Financial Support

Fellowships for Continuing Students

Central Awards by Departmental Nomination

Central fellowship awards for continuing graduate students are based on nomination by department and review by a central faculty fellowship committee. Procedures are outlined in an annual memo from Graduate Division to graduate departments . The annual memo specifies categories of award, departmental nomination procedures, selection timelines and is available by review by departments on GradNET.

Central Awards by Student Application

For other central fellowships, continuing students apply directly to the Graduate Division. The fellowships and grants are briefly listed below, linked to a website that provides a full description of the eligibility criteria, level of support, and an application form. To apply, graduate students must be registered or on an approved leave of absence in Spring Quarter of the current year and must be registered and enrolled in the required units to receive funds during the quarter/year of the award.

Application forms in PDF are available at Graduate Division Fellowship & Grant Applications or by following the link on the individual award. In order to download the applications students must have the program Adobe Reader , follow this link to download a free version of the software.

Broida-Hirschfelder Dissertation Awards

Guidelines and Information: The Faculty Women's Club of UCSB, with matching support from Graduate Division, will make two stipend awards of $8,000 each from the Broida-Hirschfelder Endowment Fund to a graduate student in a doctoral program in the following science and engineering departments: Biomolecular Science and Engineering, Marine Science, Chemical Engineering, Materials, Chemistry and Biochemistry, Mathematics, Computer Science, Mechanical and Environmental Engineering, Earth Science (Geological Sciences), Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, Ecology, Evolution and Marine Biology. Physics, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Environmental Science and Management, Psychology (physiological, experimental emphasis only are eligible), Geography. Statistics and Applied Probability

Brython Davis Graduate Fellowship

Guidelines and Information: The Brython Davis Endowment Graduate Fellowship for children of regular members of the U.S. Navy or Marine Corps provides a $6,000 stipend and fee support for doctoral or dissertation research. Nonresident tuition is not provided. Awards may be made for one quarter or one academic year and may be received more than once.

Eligibility: New students who have been accepted to, but not yet begun, graduate study at UCSB at the time of application, or continuing UCSB graduate students in good academic standing and registered or on Official Leave of Absence in Spring Quarter of the current year. Recipients must maintain continuous full-time enrollment and good academic standing at UCSB throughout the entire tenure of the award. One of the applicant's parents must be or have been a regular member of the U.S. Navy or Marine Corps. Doctoral 2A, or P3, class level students are not eligible for central fellowship funds. (A student enrolled for more than 9 quarters since advancement to doctoral candidacy is P3 class level.) For example, if Spring 2007 is a student's ninth registered quarter since advancement to candidacy, that student is not eligible to apply for this fellowship.

Graduate Division Dissertation Awards

Guidelines and Information: This fellowship provides a $6,000 stipend plus payment of fees and health insurance for one Quarter. The Graduate Division Dissertation Fellowship is intended for doctoral students from all academic disciplines who have advanced to candidacy and who are in the final stages of completing their dissertation. Financial need is a critical component. This fellowship is intended to free the student from non-academic or TA employment, but NOT RA-ship, enabling full attention to dissertation writing. Applicants shall determine which quarter (Summer 2007, Fall 2007, Winter 2008 OR Spring 2008) they wish to receive the Dissertation Fellowship.

Eligibility: Applicants must be advanced to doctoral candidacy and must be enrolled as a full-time graduate student at UCSB - or on an approved Leave of Absence - in Spring 2007. They cannot be students supported by 49% RA-ship for dissertation research. Doctoral 2A, or P3, class level students are not eligible for central fellowship funds. (A student enrolled for more than 9 quarters since advancement to doctoral candidacy is P3 class level.) For example, if Spring 2007 is a student's ninth registered quarter since advancement to candidacy, that student is not eligible to apply for this fellowship.

Graduate Research Mentorship Program (GRMP)

Guidelines and Information: This award will provide a $16,000 stipend for the academic year plus the payment of fees and health insurance. The distinctive purpose of GRMP is to assist recipients in acquiring and developing sophisticated research skills under faculty mentorship. The program's goal is to increase the number of students who persist towards the doctoral degree and show promise as candidates for faculty appointments.

