Graduate College

Graduate student receiving award from a faculty member

Awards and Scholarships

As a graduate student, you might have heard someone say scholarships aren’t worth the time it takes to apply for them. This is just not true. Scholarships and other awards are definitely worth applying for, even if the process takes time and you have the means to fund your education. In addition to the money they offer, awards can give you and your CV stand-out appeal when you’re competing with a throng of applicants for a job. They demonstrate to future employers that you show initiative and you’re capable, hard-working, and successful.

This guide will help you get started at finding and applying for awards. Visit WMU’s financial aid office, the Graduate College website, and your academic advisor for more resources and guidance.

What’s the difference between awards, scholarships, fellowships, assistantships, and grants?

Award is an umbrella term used to describe any kind of financial aid given to help students fund their graduate education. Scholarships, fellowships, assistantships, and grants are all considered awards.
Scholarships are financial awards conferred primarily based on academic achievement. Other criteria used to award scholarships can include athletic ability, financial need, area of study, demographic considerations, research interests, and hobbies. Unlike a student loan, scholarship money comes free and clear; you do not need to pay it back.
Fellowships are merit-based awards that (like scholarships) you can use to pay for tuition, housing, or any other aspect of your education. WMU offers its own set of fellowships. Federal agencies and professional organizations relating to your field will likely offer others. Criteria used to evaluate fellowship applications may include the quality of the proposed research and its potential for societal impact.
Assistantships are basically work-study arrangements. You earn a stipend and tuition remission for working at WMU either as a teaching or research assistant or in a service role. WMU assistantships are competitive and awards are based largely on academic merit.
Grants are need-based financial awards. WMU offers grants to eligible graduate students. Outside foundations and organizations offer many more, and you can learn more by visiting WMU’s library guide on graduate funding or the Graduate College website.

Which awards am I eligible for at WMU?

The process of finding awards that meet your background and qualifications can seem overwhelming, but it is worth the effort. It’s helpful to take it step by step, beginning with internal WMU sources, then expanding your search to include sources outside the university. Review the list below and click on relevant links for more information.

WMU Scholarships

Stapleton-Reinhold Scholarship: for first-generation college students in accelerated degree programs
University Dames Endowed Scholarship: for students with exceptional academic records who do not hold another WMU award
Fisher Gerontology Dissertation Prize: for students studying issues related to aging
Patricia Lee Thompson Dissertation Award: for doctoral candidates within one year of completing a dissertation
Global Education Graduate Merit Scholarship: for international graduate students

WMU Fellowships

Thurgood Marshall Fellowship: for students exemplifying the values and accomplishments of the first Black Supreme Court Justice
KCP Fellowship: for qualifying doctoral students pursuing a teaching career in post-secondary education
Gwen Frostic Doctoral Fellowship: for doctoral candidates within one year of completing a dissertation
Graduate College Dissertation Completion Fellowship: for doctoral candidates who do not hold another WMU paid appointment

WMU Assistantships

Teaching Assistantships: for students who want to teach or assist in a classroom at WMU
Research Assistantships: for students who want to provide research support to a faculty member or administrator
Service Assistantships: for students who want to work within their unit on projects relevant to their field of study

WMU Grants

Graduate College Graduate Student Research Grant: for students conducting scholarly and scientific research or engaged in inventive technology and creative pursuits
Office of Research and Innovation Grants: for students seeking funds for innovative WMU research projects
Graduate College Graduate Student Travel Grant: for students who need to travel to in-person meetings or events hosted by professional organizations so they can share their research and exhibit their work
Graduate Student Association Grants: for graduate students seeking funds for conferences, certifications, or data collection

WMU Teaching and Research Awards

Departmental Graduate Research and Creative Scholar Awards: for outstanding rising scholars
Departmental Graduate Teaching Effectiveness Awards: for students demonstrating exceptional teaching aptitude
All-University Graduate Research and Creative Scholar Awards: for students selected by the Graduate Studies Council based on nominations from individual departments
All-University Graduate Teaching Effectiveness Awards: as above, for students selected by the Graduate Studies Council

Does my college within WMU offer awards?

