Fellowships
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What do I need? Graduate Student Fellowship Application Materials Checklist
Note: All applicants must be accepted by their program and The Graduate School and have an activated LinkBlue ID and @uky.edu email address to apply for any fellowship. LinkBlue IDs are provided in students' Graduate School admission letter. Applicants should expect at minimum one week between program admission and admission to The Graduate School, provided they meet the admission standards (Note: International Students take longer to process). Click here for information on your LinkBlue ID and how to activate it. All communications (including award notices) from the Office of Finance, Funding & Analytics will be sent to students' @uky.edu email addresses. Persons having UK employment of 0.75 FTE or higher (considered full time UK employee), whether it is from one payroll assignment or total combined assignments, are not eligible for Graduate School fellowships or for Assistantships. The Graduate School reserves the right to rescind any fellowship award if the awardee is found to have 0.75 FTE or higher employment at UK at any time during the award period.
Several fellowship opportunities are available through the Graduate School for students enrolled and seeking a degree in one of our many graduate departments. These fellowships each have different purposes and eligibility criteria, so you will want to read through the information below carefully. Note that students are responsible for applying to any fellowship for which they are interested and believe they meet the stated criteria, using the Fellowship Portal. This includes fellowships listed as being DGS-nominated; for those types of fellowships the student must include as one of their uploaded files a DGS Nomination Form for that fellowship that was filled out and signed by their DGS. Links to DGS Nomination form templates for each DGS-Nominated Fellowship can be found below in the descriptions for each of those fellowships.
Fellowships that include a tuition scholarship are subject to current tuition policies. Tuition scholarships include the standard graduate tuition; they do not include Johnson Center fees and health fees; nor do they include student specific fees, such as lab fees, course fees, program fees, music fees, distance learning course fees, or tuition charges above and beyond the standard graduate rate.
Send questions to the Funding Office at grad.fellowships@email.uky.edu or call 859-257-3261.
Recent Fellowship Winners |
Self-Nominating Competitive Fellowships
Association of Emeriti Faculty Endowed Fellowship
Applications Open: August 3, 2020
Application Deadline: October 20, 2020
Matthews/Singletary/Wethington Fellowships
Applications Open: January 1, 2021
Application Deadline: February 2, 2021
UK Woman's Club Endowed Fellowship
Applications Open: July 13, 2020
ApplicationDeadline: October 13, 2020
DGS-Nominated Competitive Fellowships
Note: Each DGS-Nominated fellowship you wish to apply to will require a separate DGS Nomination form to be completed. Your application will not be submittable without this document. A link to each form can be found after the description of each fellowship.
Cralle Foundation/Joan Cralle Day Fellowship
Applications Open: January 1, 2021
Application Deadline: EXTENDED March 9, 2021
Applications Open: January 1, 2021
Application Deadline: EXTENDED March 8, 2021
Lexington Herald-Leader Fellowship
Applications Open: August 3, 2020
Application Deadline: October 6, 2020
Lexmark Fellowship
Applications Open: August 3, 2020
Deadline: UPDATED October 2, 2020
Applications Open: January 1, 2021
Application Deadline: March 9, 2021
Northern KY/Greater Cincinnati UK Alumni Club Fellowship
Applications Open: January 1, 2021
Application Deadline: March 16, 2021
Presidential Graduate Fellowship
Applications Open: January 1, 2021
Application Deadline: January 26, 2021
DGS-Nominated Allocated Fellowships
Max Steckler Fellowship
Application Deadline: Details announced via DGS email each Fall
DGS-Nominated Recruitment Fellowships
Lyman T. Johnson Diversity Fellowship
Applications Open: January 2, 2021
Application Deadline: April 2, 2021
Other Fellowships
The following fellowships are available from individual programs. These are not administered by the Graduate School. You may wish to contact your DGS for additional fellowship opportunities.
James S. Brown Graduate Grants for Research on Appalachia (PDF)
Margaret Ingels Society of Women Engineers Graduate Fellowship
Karri Casner Environmental Sciences Fellowship (PDF)
Research Challenge Trust Fund Fellowship
Spencer Dissertation Fellowship for Research Related to Education
Fellowship Descriptions
Association of Emeriti Faculty Endowed Fellowships
For Currently Enrolled Graduate Students
Applications Open: Monday, August 3, 2020
Application Deadline: Tuesday, October 20, 2020
Amount: $2,500
Students are invited to apply for fellowships offered by the University of Kentucky Association of Emeriti Faculty, in conjunction with the Graduate School. These awards are made possible by generous donations from UK emeriti faculty members as well as support from the Research Challenge Trust Fund. These fellowships express the commitment of emeriti faculty to the preparation of outstanding future college and university teachers.
