Fellowships and Scholarships
Graduate College Scholarships and Fellowships
Fall 2013-Spring 2014
General Information and Guidelines
- Each scholarship/fellowship is awarded for both the fall 2013 and spring 2014 semesters.
- You must remain in good standing in your degree program and enroll in a minimum of 6 graduate credits in each semester of the scholarship/fellowship year (fall 2013-spring 2014) in order to be eligible for an award.
- All applicants must apply through the Graduate College’s Apply Yourself (AY) Portal.
- All applications must be submitted via AY, and each applicant must upload: a C.V., a statement of purpose (maximum 2-3 typed pages), an unofficial UNLV transcript, and full contact information for at least one recommendation provider. Please note that some scholarships/fellowships have additional requirements, so please read and follow the directions for each scholarship/fellowship carefully.
- The application deadline is Friday, January 25th, 2013. Note that all letters of recommendation must be submitted to AY by the close of business on 1/25/13.
- Failure to submit all required information and materials by the posted deadline (1/25/13) will render you ineligible for scholarship/fellowship consideration.
- Please only apply for awards that you are eligible to receive, per the guidelines below.
2013-2014 Doctoral Fellowships
The following awards are only available to doctoral students who are already admitted to, and successfully matriculating in, the Graduate College.
The Barrick Graduate Fellowship ($15,000 award, plus tuition/fee waiver)
Barrick Graduate Fellowships were established by an endowment from philanthropist Marjorie Barrick. These fellowships are given to outstanding doctoral students who have demonstrated excellence in scholarship during their graduate study at UNLV. These fellowship awards provide a $15,000.00 stipend; full tuition and fees paid up to 9 credits per semester, full health insurance benefits, and a waiver of out-of-state tuition, if applicable.
Applicants must:
- Submit an application with all required supporting documents (see above) in AY by the deadline;
- be an admitted doctoral student and have completed at least 24 credits of doctoral study in their current degree program (at the end of fall 2012);
- have a minimum graduate GPA of 3.5;
- remain in good standing in their doctoral degree program and complete a minimum of 6 graduate credits in each semester of the fellowship year.
Criteria for selection will also include demonstrated excellence in research; finalists will be required to participate in a face-to-face interview with the awards committee.
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The Hermsen Fellowship (package worth approx. $20,000)
The Hermsen Fellowship was established by a gift from Richard and Beverly Hermsen. This prestigious award is designated for outstanding doctoral students in the School of Life Sciences. The fellowship award covers tuition, fees, full health insurance benefits, and provides a stipend each semester. Fellowship recipients will also receive a waiver of out-of-state tuition during the fellowship year, if applicable.
Applicants must:
- Submit an application with all required supporting documents (see above) in AY by the deadline;
- be admitted to the Biological Sciences (PHD) degree program;
- be in their final year, or so, as a doctoral student during the fellowship;
- have a minimum graduate GPA of 3.5;
- remain in good standing in the Biological Sciences (PHD) degree program and complete a minimum of 6 graduate credits in each semester of the fellowship year.
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The President's UNLV Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship (package worth approx. $25,000)
The President's UNLV Foundation Graduate Research Fellowships are funded by gifts to the UNLV Foundation by the Frank Koch Living Trust for the research support of doctoral students. The fellowship award covers tuition, fees, full health insurance benefits, and provides a stipend each semester. Fellowship recipients will receive a waiver of out-of-state tuition during the fellowship year, if applicable. Candidates must be nominated for this award by their department chair or graduate coordinator; each academic department may nominate one candidate for this award.
Applicants must:
- Submit an application with all required supporting documents (see above) in AY by the deadline;
- be a doctoral student working primarily on their dissertation with a minimum graduate GPA of 3.5, though departments may nominate students with a lower overall graduate GPA if their doctoral program grades are higher;
- be nominated by their department chair or graduate coordinator;
- submit the contact information of the department chair or graduate coordinator (that nominated the student) as their recommendation provider;
- remain in good standing in their doctoral degree program and complete a minimum of 6 graduate credits in each semester of the fellowship year.
Letters of nomination should describe the nominee’s academic accomplishments, dissertation topic, and the nature of the work the nominee would undertake during the fellowship year. Criteria for selection will also include demonstrated excellence in research; finalists will be required to participate in a face-to-face interview with the awards committee.
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The UNLV Foundation Board of Trustees Fellowship (package worth approx. $30,000 per year)
The UNLV Foundation Board of Trustees Fellowship is made possible by funds from the UNLV Foundation. This prestigious award is granted over four semesters (fall 2013, spring 2014, fall 2014, and spring 2015) to doctoral students in the final two years of their program. The fellowship award covers tuition, fees, full health insurance benefits, and provides a stipend each semester. Fellowship recipients will receive a waiver of out-of-state tuition during the fellowship year, if applicable. Students selected for the fellowship must agree to participate in a limited number of UNLV Foundation events during the period they receive the fellowship.
Applicants must:
- Submit an application with all required supporting documents (see above) in AY by the deadline;
- be a doctoral student in the final two years of their doctoral program during the fellowship;
- have a graduate GPA of 3.75;
- submit their dissertation committee chair as the recommendation provider;
- remain in good standing in their doctoral degree program and complete a minimum of 6 graduate credits in each semester of the fellowship year.
Letters of nomination should describe the nominee’s academic accomplishments, dissertation topic, and the nature of the work the nominee would undertake during the fellowship years. Criteria for selection will also include demonstrated excellence in research; finalists will be required to participate in a face-to-face interview with the awards committee.
2013-2014 Graduate Scholarships
The following awards are only available to graduate students who meet the specified criteria for each award, and who are already admitted to, and successfully matriculating in, the Graduate College.
