Graduate Funding
Assistantships
Teaching Assistantships
Project Assistantships
Research Assistantships
Fellowships
University Fellowships--Beginning Level
University Fellowships--Advanced Level
Advanced Opportunity Fellowships
Vilas Travel Awards
Scholarships
Thesis and dissertation support: SoHE Research Support Scholarships
Conference Travel Scholarships
Departmental Scholarships for Academic Excellence
Additional Information on Funding Opportunities
GradLink@Madison
UW Memorial Library Grants Information Collection
Newsletter of Fellowship and Other Financial Opportunities
Graduate Student Professional Development: Guide to Resources
International Fellowships Office
Graduate Funding Opportunities in Human Ecology
Assistantships
Assistantships are the primary means of support for graduate students in Human Ecology. Assistantship appointments that are one-third time (33.3%) or higher include, in addition to the monthly stipend, full tuition remission and health insurance benefits. There are three types of appointments: Teaching Assistantships (TAs), Project Assistantships (PAs), and Research Assistantships (RAs).
Teaching Assistantships (TA)
Teaching assistants are assigned teaching and related responsibilities under the supervision of a faculty member or instructor. TAs are awarded by the department. Students should contact their advisor and their department’s Graduate Program Chair to indicate their interest in being considered for a teaching assistantship.
Project Assistantships (PA)
Program or project assistants are assigned to conduct research, training, administrative responsibilities or other academic projects under the supervision of faculty or academic staff. Most PAs are hired by faculty who have funded projects. Students should contact their advisor and their department’s Graduate Program Chair to indicate their interest in being considered for a project assistantship.
Research Assistantships (RA)
A Research Assistant (RA) is a full-time graduate student engaged in research which is primarily for the benefit of the student’s course of study or research. A student holding an RA performs research which is directly applicable to the individual’s thesis or dissertation (if a student is conducting the professor’s research, a PA is the appropriate appointment). RAs may be awarded by faculty or academic staff who have funded projects.
Fellowships
The Graduate School offers several fellowship opportunities for incoming and continuing graduate students, including the following:
University Fellowships—Beginning Level (for incoming graduate students)
The Graduate School offers fellowships to incoming graduate students on a competitive basis. These fellowships may be for nine or twelve months, and include full tuition remission, segregated fees, health insurance eligibility, a $600 Vilas Welcome Week Award, and a monthly stipend. Graduate applicants are nominated by their departments; students do not apply directly.
University Fellowships--Advanced Level
Students eligible for advanced-level fellowships are those who will obtain dissertator status before the beginning of the academic year, and who expect to complete the doctoral program in one or, at most, two years. The fellowships include full tuition remission, segregated fees, health insurance eligibility, and a monthly stipend. Dissertators are nominated by their departments; students do not apply directly.
Advanced Opportunity Fellowships (AOFs)
Advanced Opportunity Fellowships (AOFs) include full tuition remission, segregated fees, health insurance eligibility, a $600 Vilas Welcome Week Award, and a monthly stipend. AOFs are available to students who are U.S. citizens or U.S. Permanent Residents, and to whom one of the following categories applies:
- African American, Native American, Mexican American, Puerto Rican, Cambodian, Hmong, Laotian, or Vietnamese
- McNair Students: students who participated in a McNair Program
- People Program Graduates
- Wisconsin residents who are first generation to complete a Bachelors degree and who participated in a TRIO Program (Upward Bound, Talent Search, Educational Opportunities Centers, Student Support Services).
Graduate applicants are nominated for AOFs by their departments (students do not apply directly). See http://info.gradsch.wisc.edu/admin/fellowships/aof.html for more information.
Vilas Fellowships
Eligible students are dissertators and MFA students in their final year who are actively participating in an exhibition or conference (e.g., presenting a paper, work, or poster) or traveling for dissertation research purposes. Awards are for $600 for domestic or international travel and a few awards of $1500 for international travel research only. For more information: http://info.gradsch.wisc.edu/admin/gsc/vilasfellowships.html
Scholarships
In addition to assistantships and fellowships, the Scholl of Human Ecology offers several scholarship opportunities to graduate students. Scholarships are cash awards to students and do not involve tuition remission or other benefits.
Thesis and Dissertation Support: SoHE Research Support Scholarships
These are competitive scholarships to assist graduate students with anticipated costs of dissertation and thesis research and the MFA final exhibit. Support is provided for out-of-pocket costs associated with the research or exhibit, including travel. The maximum award is $2000. The application form and instructions will be sent by email to SoHE graduate students in the Fall and Spring semesters at least one month prior to the application deadline. For information, contact your Graduate Program Chair.
SoHE Conference Travel Scholarships
To encourage scholarly research and its presentation, Human Ecology offers scholarships to graduate students who attend professional conferences to give a paper, present a poster, or organize a round table. The maximum scholarship award is $250. Students should contact their department chair or graduate program chair to apply. Instructions will be sent by email to SoHE graduate students in the Fall and Spring semesters.
Departmental Scholarships for Academic Excellence
Departments may award scholarships to incoming or continuing graduate students each year on a competitive basis. Scholarship recipients are selected by the departments; students do not apply directly.
Additional Funding Opportunities
Go to the following web sites to access information on additional funding opportunities for UW graduate students, including grants, scholarships, and fellowships.
GradLink@Madison
This is produced by the Graduate Student Collaborative and the Graduate School's Office of Outreach and Graduate Student Professional Development. It lists funding and professional development opportunities, social events, and important graduate student information.
UW Memorial Library Grants Information Collection
The Grants Information Collection has links to subscription databases e.g., RSP for graduate students, SPIN, COS, Foundation Grants to Individuals, and IRIS.
Newsletter of Fellowship and Other Financial Opportunities
The Graduate School's Fellowship Administration Office produces a newsletter of fellowship opportunities. The site also links to global studies and international opportunities and to scholarship resources for international students.
Graduate Student Professional Development: Guide to Resources at UW-Madison
This web page links to programs, services, and information, and covers topics including grantsmanship, mentoring, dissertation help, and careers.
International Fellowships Office
This office provides information and support to faculty, students and staff interested in identifying international research, grants, scholarships and other funding opportunities.
