Fellowships & Assistantships

Fellowships

Graduate School Fellowships

A limited number of Graduate School Fellowships are awarded to graduate students on a Universitywide basis by competition. They are intended to encourage and assist superior students in pursuing graduate study and in completing the requirements for graduate degrees in the minimum possible time.

The award stipend is payable from September through May. Graduate School Fellowship awards are for one year and may be renewed upon departmental nomination and Fellowship Committee recommendation. These fellowships also provide for waiver of tuition, curriculum fee waiver, and arrangements for payment of the Health Benefit (if the Health Benefit is not covered by another appointment, i.e., Research Assistantship, Teaching Assistantship), but not general fees. A recipient of a Graduate School Fellowship must enroll as a full-time student.

Prospective students may indicate their desire for a fellowship or an assistantship as part of the admissions application form supplied in the regular admissions material by the Graduate School of the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Interested incoming students should have their completed applications packet on file in the Graduate Admissions Office no later than January 15. Current students should check with their graduate program director for this information. Awards are announced for incoming students by mid-March.

Graduate Student Travel Grants

The Graduate School offers funding to degree-seeking full-time graduate students presenting the results of their research, creative, or scholarly activities at major professional meetings, exhibitions, symposia, or conferences. While the purpose of the funding is to supplement expenses incurred in such activity, students must approach other sources such as the applicant's department, program, or adviser before applying to the Graduate School. There are three deadlines November, February, and May. Applications are only for the current academic year. For further information, contact the Graduate Program Director or the Graduate Dean's Office. Instructions and application forms are available on the World Wide Web at www.umass.edu/research/gsgs.

Federal Fellowships

The University participates in the various federal fellowship programs sponsored by the National Science Foundation, the National Institutes of Health, and the Department of Education. For further information, contact the department or the Graduate Student Grants Service, tel. (413) 545-3428.

Other Fellowships

Direct fellowship awards are available from a number of sponsors. Students may obtain information concerning these fellowships from the Graduate School, through Peterson's Guides, and by calling the Graduate Student Grants Service.

Assistantships

The University offers a number of graduate assistantships and associateships in the research and instructional programs of the various departments. Graduate assistants and associates making at least the minimum stipend set by the campus are not required to pay tuition, Curriculum Fee, and most of their Health Fee. For further information, contact the Graduate Program Director of the department involved or the Assistantship Office of the Graduate School.

Research Assistantships

A number of research assistantships are available to qualified graduate students. These are made possible through funds provided by various industries, and research grants awarded to members of the Graduate Faculty from sources outside the University or from funds provided by the University's internally sponsored programs. Stipends vary with the type of work and the amount of time involved. A full-time research assistant is normally required to devote 20 hours per week to research. For further information, contact the department involved.

Teaching Assistantships

Many departments offer teaching assistantships to qualified graduate students. A full-time teaching assistant is normally required to devote 20 hours per week to preparation and teaching. The stipends vary with each department. For further information, contact the department involved.