At a Glance
About
The University of Arizona (UArizona) Graduate College's recruitment Graduate Access Fellowship/Tuition Award is intended to broaden the access of U.S. students to graduate education and to promote the diversity of our graduate student body. Eligibility for these fellowships is restricted to incoming domestic graduate students who will be newly admitted for the term of award and who have shown academic achievement despite facing challenging social, economic or educational obstacles. Each fellowship/tuition award provides up to $2,000 per semester to students admitted to a Master's program or up to $4,000 per semester to those admitted to the PhD. The latter includes PhD-bound master's students in programs that require completion of the Master's before admission to the PhD, those pursuing an MFA requiring a minimum of 60 units, and those pursuing an MLA. Awards are dependent upon the availability of funding and are limited to 3 per academic department.
- Incoming domestic Master's or Doctoral graduate students.
(UA Online students, Global, Accelerated Master's Program (AMP), or Professional (J.D., M.D., etc.) degree seeking students are not eligible to apply), - Awards of $2,000 per semester for Master's and $4,000 per semester for Doctoral, MLA, or MFA requiring a minimum of 60 units. Funds awarded may be in the form of cash fellowships or tuition scholarships,
- Up to 3 awards per official UArizona academic department (not tracks),
- There is an expectation that the academic department will provide additional funds to recruit these outstanding scholars and should be addressed in the email/letter of recommendation.
Program open for 2024-25 nominations. Awarded on a rolling basis.
Closes on May 31, 2024 (applications will not be accepted after May 31, 2024).
Eligibility
University of Arizona Master’s or Doctoral graduate students who:
- Will be newly admitted for the term of award and who will be enrolled in a Master’s, doctoral, Master's in Landscape Architecture, or Master's of Fine Arts degree granting program on the University of Arizona main, UArizona Sierra Vista or Phoenix campuses (UA Online students, Accelerated Master's Program (AMP), or professional program students (e.g. J.D., M.D. etc.) are not eligible to apply),
- have a 3.0 or higher admitting GPA,
- Are U.S. citizens or permanent residents,
- Will file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)* for academic year of admission to demonstrate sufficient need to receive the award - if awardee does not demonstrate sufficient need, award cannot be disbursed, and
- Have shown academic achievement despite facing challenging social, economic or educational obstacles by meeting 2 of the three following criteria:
- Documented financial need as an undergraduate, e.g., Pell Grant eligibility, Work Study.
- First-generation student, i.e., having parents or guardians who have not earned a baccalaureate degree, or who did not earn one until the applicant was already in college.
- Other significant or serious challenges in gaining access to higher education or personal experiences with disadvantage.
- The application must include a letter/email of recommendation from the academic Department Head or Director of Graduate Studies addressed to Donna Treloar, Director of Graduate Diversity Initiatives and include:
- What type and amount of funding will be provided by the academic department to recruit the new admit for the Graduate Access Fellowship term of award, and
- A description of the funding plan to support the admit during the terms subsequent to the first year.
- Funds awarded may be in the form of cash fellowships or tuition scholarships in the amounts of $2,000 per semester for Master's or $4,000 per semester for doctoral students.
Applicants may apply directly once they are admitted and have a student ID and a UA NetID. Applicants must notify and coordinate with the department's Director of Graduate Studies for a email/letter of recommendation.
Academic departments may nominate before the applicant has been officially admitted using the applicant's student ID.
* 2024/2025 FAFSA is undergoing an update and is scheduled to open sometime in December 2023.
Instructions
- Complete the Graduate Access Fellowship application form (either by the newly admitted student or by the academic department). Students must notify and coordinate with the department's Director of Graduate Studies.
- A letter of recommendation is required; the academic department's Director of Graduate Studies will coordinate a letter of recommendation that addresses the following:
- What type and amount of funding is being provided by the academic department to recruit the new admit for the Graduate Access Fellowship term of award, and
- A description of the funding plan to support the admit during the terms subsequent to the first year.
Upload or email the letter to Donna Treloar, Director of Graduate Diversity Initiatives,
Contact
For any questions please contact Donna Treloar, Director of Graduate Diversity Initiatives.