There are many opportunities for both prospective and current graduate students to compete for funding through fellowship and grant competitions. Some, particularly the recruiting fellowships, are internal to the university and the competitions proceed as nominating processes. Other fellowships are external competitions, open to all interested and qualified applicants.
Outside Sources of Fellowships and Grants
There are many external sources for funding support. The eligibility criteria and application processes tend to be as varied as the sources. This makes the search a bit tedious but to make this search a little easier, you can view a searchable database of external funding opportunities.
Fellowships and Grants at UW-Madison
As part of its graduate admission process, the Nelson Institute nominates promising graduate student applicants for university fellowships. Among these are Graduate Research Scholar (GRS) fellowships, which support underrepresented students.
For more information about these university-funded fellowships and resources to guide you through the application process, see the Graduate School’s fellowship information.
Nelson Institute Fellowships, Awards, and Grants
The Nelson Institute offers a number of fellowships, awards, and grants to its new and continuing students.
Foreign Language and Study Abroad Fellowships
The UW-Madison Institute for Regional and International Studies (IRIS) administers a number of fellowships and grants that are designed to support graduate students who wish to pursue foreign language or area studies as a part of their larger graduate program or research goals. These include the Foreign Language & Area Studies Fellowships (FLAS), Fulbright grants, and Warwick Fellowships.
Funding for International Students
Although it can be very difficult for international applicants to find funding support for study in the United States, there are a number of fellowship and grant opportunities specifically for international students. Some of these include the following:
- Fulbright Program for Non-U.S. Students
- Ford Foundation International Fellowships Program
- American Association of University Women (AAUW) International Fellowships
- World Wildlife Fund’s Russell E. Train Fellowships: Education for Nature Program
- Organization of American States (OAS) Academic Scholarships
- The UW-Madison Office of International Student Services (ISS)