Yes. WMU’s colleges, interdisciplinary programs, and units offer their own set of awards. For example, a department might use its endowment funds to sponsor a teaching or research award based on faculty nominations. Some of these departmental awards are also self-nominating, so be bold and apply. Take advantage of each chance to earn money, acclaim, and a stellar new credential to furnish your CV.

Ask a WMU financial aid specialist and your academic advisor for details about any other department-specific awards and how to apply for them.

Which awards outside WMU am I eligible for?

Finding external funding takes time and effort, so hang onto that expectation and stay diligent. Even relatively small award amounts can add up and make pursuing a graduate degree much more affordable. As you search, note that some external fellowships only apply to first and second-year graduate students, and some apply to the final years of graduate study. The award length also varies. Fellowships can last one year or multiple years, so be strategic in planning your applications.

External funding sources are also more competitive than WMU sources because the pool of applicants is much bigger. Don’t let that idea discourage you! Apply anyway. National scholarships and fellowships carry significant prestige in addition to their financial rewards. An NSF Graduate Research Fellowship or a Fulbright scholarship on your CV can give you a major competitive edge over other job applicants. Take inspiration from the fact that many other WMU graduate students like you have applied for and successfully won external awards.

Here are a few places to start looking for outside funding:

Graduate College website. Features links to an updated list of external funding opportunities.
WMU’s library guide. A sweeping collection of outside funding sources, from federal agency initiatives to discipline-specific institutional grants.
Appily (formerly Cappex). Includes a searchable database of master’s and other advanced degree scholarship opportunities.
Fastweb. Free service that matches you to relevant scholarships and other funding opportunities based on your profile.
Unigo. Another free scholarship matching service.
bold.org. Allows you to search local scholarships, narrowing by state, major, or academic year.

Other local scholarship sources: state programs, community organizations like the Kalamazoo Community Foundation, local chapters of national organizations like the Rotary Club, local businesses, programs sponsored by your employer, and professional organizations.

Are any awards available to international students?

In addition to the other awards listed in this resource, international graduate students are eligible for a Global Education Merit Scholarship and various WMU graduate appointments.

How can I make my award application stand out?

Award committees want to know what makes you uniquely qualified for this particular award. Keeping that in mind, read the announcement carefully.

First, verify that you are indeed eligible for the award and you can meet the deadline. Next, look for key words and phrases that describe the type of applicant the committee is seeking, such as “strength of character,” “leadership,” or “commitment to the community.” How does your experience reflect those specific attributes?

Is the award named after someone? If so, do a little research on that person. Consider the various ways that your ambitions and accomplishments resemble those of the honoree.

Another element that award committees tend to scrutinize is how you plan to use the funds. Award committees want to give money to students who will put it to good use. You might, for example, explain your passion for a particular cause and how your degree will help you serve that cause. The application might also ask you to include a proposed budget, so make sure your anticipated expenses are reasonable and fit the award intent.

But above all, be honest. Write what actually motivates you to pursue your degree—not just what you think the committee wants to hear. Your readers have developed finely tuned sensors from reading stacks of applications. They recognize an authentic human voice, and they appreciate it.

How do I avoid scholarship scams?

You’ve taken the first step by being aware of them. According to the Federal Trade Commission, scammers will try to lure students with an online post or personalized letter that says they’ve been chosen to receive a scholarship or grant. The message tells them to call a number or come to a workshop at a local hotel. Then, when students do, they’re subjected to a high-pressure pitch to pay for services or risk “losing out” on funding.

If anyone asks for your credit card, bank number, or other personal information to “hold” a scholarship, it’s a scam. Similarly, if anyone claims all you have to do is pay a processing fee, look elsewhere. You should never have to pay to apply for a scholarship.

Some websites will pose as organizations offering scholarships, but they’re actually data mining. They take all of the personal information you load into an online application and use it for marketing purposes or to dupe you into paying for services they don’t offer and aren’t qualified to give you. If you have any suspicions about the legitimacy of a scholarship or grant, take them to WMU’s financial aid office. Specialists there will help you distinguish real awards from fake ones.

Can I hold more than one scholarship or grant at a time?

In most cases, yes! This practice is called “stacking,” and it helps students make up for funding gaps between award amounts and actual costs. Some WMU scholarships or grants place limits on multiple awards, so read the terms carefully. Also, make sure your total award amount never exceeds the cost of your attendance at WMU (including tuition and living expenses).