Types of Funding

Graduate Assistantships

Types:

Teaching Assistant – Instructional positions within your department. Duties can include lecturing, leading discussion sections, grading papers, and developing curriculum.
Program/Project Assistant – Assigned to conduct training, administrative responsibilities or other academic or academic support projects or programs.
Research Assistant – Assigned to conduct research that is for the benefit of the student’s own learning and research, and for the benefit of the University or faculty. Research assistants work closely with a member of the faculty on their research.

Benefits:

Graduate assistants who hold appointments at 33% of full time or more are eligible for remission of tuition for the semester(s) of appointment. Courses covered by the remission must be relevant to the student’s program of study. Students will still be responsible for segregated fees.
Monthly stipend. See current stipend levels.
Health insurance eligibility.

Availability
Most assistantships are not posted since the number available can change for each department. Some programs cannot offer assistantships. Programs that do offer assistantships decide who is awarded them based on their own process and guidelines. For more information on available assistantships, please contact your program.

For more information on graduate assistantships, please visit the Graduate Assistant Resources page.

Fellowships

The Graduate School currently offers five fellowships for full-time study, each with a monthly stipend for the academic year, coverage of in-state tuition and remission of out-of-state tuition (for students who are not residents of the State of Wisconsin), and eligibility for state-sponsored health insurance. Fellowship recipients are responsible for paying segregated fees.

Distinguished Graduate Student Fellowship (DGSF)

The Distinguished Graduate Student Fellowship (DGSF) is for new and continuing UWM graduate students. The DGSF is a one-year, non-renewable fellowship. The academic-year stipend for 2020-21 is $15,000. Fellows receive full tuition coverage and are eligible for health benefits. In addition, Fellowship recipients may benefit from a $1,000 travel award that will accompany each fellowship award. The money should be spent in accordance with UWM travel regulations by the end of the fiscal year following the year in which the fellowship award is held. The money will be spent on travel to present at a major national or international conference in the student's discipline. The DGSF is not open to doctoral students who will achieve dissertator status by the application deadline for the award.

Note: Graduate School fellowship stipends count as financial aid.

Additional Guidelines

Application Procedures & Selection Process

Application Submission

The fellowship application and the letters of recommendation must be submitted online to the applicant's graduate program unit by the published application deadline.
Program Unit Evaluation

Following the application deadline, each unit evaluates all applications received, selects applicants for nomination, completes all nomination procedures, and forwards nominations to the campus-wide competition.
Selection Process

The Graduate Faculty Committee's Subcommittee on Graduate Fellowships reviews campus-wide nominations and selects recipients.
Award Announcements

All nominees of the Distinguished Graduate Student Fellowship receive official written notification of fellowship award decisions from the Graduate Fellowship Office.

Fellowship Compliance

All fellowship recipients must be enrolled in a graduate degree program at UWM during the award period. Fellows must meet the Graduate School continuation requirements each semester and comply with the following Graduate Faculty Committee regulations:

Fellowship recipients must carry and complete a full load of 8-12 graduate credits each semester during the academic year and a minimum of 5 graduate credits if the fellowship is held during the summer session. Doctoral candidates who have attained dissertator status must carry three dissertator credits per semester.
Fellowship recipients may not hold any other fellowship or scholarship concurrently with a Graduate School award, with the exception of small monetary awards, the UWM Chancellor's Graduate Student Award, or a philanthropic award.
Fellowship recipients may not accept full-time employment. University appointments (maximum of 25% TA, PA, or RA), or other student outside employment of up to 10 hours per week, are allowable.

Health Insurance

Fellows are eligible for health insurance benefits.

If you are interested in health insurance or other fringe benefits, you must apply within 30 days of your first contractual day in your initial UWM appointment. If a summer-session appointment is offered at the same time as a fall appointment, you must enroll within 30 days of the summer appointment. Contact the Benefits Office at benefits@uwm.edu for more information.

