Fellowships

The Graduate Dean’s Fellowship is designed for individuals from underrepresented groups who have overcome social, cultural, or economic conditions. Awards will be given to students who are qualified by the usual indicators of promise for success in graduate study.

When awarded, the Graduate School will enter into an arrangement with participating programs to provide a student with funding for two consecutive years. During year one, the Graduate School will fund the award for eleven (11) months as a fellowship. During year two, the academic program will fund the award as an assistantship appointment for nine (9) months.

The Graduate Dean’s Fellowship is a two-year award for new and continuing students who have been unconditionally admitted to either a master’s or doctoral degree program.

Students must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident/immigrant to apply.

Note:  The Graduate Dean’s Fellowship is considered as a recruitment/retention tool, and it is not to be given to students who are in the final stages of their degree. Students who have previously held a GDF are not eligible for this award.

Pursuant to Section 9.16 of the Board of Higher Education Act (110 ILCS 205), the Illinois Board of Higher Education currently defines underrepresented groups as a citizen or resident alien who identifies as African American, Hispanic, or Latino, Asian-American, Pacific Islander, American Indian, Alaska Native, or an individual with a disability.

Interested students should review the guidelines and application packet for more information.

Application Materials:

• Guidelines
• Application Packet

The Doctoral Research Fellowship is for students who show the greatest promise for scholarly and professional achievement in their respective disciplines at the doctoral level.

The Doctoral Research Fellowship recipient will receive a monthly stipend. Fellowship stipends will be awarded for two semesters and one summer session, a total of eleven (11) months (summer intersession May16-June 15 excluded). Students receiving an offer will begin the fellowship award in the fall semester.

U.S. citizens, permanent residents/immigrants, and international students may apply.

Fellowship recipients will be assigned a ten-hour per week research assignment that will provide professional development opportunities for the student and be of value to the program. The research assignment will be consistent with the student’s educational objectives. The Department Chair will determine the research assignment and monitor the student’s progress.

A fellowship covers full tuition (nine hours maximum in summer) and provides a monthly stipend.

Fellowship recipients are required to register for a minimum of nine (9) graduate credit hours for fall and spring semesters and three (3) graduate credit hours for summer. Please note that 601 or audit courses do not count toward the registration requirement for fellows.

Fellowship recipients may not accept employment inside or outside of the University.

During special recruitment and graduate enhancement events held at SIU Carbondale, the Graduate School will solicit the assistance of the Fellows to participate in seminars, orientation and the Assembly of Fellows programs.

Note:  The Doctoral Research Fellowship is considered as a recruitment/retention tool, and it is not to be given to students who are in the final stages of their degree.

Interested students should review the guidelines and application packet for more information.

Application Materials:

• Guidelines
• Application Packet

The Master's Research Fellowship is for students who show the greatest promise for scholarly and professional achievement in their respective disciplines at the masters level. 

The Master’s Research Fellowship recipient will receive a monthly stipend. Fellowship stipends will be awarded for two semesters and one summer session, a total of eleven (11) months (summer intersession May 16-June 15 excluded). Students receiving an offer will begin the fellowship award in the fall semester.

U.S. citizens, permanent residents/immigrants, and international students may apply.

Fellowship recipients will be assigned a ten-hour per week research assignment that will provide professional development opportunities for the student and be of value to the program. The research assignment will be consistent with the student’s educational objectives. The Department Chair will determine the research assignment and monitor the student’s progress.

A fellowship covers full tuition (nine hours maximum in summer) and provides a monthly stipend.

Fellowship recipients are required to register for a minimum of nine (9) graduate credit hours for fall and spring semesters and three (3) graduate credit hours for summer. Please note that 601 or audit courses do not count toward the registration requirement.

Fellowship recipients may not accept employment inside or outside of the University.

During special recruitment and graduate enhancement events held at SIU Carbondale, the Graduate School will solicit the assistance of the Fellows to participate in seminars, orientation, and the Assembly of Fellows programs.

Note:  The Master’s Research Fellowship is considered as a recruitment/retention tool, and it is not to be given to students who are in the final stages of their degree.

Interested students should review the guidelines and application packet for more information.

