FAQs for Prestigious External Fellowships
What does “external fellowship” mean?
External fellowships are awarded by federal agencies, foundations, or other funders external to UMass. Prestigious external fellowships are awarded to graduate student applicants through a national or international competition. UMass does not have a role in selecting external fellowship recipients.
What about fellowships awarded by my department, school/college, or other UMass entity?
These are considered internal fellowships, not external fellowships.
How do I report my fellowship to the Graduate School?
Fellowships from domestic (U.S. based) funders: All external fellowships from U.S. based funders should be reported to the Graduate School via the External Fellowship Notification Form. You will use this form to report details about the fellowship and upload a copy of your award letter. Graduate School personnel may ask you for additional information—it is the responsibility of the student fellowship recipient to provide information about the fellowship when requested.
Fellowships from international funders: All external fellowships from international funders should be reported to the International Programs Office. Contact Naoko Ishida for instructions. The student fellowship recipient is responsible for providing information about the fellowship when requested.
How do I know if my external fellowship qualifies for GEO benefits?
The Graduate School and/or International Programs Office, in consultation with campus partners, will determine if the fellowship you received qualifies as a Prestigious External Graduate Fellowship. The fellowship stipend must be equal to or greater than the stipend for a full semester TA/RA position of 10 hrs/wk. A fellowship must also be a competitive external opportunity for which the student prepared the application (rather than funding received from an application prepared by a faculty member or other party, even if the student receives the stipend). Because the requirements for each fellowship are unique, other factors, such as whether the fellowship is nationally competitive across a broadly eligible cohort, may also be considered.
If the Fellowship qualifies as a Prestigious External Graduate Fellowship, then what happens?
The Graduate School and/or IPO will notify the graduate student fellowship recipient, their GPD, and their Graduate Program Administrator. The Graduate School will award the same benefits as a GEO assistantship, which means the full tuition waiver, and the deductions that apply to fees (95% reduction of health fee and health insurance; 100% reduction of the graduate service fee). The Graduate Assistantship Office ensures that these benefits are activated for the semester(s) in which you hold the qualifying Prestigious External Graduate Fellowship.
What benefits do I receive if my fellowship is classified as a Prestigious External Graduate Fellowship?
- a tuition credit
- 100% of the Service Fee
- 95% of the individual health insurance premium
- 95% of spouse and/or dependent health insurance premium
- parking discounts
- Free dental and vision insurance
- Wellness reimbursements for gym memberships
- A $150,000 fund is available to support graduate students with childcare, after-school tutoring and summer camp costs.
How do I receive my fellowship award/stipend?
How you receive your award or stipend will vary. Some funders pay awardees directly; some provide the stipend funds to UMass to pay students. Consult the Fellowship terms and conditions provided by the funder to verify how you will receive your stipend funds.
How do external fellowships impact my eligibility for loans or other Financial Aid?
External fellowships will affect any loan eligibility for the academic year and must be reported to the Bursar’s Office using the Report Outside Aid button in SPIRE.
If you receive aid through another source after receiving your UMass Amherst award, Financial Aid Services may be required to adjust your need-based aid. For additional information, see the Receiving Aid page on the Financial Aid website.
What happens if the fellowship I received does not qualify as a Prestigious External Graduate Fellowship?
You will still receive your fellowship stipend under the funder’s terms, but the fellowship will not qualify you for GEO benefits. To receive GEO benefits, you would need to hold a GEO-eligible assistantship such as a TA or RA position.
Is there anything else I need to do regarding my Prestigious External Graduate Fellowship?
All recipients must remain enrolled. Fellowship recipients should report any changes to their fellowship or student status to the Graduate Assistantship Office immediately. Fellowship recipients are responsible for enrolling in courses, signing up for the health plan and/or dental and vision plan, and any other actions necessary to maintain student status or opt in to benefits.
Who should I contact with questions about my fellowship?
You may contact gradfinance [at] umass [dot] edu
How do I find and apply for external fellowships?
The Graduate School Office of Professional Development (OPD) offers a number of resources to support graduate students seeking external grants and fellowships. Start with OPD’s Grants & Fellowships resource page, which includes links to searchable databases for funding opportunities and a list of common graduate student grants and fellowships. All graduate students are also welcome to attend OPD workshops to learn more about searching for grants and fellowships, preparing competitive applications, and communicating the significance of your work to funders.