International students: Health and accident insurance is required of all international students attending UWM. Most international students purchase insurance from an insurance plan through CIE's International Student and Scholar Services. Please contact ISSS for information regarding an online application.

Application

Online Application

Contact your graduate representative/program for internal application deadlines.

Required Application Information:

Student Information

Name
Email Address
Campus ID #
Mailing Address
Home Address
Current Phone #(s)
Home Phone #
Gender
Residency
Heritage

Academic Information

Graduate Degree Program

Undergraduate, Graduate, and Current Degree Information

Degree, Name of Institution, Date Obtained, Cumulative GPA

Achievements and Other Relevant Information

Honors, previous fellowship awards, publications (peer-review journals, newsletters, etc.), major exhibitions, performances, presentations (local, regional, national conferences, student-only conferences, and annual meetings), departmental assistantships and/or other employment experiences or internships).
Applicants are asked to clearly distinguish published or completed work from work that is still in progress.

Letters of Recommendation

Email addresses of two people who will be providing your letters of recommendation, or from whom your letters of recommendation are from if choosing to use your letters of recommendation from admission.

For more information about the Distinguished Graduate Student fellowship, please contact the Graduate School at 414-229-7177 or gs-fellowships-distinguished@uwm.edu.

Distinguished Dissertation Fellowship (DDF)

The Distinguished Dissertation Fellowship (DDF) is for current UWM PhD students who have either achieved dissertator status or will do so by the start of the academic year of the award. A DDF recipient who has not attained dissertator status by the start of the academic year forfeits the award. The DDF is a one-year, non-renewable fellowship. The academic-year fellowship stipend for 2020-21 is $16,500. Fellows receive full tuition coverage and are eligible for health benefits. In addition, recipients may benefit from a $1,000 travel award that will accompany each fellowship award. The money should be spent in accordance with UWM travel regulations by the end of the fiscal year following the year in which the fellowship award is held, but no later than the date of graduation. The money will be spent on travel to present at a major national or international conference in the student's discipline.

Note: Graduate School fellowship stipends count as financial aid.

Additional Guidelines

Application Procedures & Selection Process

Application Submission

The fellowship application is considered complete when it is submitted online and when the letter of recommendation is submitted to the fellowship mailbox by the graduate program's published application deadline.
Program Unit Evaluation

Following the application deadline, each unit evaluates all applications received, selects applicants for nomination, completes all nomination procedures, and forwards nominations to the campus-wide competition.
Selection Process

The Graduate Faculty Committee's Subcommittee on Graduate Fellowships reviews campus-wide nominations and selects recipients.
Award Announcements

All nominees of the Distinguished Dissertation Fellowship receive official written notification of fellowship award decisions from the Graduate Fellowship Office.

Fellowship Compliance

Fellows must carry three dissertator credits per semester.
Fellowship recipients may not hold any other fellowship or scholarship concurrently with a Graduate School award, with the exception of small monetary awards, the UWM Chancellor's Graduate Student Award, or a philanthropic award.
Fellowship recipients may not accept full-time employment. University appointments (maximum of 25% TA, PA, or RA), or other student outside employment of up to 10 hours per week, are allowable.

Health Insurance

Application

Online Application

Contact your graduate representative/program for internal application deadlines.

Required Application Information:

StudentInformation

Name
Email Address
Campus ID #
Mailing Address
Home Address
Current Phone #(s)
Home Phone #
Gender
Residency
Heritage

Academic Information

Graduate Degree Program
Major Professor

Undergraduate, Graduate, and Current Degree Information

Degree, Name of Institution, Date Obtained, Cumulative GPA

Achievements and other relevant information

Honors, previous fellowship awards, publications (peer-review journals, newsletters, etc.), major exhibitions, performances, presentations (local, regional, national conferences, student-only conferences, and annual meetings), departmental assistantships and/or other employment experiences or internships).
Applicants are asked to clearly distinguish published or completed work from work that is still in progress.