Eligibility: Continuing doctoral (or Masters/Doctoral) graduate students who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents. At the time of application, the student must be advanced to doctoral candidacy and a registered graduate student in a full-time program at UCSB, or on an approved Leave of Absence in Spring Quarter of the current year. Applicants must demonstrate high academic performance and promise, and make a contribution to the graduate population in at least one of the following ways: low family socio-economic status; experience of a condition impeding advancement to graduate study (such as but not limited to the absence of a family member who had attended college; educational disadvantages such as matriculation in a school or schools with poor financial or curricular support; having a physical or mental special need; the necessity to work long hours while attending school; language background at home other than English); commitment to advancing economically or educationally disadvantaged segments of society (such as but not limited to academic research interests focusing on cultural, societal or educational problems as they affect economically or educationally underrepresented or disadvantaged segments of society); expressed interest in the use of the doctoral degree toward advancing economically or educationally disadvantaged segments of society. To receive this award, students must not be receiving any other fellowship support, including the two years of departmental support of any four-year fellowship package. A student may receive the GRMP no more than twice during the student's academic career at UCSB. Doctoral 2A, or P3, class level students are not eligible for central fellowship funds. (A student enrolled for more than 9 quarters since advancement to doctoral candidacy is P3 class level.) For example, if Spring 2007 is a student's seventh registered quarter since advancement to candidacy, that student is not eligible to apply for this fellowship.

Humanities and Social Science Research Grants

Guidelines and Information: This program is designed to assist talented graduate students in education, social sciences, fine arts, and humanities to pursue original research by awarding up to $2,000 in research assistance. Since these disciplines traditionally have limited access to extramural funds, this program's purpose is to help redress an imbalance in funding for graduate student research. Doctoral and MFA, domestic and international students may apply.

Eligibility: Applicants must be advanced to doctoral candidacy and must be enrolled as a full-time graduate student at UCSB, or on official Leave of Absence, and in good academic standing, at the time of application. Award recipients must be registered during Spring Quarter of the current year. Students may receive this award once during their academic career at UCSB. Doctoral 2A, or P3, class level students are not eligible for central fellowship funds. (A student enrolled for more than 9 quarters since advancement to doctoral candidacy is P3 class level.) For example, if Spring 2007 is a student's tenth registered quarter since advancement to candidacy, that student is not eligible to apply for this fellowship.

Humanities Research Assistantships

Guidelines and Information: The grant provides a graduate student researcher (GSR) appointment with a salary of approximately $16,000 plus payment of fees and health insurance. The Graduate Humanities Research Assistant Program is intended for doctoral students from the humanities or fine arts, or who are conducting research of a humanistic nature. This award is intended to free the student from employment obligations, enabling full attention to research.

Eligibility: An applicant must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident and a doctoral student in good academic standing. Students must be advanced to doctoral candidacy and either enrolled in a full-time graduate program at UCSB or on an approved Leave of Absence in Spring Quarter of the current year. Applicants must be pursuing a degree in the humanities or fine arts or conducting research of a humanistic nature. Research projects that are social science in nature will not be considered. Doctoral 2A, or P3, class level students are not eligible for central fellowship funds. (A student enrolled for more than 9 quarters since advancement to doctoral candidacy is P3 class level.) For example, if Spring 2007 is a student's seventh registered quarter since advancement to candidacy, that student is not eligible to apply for this fellowship.

The James D. Kline Fund for International Studies Award

Guidelines and Information: This award will be for approximately $500 to $3,000. If a Kline awardee is a UCSB graduate student, Graduate Division will also provide a one-to-one match to the Kline award.This award is intended to provide support to University of California graduate students to further their interest in or commitment to programs of study that promote international understanding. This grant recognizes excellence in the selected project or program of studies that promotes international understanding and world peace. This fund is dedicated to James D. Kline, who was active in the Fulbright Program and the Education Abroad Program and devoted a lifetime to international education. The award will be disbursed by the end of June of the current year.

Eligibility: Students from all disciplines are eligible. Applicants may be U.S. citizens, permanent residents, or international students. Applicants must be registered graduate students in a University of California graduate program.

Olivia Long Converse Graduate Fellowship

Guidelines and Information: The purpose of the Olivia Long Converse Graduate Fellowship is to support graduate research on terrestrial plants in Mexico. Predoctoral and dissertation fellowships will be granted for field-oriented studies; both research and research-related travel expenses are appropriate. Awards may be made for one quarter (maximum $6,000) or for one academic year (maximum $16,000) and may be received more than once.

Eligibility: Applicants must be UCSB graduate students and must have financial need. Continuing UCSB graduate students who are advanced to doctoral candidacy, registered and in good standing or on Official Leave of Absence in Spring Quarter of the current year, may apply for a dissertation fellowship. Supportable areas of research are in one or more of the following areas with a strong preference for research in Mexico: systematic, floristic, vegetational, ecological and phytogeographic botany studies. Some applications will also be considered for research in botany in other areas; applicants may describe such studies in the statement of relevance. Activities not suitable for award include travel to increase familiarity with Mexico, photographic excursions and general plant collecting. Recipients must maintain continuous full-time enrollment and good academic standing at UCSB throughout the entire tenure of the award. Doctoral 2A, or P3, class level students are not eligible for central fellowship funds. (A student enrolled for more than 9 quarters since advancement to doctoral candidacy is P3 class level.) For example, if Spring 2007 is a student's ninth registered quarter since advancement to candidacy, that student is not eligible to apply for this fellowship.

