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Graduate College Fellowship & Grant Competitions

The Graduate College offers several fellowship and grant programs to support University of Illinois graduate students. Students do not apply directly for these awards. Instead, departments submit nominations according to the competition schedule shown below. Students wishing to be nominated should contact their department’s Director of Graduate Studies for details.  

Major Awards:

Illinois Distinguished Fellowships

Doctoral recruitment fellowships for the University’s top incoming students.
 

Graduate College Fellowships for Underrepresented Students

Doctoral recruitment fellowships for the University’s top incoming URM students.
 

GRADUATE COLLEGE MASTER'S FELLOWSHIPS FOR UNDERREPRESENTED STUDENTS

Master's recruitment fellowships for the University's top incoming URM students.

DISTINGUISHED GRADUATE FELLOWSHIPS IN THE HUMANITIES & ARTS

Doctoral recruitment fellowships for the University's top incoming students in select humanities and fine arts programs. 

ASPIRE FELLOWSHIPS FOR UNDERREPRESENTED STUDENTS

Doctoral recruitment fellowships for participants in the Graduate College's Aspire Early Application & Campus Visit program.

ASPIRE MASTER'S FELLOWSHIPS FOR UNDERREPRESENTED STUDENTS

Master's level recruitment fellowships for participants in the Graduate College's Aspire Early Application & Campus Visit program.

Travel Grants for Master’s Projects AND Dissertation Research

Grants for students who need to travel off-campus to complete a master’s project or conduct dissertation research.
 

Dissertation Completion Fellowships

Fellowships supporting doctoral students as they finalize their dissertations.
 

Specialized Awards: 

Conference Travel Awards

Small grants supporting students traveling to professional conferences to present papers, posters, or other creative work.
 

Sloan Scholarships

Professional-development awards for underrepresented students in select STEM fields.
 

Diffenbaugh Fellowships

Fellowships supporting students from Missouri.
 

Marion Morse Wood Fellowships

Fellowships supporting research in interpersonal communication.
 

Dewson Fellowships

Fellowships for underrepresented students facing acute and unexpected financial distress.
 

Emergency Grants

Small grants for students facing acute and unexpected financial distress.
 

Competition Schedule for 2020-2021

COMPETITION

NOMINATION DEADLINE

 Anticipated Notification
of Results
Travel  Grants (Fall) - Dissertation / Master's Oct. 20, 2020 Dec. 4, 2020
Illinois Distinguished Fellowships (Rd 1) Jan. 15, 2021 Feb. 12, 2021
Graduate College Fellowships and Grad College Master's Fellowships (Rd 1) Jan. 15, 2021 Feb. 12, 2021
Distinguished Graduate Fellowships in Humanities & Arts (Rd 1) Jan. 15, 2021 Feb. 12, 2021
Aspire Fellowships Jan. 15, 2021 Feb. 12, 2021
Sloan Scholarships (Rd 1) Jan. 15, 2021 Feb. 10, 2021
Diffenbaugh Fellowships Jan. 22, 2021 Feb. 25, 2021
Marion Morse Wood Fellowships in Interpersonal Communication Jan. 28, 2021 Feb. 25, 2021
Illinois Distinguished Fellowships (Rd 2) Feb. 19, 2021 Mar. 27, 2021
Graduate College Fellowships and Grad College Masters Fellowships (Rd 2) Feb. 19, 2021 Mar. 27, 2021
Distinguished Graduate Fellowships in Humanities & Arts (Rd 2) Feb. 19, 2021 Mar. 27, 2021
Sloan Scholarships (Rd 2) Feb. 19, 2021 Mar. 23, 2021
Travel  Grants (Spring) - Dissertation / Master's Mar. 12, 2021 Apr. 22, 2021
Dissertation Completion Fellowships Apr. 2, 2021 May 12, 2021


Fellowship Board & the Selection Process

The Fellowship Board selects recipients of the Graduate College’s main grant and fellowship programs. The Board consists of faculty members and graduate students from across campus. See details on the selection process and the Board’s current membership.  
 

Contact Information

217-333-0036