Dissertation Abstract

Dissertation Title
In the space provided, please submit an abstract of your proposal. The abstract should be no more than 300 words. It must be written in clear, concise language appropriate to readers outside your discipline. Please include how your research will contribute to and/or change your discipline.

For more information about the Distinguished Dissertation fellowship, please contact the Graduate School at 414-229-7177 or gs-fellowships-distinguished@uwm.edu.

R1 Distinguished Dissertation Fellowship (R1DDF)

The Graduate School R1DDF is for current UWM PhD students who plan to finish and defend their dissertation, complete all requirements for the PhD degree, and graduate with their doctoral degree by the end of academic year 2020-21. The R1DDF is a one-year, non-renewable fellowship. The academic-year fellowship stipend for 2020-21 is $16,500. Fellows receive full tuition coverage and are eligible for health benefits.

Note: Graduate School fellowship stipends count as financial aid.

Additional Guidelines

Application Procedures & Selection Process

Application Submission

The fellowship application is considered complete when it is submitted online and when the letter of recommendation is submitted to the fellowship mailbox by the graduate program's published application deadline. (Note: R1DDF nominees complete the DDF application; there is no separate application. Programs identify which applicants they will nominate for the R1.)
Program Unit Evaluation

Following the application deadline, each unit evaluates all applications received, selects its nominee, completes all nomination procedures, and forwards nomination to the campus-wide competition.
Selection Process

The Graduate Faculty Committee's Subcommittee on Graduate Fellowships reviews campus-wide nominations and selects recipients.
Award Announcements

All nominees of the R1DDF receive official written notification of fellowship award decisions from the Graduate Fellowship Office.

Fellowship Compliance

All fellowship recipients must be enrolled in a PhD degree program at UWM, must finish their dissertation, and must complete their degree during the award period.
Fellows must meet the Graduate School continuation requirements each semester.
Fellows must carry three dissertator credits per semester.
Fellows may not hold any other fellowship or scholarship concurrently with a Graduate School award, with the exception of small monetary awards, the UWM Chancellor's Graduate Student Award, or a philanthropic award.
Fellowship recipients may not accept full-time employment. University appointments (maximum of 25% TA, PA, or RA), or other student outside employment of up to 10 hours per week, are allowable.

Health Insurance

Application

Online Application

Contact your graduate representative/program for internal application deadlines.

Required Application Information:

Student Information

Name
Email Address
Campus ID #
Mailing Address
Home Address
Current Phone #(s)
Home Phone #
Gender
Residency
Heritage

Academic Information

Graduate Degree Program
Major Professor

Undergraduate, Graduate, and Current Degree Information

Degree, Name of Institution, Date Obtained, Cumulative GPA

Achievements and other relevant information

Honors, previous fellowship awards, publications (peer-review journals, newsletters, etc.), major exhibitions, performances, presentations (local, regional, national conferences, student-only conferences, and annual meetings), departmental assistantships and/or other employment experiences or internships).

Dissertation Abstract

Dissertation Title
In the space provided, please submit an abstract of your dissertation. The abstract should be no more than 300 words. It must be written in clear, concise language appropriate to readers outside your discipline. Please include how your research will contribute to and/or change your discipline.

For more information about the R1 Distinguished Dissertation fellowship, please contact the Graduate School at 414-229-7177 or gs-fellowships-ddr1f@uwm.edu.

Advanced Opportunity Program (AOP) Fellowship

The Advanced Opportunity Program (AOP) Fellowship is designed to assist underrepresented racial/ethnic minority and disadvantaged non-minority students in graduate study, and to enter and complete a graduate degree at UWM.

The AOP Fellowship is renewable for up to two years for master's students and up to three years for doctoral students, subject to biennial grant renewal by the State. The academic-year fellowship stipend for 2020-21 is $15,000. Fellows receive full tuition coverage and are eligible for health benefits. In addition, AOP Fellows may benefit from a one time, non-renewable $1,000 travel award that will accompany each fellowship award. The money should be spent in accordance with UWM travel regulations by the end of the two or three year fellowship period. The money will be spent on travel to present at a major national or international conference in the student's discipline.

