address: dubinsky@sc.edu
Also check for information at: USC Office of Fellowship and Scholar Programs