Research Enhancement and Leadership (REAL) Fellowship

The Research Enhancement and Leadership (REAL) Fellowship is designed to promote excellence by broadening perspectives and enhancing participation in the humanities and arts, social sciences, education, nursing, and business. Our goal is to attract students of high academic caliber who bring varied and diverse perspectives, achievements, and experiences to their discipline that will contribute to research innovation. The REAL fellowship is awarded to outstanding doctoral or MFA students. The fellowship provides four years of summer support in the form of a $6,000 fellowship each summer (two years for MFA students). In addition, nominating departments are required to provide REAL Fellows academic year funding (stipend, tuition waiver, and health benefits) for PhD (5 years of support) and MFA (3 years of support) students.  

The Graduate Program Director or Admission Chair nominates incoming students who have applied for admission to a UMass Amherst doctoral or MFA programs for this fellowship. Nominations are completed in SLATE. Awardees are selected by the REAL selection committee. In addition to financial support, REAL Fellows are included in a variety of programs, including mentoring, informal gatherings, customized professional development workshops, and other activities designed to support their success and facilitate a cohesive community of young scholars. They are part of a vibrant and supportive community of graduate students, faculty, and staff who are all committed to the success of graduate students here at UMass Amherst. Currently, there are over 172 students in the REAL Fellowship Program.  

Eligibility is limited to students entering PhD or MFA in the humanities and arts, social sciences, education, nursing, and business. Please note that students cannot simultaneously receive a REAL fellowship and a Spaulding-Smith fellowship.  

Program Guidelines as a REAL Fellow:

• Maintain continuous enrollment as a full-time student in your program and make satisfactory progress towards your degree. 
• Complete a survey (during the summer) to help the Office of Inclusion and Engagement match you with a peer-mentor. 
• Serve as a peer mentor for incoming fellows in your discipline/field after your first year. 
• Attend an orientation event approximately 1 week before the start of the Fall semester. This orientation is designed to explain how funds are disbursed, introduce key individuals within the Office of Inclusion and Engagement and other Graduate School offices, and provide information on who to contact for various situations. 
• Attend the Fall Welcome Reception for REAL and Spaulding-Smith Fellows. 
• Attend at least one Fellows lunch or dinner per semester (or two per year) (in addition to the Welcome Reception) during the first two years of your fellowship.  
• Attend at least two professional development training workshops held by the Graduate School's Office of Professional Development each year of your two fellowship years.  

REAL Fellows are eligible (but not guaranteed) to earn one Fellows Travel Grant (up to $600) per academic year. Please submit your Travel Report .

Questions?

Please contact the oie [at] grad [dot] umass [dot] edu (Office of Inclusion & Engagement).

If you are a Graduate Program Director or Admission Chair and Interested in nominating an accepted student for a REAL Fellowship — this can be done in Slate.