Tips for Graduate Students Seeking Funding
Where to Find Funding Information:
Your Department
Many departments obtain their own pool of funds from private sources, alumni, grants, etc. to be used specifically for their students. Be sure to check with your advisor, or dissertation chairperson for funding from their grants.
The Web
We have a section of our web page that has links to search engines for graduate students; they are all free and will help you search from databases containing hundreds of thousands of fellowships. You can enter information about yourself that will help narrow it down and choose ones specifically for you. Do not subscribe to any searches where they charge a fee.
University of Michigan Campus
There are many offices on campus that offer assistance for graduate students such as the Center for Education Women, International Institute, Financial Aid Office, Veterans Administration, Research Administration, etc. For links to all of these offices and others, click here.
Rackham Fellowships Office
For Rackham administered fellowships click here.
How to Apply
Start Early
You will need to apply at least 6-12 months in advance for most fellowships. It's never too early to start looking.
Do Wide Searches
Apply for as many fellowships as you find. Don't limit yourself to just one or two.
Make Sure You Meet All Eligibility Criteria
Make sure you meet all eligibility criteria for the fellowship, check guidelines closely before filling out applications.
Statement of Purpose
Show a draft of your statement to your committee members (including your cognate member) as well as peers in your department. Be sure it does not contain jargon that would not be understood by reviewers outside of your area of expertise or interest. Be sure to comment on the project's originality, theory and process.
Letters of Recommendation
Ask professors to keep copies of letters of recommendation (in case you ask them for more than one recommendation or they get lost in the mail). Give them a copy of your statement or project to remind them about what you are working on. Remind them of the deadline. Only ask professors who are familiar with you and your work, a one paragraph letter that states they taught you in a class is not helpful to any committee.
Follow Directions
Keep to the limit and criteria that is set for the applications, statement of purpose and attachments.
Meet All Deadlines
Be sure your application is in the office on the deadline. Most offices need them "by" that date, not postmarked. Follow up with your recommenders to be sure they send in their letters. Make sure any extra materials (ie: transcripts, language reports) arrive in the office. You may have put together the most outstanding application ever seen - but it won't matter if it arrives too late to be considered.
Before Accepting Fellowships:
The Fellowship
Do you completely understand what it is you will be receiving? Does it provide a living stipend? Does it cover tuition? Does it require someone else to pay your tuition? What are the stipulations of accepting it? Will accepting it impact other funds you have already received?
Supplemental Funds
Are there funds available for extras such as travel, conferences, research expenses from your fellowship? Is it possible to accept other supplemental funds from outside sources?
Working Stipulations
Are you required to work for your fellowship? Are you able to accept employment while on the fellowship? Would working help or hinder your progress and skills? Is there a limit (hours per week or dollar amounts) that you can accept while on the fellowship?
Combining Awards
Is it possible to accept more than one at a time? Is there a limit? What about the timing of various grants? Can you defer or overlap fellowships?
Insurance
Does it come with health insurance or other benefits?
Keep Copies of All Correspondence
Keep copies of all correspondence (letters, e-mails, guidelines, etc) for your reference as well as for your files (ie: taxes and the IRS).
Offices You Need to Check In With When You Begin:
Your Funding Source
Be sure they know how to contact you. Have you registered correctly in order for the fellowship to be released? Have you set up a direct deposit through the Payroll Office? Are you sure how the funds can be used? Is it a stipend and/or tuition? Will it be applied directly? Does it need to be renewed each year or term?
Your Department/Program
See funding source above.
Grad Admin/Sec
If your fellowship is handled through your department this person will most likely be your greatest source of information.
Graduate Advisor
Is everything set up with your advisor or in the lab for you?
Registrar's Office
Do they have your most recent address? If not, be sure to change it on the web via Wolverine Access.
Financial Aid Office
If you have applied for loans, your fellowship will affect them. Some sponsored fellowships are distributed through the Office of Financial Aid.
GradCare
If your fellowship comes with GradCare health insurance please be aware that it is not automatic. You will either need to have your funding source sign you up as a re-enrollee or you will need to fill out an application if you have not had it in the past.
Future Funding
Keep Looking at All Times
Keep looking at all times during your academic career for extra funding, as you progress your needs will grow and change.
Hidden Costs of Dissertations
Everyone will need to have their dissertation copied and bound, be aware before your defense.
Conferences
Conferences are valuable for your academic and professional development, but can be expensive.
Research
Can be very costly. You may need to travel, do field work, archival study, purchase books, carry out surveys, etc.
Defense Tuition
You must register for eight hours of 995 to defend for all PhD students no matter what term (Fall, Winter or Spring/Summer).
Interviews
Please be aware, there are no funds to assist with this.
Article Details
Article ID: 62
Created On: 15 Apr 2009 2:34 PM
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