Fellowships

University Diversity, Initiative, and Opportunity Fellowships

Both the University of Massachusetts and the Department of English and American Literature are committed to sustaining and building its culturally diverse graduate student community. Every year during admissions, the Graduate Studies Committee nominates incoming students with distinguished records for Opportunity Fellowships, which can carry anywhere from a $4,000 to $10,000 stipend and a full tuition and fee waiver for one year. Students are then put into a University-wide competition. The English Department has a consistently high success rate in helping to secure fellowships for students we admit.

Departmental Prizes 

All graduate students in English are invited to compete for annual department prizes for the best essay written for an English department course in the following areas:

• The LeeAnne Smith White Prize, awarded for the best essay on a topic that falls within the broad area of American cultural and literary studies

• The Charles Peters Prize, awarded for the best essay on a subject involving Shakespeare or his contemporaries (inclusive dates: 1558-1642)

• The John Hicks Prize, awarded for the best essay on a literary subject exclusive of Shakespeare

• The Walker Gibson Prize, awarded for the best essay on a subject in writing, composition theory, or the teaching of writing

How to apply

To apply for departmental prizes, you will need to apply to the Graduate English Application via Academic Works online using your NetID and login credentials.