AOP Fellowship applicants must be citizens or permanent residents of the United States.

Note: Graduate School fellowship stipends count as financial aid.

Application Procedures & Selection Process

Application Submission

The fellowship application and the letters of recommendation must be submitted online to the applicant's graduate program unit by the published application deadline.
Program Unit Evaluation

Following the application deadline, each unit evaluates all applications received, selects applicants for nomination, completes all nomination procedures, and forwards nominations to the campus-wide competition.
Selection Process

For AOP Fellowships, the Advanced Opportunity Program Fellowship Selection Committee reviews campus-wide nominations and selects recipients based on eligibility and through use of the AOP Fellowship Application Rubric.
Award Announcements

All nominees of the Advanced Opportunity Program Fellowship receive official written notification of fellowship award decisions from the Office of Graduate Diversity & Inclusion.

Fellowship Compliance

Fellowship recipients must carry and complete a full load of 8-12 graduate credits each semester during the academic year and a minimum of 5 graduate credits if the fellowship is held during the summer session. Doctoral candidates who have attained dissertator status must carry three dissertator credits per semester.
Fellowship recipients may not hold any other fellowship or scholarship concurrently with a Graduate School award, with the exception of small monetary awards, the UWM Chancellor's Graduate Student Award, or a philanthropic award.
Fellowship recipients may not accept full-time employment. University appointments (maximum of 25% TA, PA, or RA), or other student outside employment of up to 10 hours per week, are allowable.

Fellowship nominees/awardees must maintain a 3.0 GPA and make reasonable progress toward their degree. Fellowship nominees/awardees cannot be on academic probation and cannot have engaged in academic or non-academic misconduct during their current graduate program, based on transcript notations at the time of nomination/award. If the fellowship nominees/awardees become ineligible, the graduate fellowship award/offer is forfeited, effective the date that the sanctions are implemented.

Health Insurance

Application

Online Application

Contact your graduate representative/program for internal application deadlines.

AOP Fellowship Required Information

Student Information
- Name
- Email Address
- Campus ID #
- Mailing Address
- Home Address
- Current Phone #(s)
- Home Phone #
- Gender
- Residency
Academic Information

Graduate Program

Eligibility
1. Underrepresented Racial/Ethnic Minority:
2. TRIO Participant and Underrepresented Non-Minority:
Undergraduate, Graduate, and Current Degree Information
Statement of Academic Goals
Contribution to diversity in higher education.
Scholarly or Creative Accomplishments

Please describe scholarly or creative accomplishments, or any other relevant information that you would like the Selection Committee to consider in reviewing your application (e.g., awards; honors; research initiatives, clinical experiences, or grants; publications; major exhibitions or performances; and employment experience or internships) and assessing your ability to achieve your goals?

Two letters of Recommendation.
- Recommender Email.

AOP Fellowship Renewal Required Information

AOP Fellow Name
Graduate Program Degree Sought
Faculty Advisor
Are you planning on switching from a master's degree to a doctoral degree during the award year?
Provide a plan of study that details the courses you plan to take during the funding period requested in your aop renewal application.

Plan of study for academic year of fellowship:
- Special Project/Thesis/Research
- Prospective Coursework
- Conferences/ Presentations

For more information about the AOP Fellowship, send email to gs-fellowships-aop@uwm.edu.

R1 Advanced Opportunity Program Fellowship (R1AOP)

The R1AOP Fellowship is for current UWM PhD students who are eligible for AOP funding and who plan to finish and defend their dissertation, complete all requirements for the PhD degree, and graduate with their doctoral degree by the end of academic year 2020-21. The R1AOP is a one-year, non-renewable fellowship. The academic-year fellowship stipend for 2020-21 is $16,500. Fellows receive full tuition coverage and are eligible for health benefits.

