Most fellowships are awarded on a competitive basis. The considerable number of multi-year and recruiting fellowships targeted to entering doctoral students are typically awarded during the winter of the year preceding entry into the graduate program. Therefore, students interested in such support should complete their application process by December 1 of the year preceding enrollment. Fellowship recipients are not required to give service to the college or its programs in return for the support.

The MSU Graduate School Web site provides additional resources; see http//www.msu.edu/user/gradschl/prospect. htm#funding

MSU Fellowship Program
This program, funded jointly by the Graduate School and the college, will support outstanding students by providing assistantships and fellowships totaling $23,000 annually for five years. Recipients must study full time during the period of their award. Newly admitted doctoral students are automatically considered for the award.

Dean's Scholars Program
These four-year awards combine a $7,000 annual fellowship with a half-time graduate assistantship. The package can exceed $20,000 per year plus tuition and medical benefits. The awards are made to new students who show exceptional aptitude for doctoral study in education and keen interest in addressing the problems of teaching and learning through scholarly work. Recipients must study full time during the period of their award. Newly admitted doctoral students are automatically considered for the award.

Erickson Research Fellowship Program
These four-year awards combine an annual fellowship with a graduate assistantship, which provides approximately $14,000 plus fringe benefits (tuition waiver and medical insurance) per year to each recipient. The awards are made to entering doctoral students who demonstrate a strong preparation for and aspiration toward a career in educational research. Recipients must study full-time during the period of their award and make good progress toward their degrees. Recipients may also seek additional teaching or research assistantships. Newly admitted doctoral students are automatically considered for the award.

Robert L. Ebel and Walker Hill Endowed Scholarships
These three-year awards, combining a $6,000 annual fellowship with a possible assistantship are awarded to new doctoral students who demonstrate considerable aptitude for making scholarship contributions in the areas of measurement, evaluation, and assessment of quality learning or teaching.

University Graduate Recruiting Fellowships
These one-year fellowships, awarded to promising new doctoral students, provide $3,000-$5,000. Recipients must study full time during the period of their award. Newly admitted doctoral students are automatically considered.

Summer Research Fellowships
The college funds about a dozen doctoral students during the summer, providing $6,000to support their research and scholarly development. Faculty mentors also receive an honorarium. Applications for these fellowships are submitted in late autumn.

Dissertation Completion Fellowships
The Graduate School and the college support about a dozen students each year, providing a $6,000 fellowship that allows them to devote considerable time to completing their dissertations. Applications are submitted in late autumn.

Professional Development Fellowships
There are limited funds to support various forms of professional development. This means that doctoral students presenting the results of scholarly research at national or international conferences, for example, may request support for travel or other extraordinary expenses from their department chairs and from their department fellowship representatives. The Graduate School also provides limited support for similar activities.

The Mildred B. Erickson Fellowship
This fellowship provides financial support for adults returning to school after at least four years away from formal study. It covers one class per semester, up to four credits. Students may receive awards for no more than three semesters. Application requests should be sent to Erickson Fellowship, Room 58C, Kellogg Center.

Norman Kagaan Scholarship
This scholarship is awarded to graduate and professional students studying interpersonal relations, particularly therapeutic relationships such as health provider/patient and counselor/client relationships. Students enrolled in the College of Education, College of Human Medicine, the College of Osteopathic Medicine, College of Nursing, and College of Social Science are eligible. Students must be recommended by a faculty mentor and be nominated by the dean of their college. This scholarship is administered by the Research and Graduate Studies Office of the College of Human Medicine.

For Norman Kagan Scholarship form in PDF format click here.