Criteria for Eligibility:
- Currently enrolled, full-time, fully admitted Ph.D., Ed.D., D.M.A., or D.S. students
- At least two semesters completed in current Graduate School academic program
- Preparing for career in college/university teaching
To view this, and other fellowships on the University of Kentucky Graduate School Fellowship Portal, follow the link at the top of this page.
Charles T. Wethington, Jr./W.L. Matthews Jr./Otis A. Singletary Fellowships for Graduate or Professional Study
For First Year Graduate Students and professional students
Applications Open: Friday, January 1, 2021
Application Deadline: Tuesday, February 2, 2021
Fellowship Amount
Wethington $20,000
Matthews $12,000
Singletary $20,000 (plus a tuition scholarship and student health plan enrollment for students enrolled in Graduate School)
Note: Only one nomination is required to apply for all three fellowships. The selection committee will decide the award recipients for each fellowship from the pool of applicants.
Charles T. Wethington Jr. Fellowship
In honor of Charles T. Wethington Jr., the president of the University of Kentucky from 1989 to 2001, the University will annually provide funding for fellowships up to $20,000 to be awarded to UK graduating seniors who plan to continue their post-baccalaureate education in one of the University's graduate or professional programs. The fellowships will be awarded for the first year of graduate or professional study at UK and are not renewable for subsequent years. Preference will be given to Kentucky residents and first-generation college students.
Criteria for Eligibility:
- UK seniors, having graduated at the end of the previous fall semester, or expecting to graduate by the end of the current spring semester or the second summer session following the current spring semester. Please note: Students that have graduated in May the previous year are not eligible for this fellowship.
- No previous enrollment in a graduate or professional program
- Meet the academic and other criteria required for admission to program of study
- Demonstration of high academic achievement in an undergraduate program of study at the University of Kentucky
- Evidence of participation and leadership roles in university and community life during undergraduate study
W.L. Matthews Jr. Fellowship
The Board of Directors of the University of Kentucky Athletics Association has established quasi-endowment funds in memory of W.L. Matthews Jr. The funds will provide annually for $12,000 fellowships to be awarded to UK graduating seniors who plan to continue their post-baccalaureate education in one of the University’s graduate or professional programs. The fellowships will be awarded for a first year of graduate or professional study at UK and are not renewable for subsequent years.
Criteria for Eligibility:
- UK seniors, having graduated at the end of the previous fall semester, or expecting to graduate by the end of the current spring semester or the second summer session following the current spring semester. Please note: Students that have graduated in May the previous year are not eligible for this fellowship.
- No previous enrollment in a graduate or professional program
- Meet the academic and other criteria required for admission to program of study
- Demonstration of high academic achievement in an undergraduate program of study at the University of Kentucky
- Evidence of participation and leadership roles in university and community life during undergraduate study
Otis A. Singletary Fellowship
The Board of Directors of the University of Kentucky Athletics Association has established quasi-endowment funds in honor of Otis A. Singletary. The funds will provide annually for $20,000 fellowships to be awarded to UK graduating seniors who plan to continue their post-baccalaureate education in one of the University’s graduate or professional programs. The fellowships will be awarded for a first year of graduate or professional study at UK and are not renewable for subsequent years. Recipients enrolled in graduate (not professional) programs will also be eligible for a tuition scholarship and health plan enrollment.
Criteria for Eligibility:
- UK seniors, having graduated at the end of the previous fall semester, or expecting to graduate by the end of the current spring semester or the second summer session following the current spring semester. Please note: Students that have graduated in May the previous year are not eligible for this fellowship.
- No previous enrollment in a graduate or professional program
- Meet the academic and other criteria required for admission to program of study
- Demonstration of high academic achievement in an undergraduate program of study at the University of Kentucky
- Evidence of participation and leadership roles in university and community life during undergraduate study
To view this, and other fellowships on the University of Kentucky Graduate School Fellowship Portal, follow the link at the top of this page.
University of Kentucky Woman’s Club Endowed Fellowship
For Currently Enrolled Graduate Students
Applications Open: Monday, July 13, 2020
Application Deadline: Tuesday, October 13, 2020
Amount: $2,000
Students are invited to apply for a fellowship offered by the University of Kentucky Woman’s Club, in conjunction with the Graduate School. These awards are made possible by generous donations from UK Woman’s Club members as well as support from the Research Challenge Trust Fund. Preference is given to non-traditional female candidates who are underrepresented in their field of study. Selection is based on both academic achievement and financial need.