AOP fellowship applicants must be United States citizens or permanent residents of the United States

Note: Graduate School fellowship stipends count as financial aid.

R1AOP Main Page

Application Procedures & Selection Process

Application Submission

The R1AOP Fellowship application and the letters of recommendation must be submitted online to the applicant's graduate program unit by the published application deadline. (Note: R1AOP nominees complete the AOP application; there is no separate application. Programs identify which applicant they will nominate for the R1AOP Fellowship.)
Program Unit Evaluation

Following the application deadline, each unit evaluates all applications received, selects its nominee, completes all nomination procedures, and forwards nomination to the campus-wide competition.
Selection Process

The Advanced Opportunity Program Fellowship Selection Committee reviews campus-wide nominations and selects recipients.
Award Announcements

All nominees of the R1AOP receive official written notification of fellowship award decisions from the Office of Graduate Diversity & Inclusion.

Fellowship Compliance

All fellowship recipients must be AOP eligible.
All fellowship recipients must be enrolled in a PhD degree program at UWM, must finish their dissertation, and must complete their degree during the award period.
Fellows must meet the Graduate School continuation requirements each semester.
Fellows must carry three dissertator credits per semester.
Fellows may not hold any other fellowship or scholarship concurrently with a Graduate School award, with the exception of small monetary awards, the UWM Chancellor's Graduate Student Award, or a philanthropic award.
Fellowship recipients may not accept full-time employment. University appointments (maximum of 25% TA, PA, or RA), or other student outside employment of up to 10 hours per week, are allowable.

Health Insurance

Application

Online Application

Contact your graduate representative/program for internal application deadlines.

Required Application Information

Student Information
- Name
- Email Address
- Campus ID #
- Mailing Address
- Home Address
- Current Phone #(s)
- Home Phone #
- Gender
- Residency
Academic Information

Graduate Degree Program
Major Professor

Eligibility
1. Underrepresented Racial/Ethnic Minority:
2. TRIO Participant and Underrepresented Non-Minority:
Undergraduate, Graduate, and Current Degree Information
- Degree, Name of Institution, Date Obtained, Cumulative GPA
Statement of Academic Goals
Contribution to diversity in higher education.
Dissertation Abstract
Scholarly or Creative Accomplishments

Please describe scholarly or creative accomplishments, or any other relevant information that you would like the Selection Committee to consider in reviewing your application (e.g., awards; honors; research initiatives, clinical experiences, or grants; publications; major exhibitions or performances; and employment experience or internships) and assessing your ability to achieve your goals?

Two letters of Recommendation.
- One must be written by the student's major professor.

For more information about the R1AOP, please contact the Graduate School at 414-229-7177 or gs-fellowships-aopr1f@uwm.edu.

There are also partial fellowships awarded which are one-time stipends.

Graduate Excellence Fellowship

The Graduate Student Excellence Fund was established in 2015 as a philanthropic effort to provide advanced degree students the support they need to pursue their research endeavors, complete their studies and share discoveries with others in their fields. Enthusiastic supporters of this fund represent myriad interests such as business, industry, law, medicine and public service.

Students do not apply for these fellowships. They are awarded on the basis of program faculty nomination combined with donor wishes.

For more information about the Graduate Excellence Fellowship, call 414-229-3108 or email gs-fellowships-philanthropic@uwm.edu.

McNair Graduate Entrance Fellowship

UWM offers a $3,000 McNair Graduate Entrance Fellowship, just for McNair Scholars who enroll in a UWM graduate program for the current academic year. Any McNair Scholar who applies to a UWM graduate program, who is admitted and enrolls at UWM, automatically receives this fellowship in their first term of study. The incentive cannot be used as a reimbursement and is non-transferrable.

If you have any questions, please email the Office of Graduate Diversity & Inclusion or call 414-229-2768.

