Financial constraints shouldn’t hinder your artistic dreams. Our comprehensive range of scholarships and aid programs is designed to empower and support artists like you.
From merit-based scholarships to need-based grants and work-study, we strive to make a high-quality arts education accessible to all. Discover the various types of aid available, tailored to help you thrive in your creative journey. Invest in your passion, and let us invest in you.
Peck School of the Arts Aid
Students in Art & Design, Dance, Film, Music and Theatre have exclusive access to PSOA-specific scholarships and funding opportunities in addition to campus-wide aid. Once admitted, your next steps are to fill out the general scholarship application and a supplemental department application (if applicable) by logging in to the Panther Scholarship Portal found on the UWM scholarship page.
Art & Design Department
Undergraduate Students
Declared majors in Art & Design should fill out the general scholarship application and department application (if applicable) by logging in to the Panther Scholarship Portal.
In addition, incoming undergraduate students should submit 8-10 examples of artwork from the past two years to the Art & Design portfolio submission form by December 15 for priority consideration. If including drawings, we recommend at least three from observation. Identify each image by media, size, and year in a separate document. JPEG files at 2000px max preferred.
Graduate Students
Graduate students are eligible for Advanced Opportunity Program Fellowships, Distinguished Graduate Student Fellowships and Graduate Student Travel Awards. To learn more, visit the Types of Funding page.
The Department of Art & Design also offers additional financial support to graduate students, such as the F. R. Layton Fellowship and the Chancellor’s Graduate Student Award.
Graduate students may be eligible to receive a Teaching or Project Assistantship, which includes full tuition remission, annual stipend, and affordable state health coverage through the University. Learn more about graduate assistantships.
Dance Department
Undergraduate Students
Declared majors in Dance should fill out the general scholarship application and department application (if applicable) by logging in to the Panther Scholarship Portal.
Graduate Students
Graduate students are eligible for Advanced Opportunity Program Fellowships, Distinguished Graduate Student Fellowships and Graduate Student Travel Awards. To learn more, visit the Types of Funding page.
If you feel you qualify for AOP or DGSF, please notify info-danceMFA@uwm.edu prior to December 1.
The Department of Dance also offers additional summer session scholarships to graduate students, including the Chancellor’s Graduate Student Award. Additionally, a Non-Resident Tuition Remission may be awarded to non-Wisconsin residents, which lowers the cost of tuition to the Wisconsin resident rate.
All graduate awards are based on faculty nomination following the student’s application or first year in program.
Graduate students may be eligible to receive funding support and tuition remission through assistantships. A limited number of teaching assistantship stipends are available, and some provide full tuition remission and benefits eligibility. Learn more about graduate assistantships.
Film, Video, Animation & New Genres Department
Undergraduate Students
Declared majors in Film, Video, Animation & New Genres should fill out the general scholarship application and department application (if applicable) by logging in to the Panther Scholarship Portal.
In addition, incoming undergraduate students interested in the Robert A. Nelson scholarship should prepare a 500-word (or less) writing sample by January 15 that addresses the creative writing prompt provided within the Panther Scholarship Portal.
Graduate Students
Graduate students are eligible for Advanced Opportunity Program Fellowships (AOP), Distinguished Graduate Student Fellowships (DGSF) and Graduate Student Travel Awards. To learn more, visit the Types of Funding page.
If you feel you qualify for AOP or DGSF, please notify film-grad-admission@uwm.edu prior to December 1.
The Department of Film, Video, Animation & New Genres also offers the Chancellor’s Graduate Student Award, which averages $6,500.
Graduate students are eligible to receive one of our teaching assistantships awarded annually, which includes full tuition remission, annual stipend and affordable state health coverage through the University. Learn more about graduate assistantships.
Music Department
Undergraduate Students
Declared majors in Music should fill out the general scholarship application and department application (if applicable) by logging in to the Panther Scholarship Portal.
Graduate Students
Graduate students are eligible for Advanced Opportunity Program Fellowships, Distinguished Graduate Student Fellowships and Graduate Student Travel Awards. To learn more, visit the Types of Funding page.
The Department of Music also offers additional scholarships to graduate students, including the Chancellor’s Graduate Student Award. Additionally, a Non-Resident Tuition Remission may be awarded to non-Wisconsin residents, which lowers the cost of tuition to the Wisconsin resident rate.
All graduate awards are based on faculty nomination following the student’s application, entrance audition or first year in program.
Graduate students may be eligible to receive funding support and tuition remission through assistantships. Approximately half of our students receive a teaching assistantship, which includes full tuition remission, stipend and benefits eligibility. As a Teaching Assistant, you’ll have varying responsibilities depending on degree, instrument, and experience. Learn more about our graduate assistantships.
Composition
- Studio and classroom instruction
- Assist with chamber ensemble management
- Studio and departmental duties (dependent upon experience)
Conducting
- Serve as an assistant conductor with university ensembles
- Assist with recruitment and outreach activities
- Provide ensemble and departmental support
Guitar
- Studio, lesson and classroom instruction
- Assist with chamber ensemble management
- Studio and departmental duties (dependent upon experience)
Music History & Literature
- Studio and classroom instruction
- Studio and departmental duties (dependent upon experience)
Piano
- Studio and classroom instruction
- Rehearsal and performance accompaniment for choral, chamber and instrumental ensembles
- Studio and departmental duties (dependent upon experience)
Strings
- Studio, lesson and classroom instruction
- Assist with orchestra and chamber ensemble management
- Studio and departmental duties (dependent upon experience)
Voice
- Studio, lesson and classroom instruction
- Assist with choral, opera and vocal ensemble management
- Studio and departmental duties (dependent upon experience)
Woodwinds, Brass & Percussion
- Studio, lesson and classroom instruction
- Assist with orchestra, wind band and chamber ensemble management
- Studio and departmental duties (dependent upon experience)
Composition
- Studio and classroom instruction
- Assist with chamber ensemble management
- Studio and departmental duties (dependent upon experience)
Conducting
- Serve as an assistant conductor with university ensembles
- Assist with recruitment and outreach activities
- Provide ensemble and departmental support
Guitar
- Studio, lesson and classroom instruction
- Assist with chamber ensemble management
- Studio and departmental duties (dependent upon experience)
Music History & Literature
- Studio and classroom instruction
- Studio and departmental duties (dependent upon experience)
Piano
- Studio and classroom instruction
- Rehearsal and performance accompaniment for choral, chamber and instrumental ensembles
- Studio and departmental duties (dependent upon experience)
Strings
- Studio, lesson and classroom instruction
- Assist with orchestra and chamber ensemble management
- Studio and departmental duties (dependent upon experience)
Voice
- Studio, lesson and classroom instruction
- Assist with choral, opera and vocal ensemble management
- Studio and departmental duties (dependent upon experience)
Woodwinds, Brass & Percussion
- Studio, lesson and classroom instruction
- Assist with orchestra, wind band and chamber ensemble management
- Studio and departmental duties (dependent upon experience)
Theatre Department
Undergraduate Students
Declared majors in Theatre should fill out the general scholarship application and department application (if applicable) by logging in to the Panther Scholarship Portal.
Go Behind the Scenes with Us
As an arts school, we take campus tours one step further by offering on-the-go information sessions designed for creative minds. Go behind the scenes with one of our arts ambassadors and learn about our programs along the way.