Application Material:

• Guidelines
• Application Packet

The Delyte and Dorothy Morris Doctoral fellowships (Morris) have been established by Southern Illinois University to honor a distinguished former president and his wife. During Dr. Morris' tenure as president (1949-71), the University grew to be a comprehensive research institution and established doctoral programs in twenty-two fields, now over thirty fields.

Students must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident/immigrant to apply.

The Morris Doctoral Fellowship is designed for those nominees who are new to Southern Illinois University. This fellowship is intended for applicants who possess exceptional credentials as indicated by high scholastic standing, excellent scores on standardized tests, outstanding recommendations, and evidence of significant potential for research and publication.

The Morris Doctoral Fellowship is a five-year financial support package. The Graduate School provides a 12-month 50% research fellowship award for the first three years, with an annual $1,000 ($500 fall/spring) book/travel allowance for the first three years while on fellowship. The academic program provides a 12-month 50% research or teaching assistantship for the years four and five.

The Morris Fellowship pays a monthly stipend amount that is above the Doctoral Fellowship stipend rate. A full tuition scholarship will be awarded for fall, spring, and a 9-hour tuition scholarship for summer semesters for the term of the award.

During the first three years, recipients will be assigned a ten-hour per week research assignment. During years four and five, recipients will be assigned a twenty-hour per week research or teaching assistantship. These assignments will provide professional development opportunities for the student and be of value to the program. The research assignment will be consistent with the student’s educational objectives. The Department Chair will determine the research assignment and monitor the student’s progress.

During the first three years, recipients are required to register for a minimum of nine (9) graduate credit hours for fall and spring semesters and three (3) graduate credit hours for summer. During years four and five while on assistantship, recipients are required to register for a minimum of eight (8) graduate credit hours for fall and spring semesters and three (3) graduate credit hours for summer semesters. Please note that 601 or audit courses do not count toward the registration requirement.

Interested students should review the guidelines and application packet for more information.

Application Materials:

• Guidelines
• Application Packet

The Proactive Recruitment of Multicultural Professionals for Tomorrow Assistantship (PROMPT) is an initiative developed by the Graduate School of Southern Illinois University (SIU) to increase the number of individuals receiving advanced degrees in the United States from families which have traditionally not had access to the opportunities of higher education and who, through their life and / or cultural  experiences, have unique and potentially positive contributions to make to the program, the discipline, and in the larger academic community. The Graduate School, in alliance with participating academic programs, will provide financial assistance packages to competitive, admissible students to pursue advanced study at SIU.

The PROMPT Assistantship is a two-year, half-time assistantship for new students who have been unconditionally admitted to either a master’s or doctoral degree program.

Students must be a U.S. citizen to apply.

Note:  The PROMPT Assistantship is considered a recruitment tool and will not be awarded to continuing students. Students who have previously held a PROMPT Assistantship are not eligible for this award.

Pursuant to Section 9.16 of the Board of Higher Education Act (110 ILCS 205), the Illinois Board of Higher Education currently defines underrepresented groups as a citizen or resident alien who identifies as African American, Hispanic, or Latino, Asian-American, Pacific Islander, American Indian, Alaska Native, or an individual with a disability.

Interested students should review the guidelines and application packet for more information.

Application Materials:

• Guidelines
• Application Packet

Dissertation Research Assistantships (DRA) are academic awards designed for students who are in the dissertation preparation stage of their graduate education. Students should be able to complete the dissertation during the period of the award.

U.S. citizens, permanent residents/immigrants, and international students may apply.

Students holding Dissertation Research Assistantship Awards must have a 10-hour service requirement, with specific duties assigned by the chairperson of the program. These duties should be linked to the dissertation research project.

A DRA award covers full tuition (nine hours maximum in summer) and provides a monthly stipend.

A student should be enrolled for at least six (6) dissertation hours if awarded for the fall and/or spring and three (3) dissertation hours if awarded for the summer during the term of the award. Please note that 601 or audit courses do not count toward the registration requirement.

A student will be expected to resign the award at the time the dissertation is submitted to the Graduate School, if this occurs prior to three weeks before the end of the period for the award.

Recipients may not accept employment inside or outside of the University.

During special recruitment and graduate enhancement events held at SIU Carbondale, the Graduate School will solicit the assistance of the Fellows to participate in seminars, orientation, and the Assembly of Fellows programs.

Interested students should review the guidelines and application packet for more information.

Application Materials:

• Guidelines
• Application Packet