Graduate Student Travel Awards

Guide to Receiving Your Reimbursement
Graduate Student Travel Awards Application

Overview
Follow these important procedures before, during, and after your trip to ensure full reimbursement of eligible expenses.

The Graduate Student Travel Awards offers partial funding to UWM master's and doctoral students for presenting scholarly and creative works developed while in your UWM graduate degree program. The events to which you travel must be hosted by an academic or professional organization related to your discipline, and include conferences, performances, or exhibitions. Such activities are an important part of the professional development of graduate students, offering opportunities to receive review of your work, and to establish professional networks, contacts for collaborative research, and sources of potential future employment. Travel to major regional, national, or international meetings in your discipline is the best use of this program. Funded amounts vary depending on distance, receipt of prior support through this program, and other current support. The average award amount is $400. Funding is provided as reimbursement of expenses after the travel has been completed.

Eligibility

You must be enrolled in a graduate degree program.
Your presentation, performance, or exhibition must be officially recognized by the sponsoring academic or professional organization. Evidence of this—a letter or notice of acceptance or link to (or PDF of) the program schedule showing your participation—is required before funds will be released.
Applications are not accepted for events occurring after graduation from your program.

Application

You are encouraged to submit applications as far as possible before the event.
Applications must be completed and submitted before travel occurs. Post travel applications will no longer be accepted.
You are also encouraged to seek travel support through your degree program to supplement any award you receive through the Graduate Student Travel Awards.

Program Limitations

There is a $1,000.00 cap for PhD in expenses paid per student and $500.00 cap for master's students. A UWM student who receives support as a master's student and then enrolls in UWM PhD program would have a cumulative maximum of $1,500.00.

Travel Guidelines

Awardees must comply with the state and campus travel policies and procedures and any other School or College instructions. You will only be reimbursed for eligible expenses for the least expensive method of travel, which is not necessarily by automobile. In other words, you may travel by whatever method you choose, but your reimbursement will be limited to the least expensive method.
Students who are planning to drive personal vehicles or rental cars must be registered and authorized by UWM. See the Drivers and Vehicles website .
The Guide to Receiving Your Reimbursement has important information on making travel arrangements and the documentation you will need for reimbursement of eligible expenses.

Student Loans

A loan is money you borrow to help pay for your educational expenses. You will have to pay back any loans with interest, so it's important to only accept what you need. By submitting your FAFSA, you are evaluated for federal student loans.

Always accept any gift aid you are offered first. Once awarded, you may see both subsidized and unsubsidized loans offered. Subsidized loans don't collect interest as long as you maintain half-time enrollment status (four credits for graduate students). Subsidized loans should be accepted before borrowing unsubsidized loans, which begin accruing interest as soon as funds disburse to your university account.

Once your loan funds have disbursed, you'll receive information from your Loan Servicer. They will be your main contact for making payments, qualifying for loan deferments, loan balance inquiries, and any other questions specific to your loan. If you have general questions about loans, you can contact the Financial Aid Office.

On-Campus Employment

On-Campus Employment can enhance a student's connection to the university or college. The student employment experience allows students to embrace the school culture, form ties with people other than professors and students, and often be a part of the inner workings of the employing agency.

Statistics have shown those who work while attending college have a higher graduation rate than those who don't. The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee employs over 5500 students both on and off-campus. As you can see, UWM offers an array of opportunities for students to be a part of the student employment experience.

In collaboration with various departments on campus as well as outside agencies, UWM's Career Development Center offers a campus job fair each semester. The job fairs connect the major hiring departments on campus like Financial Aid, UWM Police Department, Residence Life, and Auxiliary Services with the student body. These job fairs typically take place close to the start of classes. For more information on exact dates, please visit the Career Planning and Resource Center Website

For your campus employment needs, you may find current openings throughout the year by visiting: uwm.joinhandshake.com or by visiting the website of the department in which you are interested. We are certain your employment experience at UWM will be life changing.

BE A PART OF THE STUDENT EMPLOYMENT EXPERIENCE TODAY!!!!