The Alumni Association Scholarship (worth $1,500)
Alumni Association Scholarships are awarded to outstanding master's and specialist students who received their bachelor’s degree from UNLV.
Applicants must:
- Submit an application with all required supporting documents (see above) in AY by the deadline;
- be an admitted master's or specialist student;
- have completed at least 12 graduate credits in their current degree program (by the end of spring 2013);
- have minimum UNLV undergraduate and graduate GPAs of 3.5;
- hold an undergraduate degree from UNLV;
- remain in good standing in their degree program and complete a minimum of 6 graduate credits in each semester of the scholarship year.
Note: students are eligible to receive this award for a maximum of 4 semesters, or two academic years.
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The Donna Weistrop and David B. Shaffer Scholarship ($750-$1,000 Amount TBD)
The Donna Weistrop and David B. Shaffer Scholarship was established by an endowment from Donna Weistrop and David B. Shaffer. This award is designated for students pursuing a graduate degree in Physics, Astronomy, Chemistry, or Geoscience. Preference will be given to students in Physics or Astronomy degree programs.
Applicants must:
- Submit an application with all required supporting documents in AY (see above) by the deadline;
- must be admitted into a Physics, Astronomy, Chemistry, or Geoscience graduate degree;
- have a minimum graduate GPA of 3.25;
- remain in good standing in their degree program and complete a minimum of 6 graduate credits in each semester of the scholarship year;
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The James F. Adams/GPSA Scholarship (worth $1,000)
The UNLV Graduate & Professional Student Association established these scholarships in honor of Dr. James F. Adams, former dean of the Graduate College (1980-85), to recognize academic achievement of master's and specialist students.
Applicants must:
- Submit an application with all required supporting documents (see above) in AY by the deadline;
- be a master's or specialist student;
- have completed at least 12 graduate credits in their current degree program (by the end of spring 2013);
- have a minimum graduate GPA of 3.5;
- remain in good standing in their degree program and complete a minimum of 6 graduate credits in each semester of the scholarship year.
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The McNair Post-Baccalaureate Scholarship (worth $4,000.00)
McNair Post-Baccalaureate Scholarships, administered by the Graduate College, are awarded in open competition to first-year graduate students who participated in a McNair Scholars program at UNLV or at another institution as an undergraduate.
Applicants must:
- Submit an application with all required supporting documents in AY (see above) by the deadline;
- have a minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0 and be admitted to a graduate degree seeking program at the time the scholarship begins (fall 2013);
- upload a certification of McNair program participation letter;
- remain in good standing in their degree program and complete a minimum of 6 graduate credits in each semester of the scholarship year.
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The Patricia Sastaunik Scholarship (worth $2,500)
These awards are granted primarily on the basis of documented financial need as evidenced by a student’s FAFSA application and review by the UNLV Office of Financial Aid.
Applicants must:
- Submit an application with all required supporting documents in AY (see above) by the deadline;
- have a FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) on record with Financial Aid for the upcoming scholarship year by the deadline;
- have a minimum graduate GPA of 3.5;
- have completed a minimum of 6 graduate credits in their current degree program (by the end of fall 2012);
- remain in good standing in their degree program and complete a minimum of 6 graduate credits in each semester of the scholarship year.
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The Sterling Scholarship (worth $5,000)
This prestigious Alumni Association award is designated for UNLV graduates who are now admitted to and enrolled in a doctoral degree program.
Applicants must:
- Submit an application with all required supporting documents in AY (see above) by the deadline;
- be in good standing with full graduate status;
- be pursuing a doctoral degree and must have completed at least one year of their degree program before the scholarship begins (fall 2013);
- have a minimum graduate GPA of 3.5;
- have graduated with either a bachelor’s or master’s degree from UNLV;
- remain in good standing in their degree program and complete a minimum of 6 graduate credits in each semester of the scholarship year.
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The Summer Session Scholarship (worth $2,000)
Summer Session Scholarships are designed to enable summer study for doctoral students, however excellent master's and specialist students may be considered.
Applicants must:
- Submit an application with all required supporting documents in AY (see above) by the deadline;
- have completed at least 12 graduate credits in their current degree program (at the end of fall 2012);
- have a minimum graduate GPA of 3.0;
- remain in good standing in their degree program and complete a minimum of 6 graduate credits in any one or combination of summer sessions in 2013.
Criteria for selection will include summer plans for conducting dissertation or thesis research, as described in your statement of purpose.
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The UNLV Graduate Access Childcare Scholarship ($150 - $2,500 depending on documented need and childcare expenses)
The Graduate College is pleased to announce that we will be continuing our Graduate Student Access Childcare Scholarship program for academic year 2013-2014 in an effort to offer competitive, need-based scholarship funding to admitted/enrolled graduate students with young dependents who have already submitted their FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) to Student Financial Services and have documented financial need. This scholarship is available on a highly competitive basis to graduate students with child dependents who pay for professional daycare or childcare in order to attend graduate school and pursue their graduate research.
Applicants must:
- Submit an application with all required supporting documents in AY (see above) by the deadline;
- have a FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) on record with Financial Aid for the upcoming scholarship year by the deadline (International Students must submit FAFSA);
- be admitted to a graduate degree seeking program;
- have a minimum graduate GPA of at 3.3;
- submit documentation that provides a Tax ID # for the childcare provider(s) and receipts showing the cost of childcare during academic semesters;
- upload your completed Childcare Information sheet (DOCX) with your application;
- remain in good standing in their degree program and complete a minimum of 6 graduate credits in each semester of the scholarship year to be awarded their full scholarship award.
Those who have all the proper documentation submitted by the deadline will be considered for a Childcare Scholarship; available childcare scholarship monies will then be distributed competitively based on financial need, childcare expenses, and graduate student GPA.
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