President's Dissertation Year Fellowship

Guidelines and Information: The President's Dissertation Year Fellowship provides financial resources - a $16,000 stipend, plus a $500 research allowance, and payment of fees and health insurance - to devote full attention to completing the dissertation in a twelve-month period. The award requires a clearly defined, vital mentor relationship between the student and his/her dissertation advisor that will encourage completion of the doctoral degree during the tenure of this fellowship. Ultimately, this program aims to improve the rate at which award recipients complete their degrees and to improve the quality of their research training and scholarly output.

Eligibility: The program is designed for continuing doctoral graduate students who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents. At the time of application, applicants must be either registered in a full-time program at UCSB or on an approved Leave of Absence in Spring Quarter of the current year, be advanced to candidacy, have an accepted dissertation topic and a functioning dissertation committee, and demonstrate high academic performance. Award recipients are expected to finish their degree within the fellowship year, and will not be considered for future central fellowship support. Applicants should make a contribution to the graduate population in at least one of the following ways: low family socio-economic status; experience of a condition impeding advancement to graduate study (such as but not limited to the absence of a family member who had attended college; educational disadvantages such as matriculation in a school or schools with poor financial or curricular support; having a physical or mental special need; the necessity to work long hours while attending school; language background at home other than English); commitment to advancing economically or educationally disadvantaged segments of society (such as but not limited to academic research interests focusing on cultural, societal or educational problems as they affect economically or educationally underrepresented or disadvantaged segments of society); expressed interest in the use of the doctoral degree toward advancing economically or educationally disadvantaged segments of society. Doctoral 2A, or P3, class level students are not eligible for central fellowship funds. (A student enrolled for more than 9 quarters since advancement to doctoral candidacy is P3 class level.) For example, if Spring 2007 is a student's seventh registered quarter since advancement to candidacy, that student is not eligible to apply for this fellowship.

Science and Engineering Research Grants

Guidelines and Information: This program is designed to assist talented graduate students in the sciences and engineering to pursue original research with awards of up to $2,000. Doctoral domestic and international students may apply.

UCSB Affiliates Graduate Dissertation Fellowships

Guidelines and Information: The UCSB Affiliates is a community-based support group for the University of California, Santa Barbara. This group, with matching support from Graduate Division, will award fellowships of $3,000 each to graduate students in any discipline who are advanced to doctoral candidacy and in the final stages of the degree. In most years at least one fellowship is reserved for a qualified graduate student whose research has an environmental focus. Another fellowship is generally designated for a qualified graduate student in Physics/Engineering. Students in all disciplines are encouraged to apply. Awards are intended to assist students in the completion of their dissertations.

Eligibility: Candidates must be either registered or on official Leave of Absence in Spring Quarter of the current year. Awards are made on the basis of the quality of the proposed topic and the candidate's academic credentials. Awards will be decided by June of the current year. Presentation of awards will be scheduled for early Fall quarter. Award recipients must be registered for Fall quarter.

Departmental Awards for Continuing Students

Block Grant and Departmental Awards

Every academic year, a lump sum of fellowship funds is allocated to departments in the form of a block grant. Block grant allocations are made in the fall for the following academic year. Departments may use these funds to recruit excellent new students and to support continuing students. Departments may model awards after the packages listed above to provide additional fellowship opportunities to students. A departmental package may include a fee fellowship, a nonresident tuition fellowship, and full or partial stipend. Students should consult their academic departments for specific information regarding the process by which they might be considered for such fellowship support.

Block Grant Supplement for Need-Based Fee Fellowships for Continuing Students

Each academic year, a merit/need-based Fee Fellowship allocation is made to departments in April for the following academic year. The Fee Fellowship allocation is awarded based on the overall need-assessment of domestic graduate students in the department, derived through submissions of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The purpose of these need-based funds is to assist continuing students in maintaining enrollment. Students who have reached P3 class level are not eligible. Students should submit a FAFSA and consult their academic departments for specific information regarding the process by which they might be considered for such fellowship support.

Gift and Endowment Funds

Many departments have endowments designated for graduate student support. Students should contact their departments for more information about designated endowment funds.