Criteria for Eligibility:
- Currently enrolled, full-time or part-time Ph.D., Ed.D., D.M.A., or D.S. students; professional degree students are not eligible
- Successful completion of qualifying exam by nomination deadline
- a Kentucky resident (as determined by tuition/fee status)
- Graduate grade point average of 3.2 or above
To view this, and other fellowships on the University of Kentucky Graduate School Fellowship Portal, follow the link at the top of this page.
Cralle Foundation/Joan Cralle Day Fellowship
For First Year Graduate & Professional Students
Applications Open: Friday, January 1, 2021
Application Deadline: EXTENDED Tuesday, March 9, 2021
Amount: $15,000, plus a tuition scholarship and student health plan enrollment (students in Professional programs will not receive tuition or health plan enrollment)
Endowed by a gift from the Cralle Foundation, named to honor Joan Cralle Day, the Cralle Foundation/Joan Cralle Day Fellowship is available for graduate or professional study at the University of Kentucky for an entering student who is a graduate of one of the 18 four-year independent colleges and universities in the Commonwealth affiliated with the Association of Independent Kentucky Colleges and Universities. The eligible independent institutions are: Alice Lloyd College, Asbury University, Bellarmine University, Berea College, Brescia University, Campbellsville University, Centre College, Georgetown College, Kentucky Christian University, Kentucky Wesleyan College, Lindsey Wilson College, Midway College, Spalding University, Thomas More University, Transylvania University, Union College, University of the Cumberlands, and University of Pikeville. Preference will be given to candidates graduating from Bellarmine University, Georgetown College, Lindsey Wilson College, or University of the Cumberlands. Candidates must be nominated by their baccalaureate institutions. Applicants will enter the name of the Chief Academic Officer (or equivelant) of their undergraduate institution and that individual will receive an email asking them to provide more information about the candidate.
Criteria for Eligibility:
- Senior at one of the 18 four-year independent colleges and universities in Kentucky, as listed above.
- Enrolling for their first term of study in the program in an upcoming summer session or the upcoming fall semester
- Undergraduate grade point average of 3.2 or above
Cralle Foundation/Joan Cralle Day Fellowship - DGS Nomination Form
To view this, and other fellowships on the University of Kentucky Graduate School Fellowship Portal, follow the link at the top of this page.
Note to baccalaureate institutions: Each baccalaureate institution may nominate no more than one incoming UK graduate student and one professional student each year. Please coordinate with the program DGS to submit nominations.
James Still Fellowship for Graduate Study in the Humanities and Social Sciences
For First Year Graduate Students
Applications Open: Friday, January 1, 2021
Application Deadline: EXTENDED Monday, March 8, 2021
Amount: $15,000, plus a tuition scholarship and student health plan enrollment
Endowed by a gift from the Bingham Fund and named to honor author James Still, the James Still Fellowship is available for graduate study in the humanities and social sciences at the University of Kentucky for an entering graduate student who graduated from a high school in the Appalachian region. Eligible programs include: Accounting, Agricultural Economics, Anthropology, Art Education, Art History, Art Studio, Business Administration, Communication, Diplomacy, Economics, Curriculum & Instruction, Educational & Counseling Psychology, Special Education, English, Educational Policy Studies, Exercise Science, Family Studies, French, Gender & Women’s Studies, Geography, German, Health Administration, Hispanic Studies, Interior Design, Linguistics, Historic Preservation, History, Hospitality Management & Tourism, Library Science, Merchandising Apparel & Textiles, Modern & Classical Languages, Music, Philosophy, Political Science, Psychology, Public Administration, Rehabilitation Counseling, Social Work, and Sociology. Non-traditional students and those with financial need (as demonstrated in the student statement) are encouraged to apply.
Criteria for Eligibility:
- Graduate from a high school in the Appalachian region (for a list of qualifying counties, please refer to the Appalachian Regional Commission website at https://www.arc.gov/counties
- Must be enrolling for their first term of study in the program in an upcoming summer session or the upcoming fall semester
- Undergraduate grade point average of 3.0 or above
- Graduate grade point average of 3.2 or above on any previous graduate work
To view this, and other fellowships on the University of Kentucky Graduate School Fellowship Portal, follow the link at the top of this page.
Note to Directors of Graduate Studies: Programs may submit two nominations for the James Still Fellowship.
Lexington Herald-Leader Fellowship
See eligible programs below
Applications Open: Monday, August 3, 2020
Application Deadline: Tuesday, October 6, 2020
Amount: $6000 stipend, plus a spring tuition scholarship
Endowed by a gift from the Lexington Herald-Leader, this spring fellowship will support one currently enrolled or newly admitted student pursuing a graduate degree outside of the field of journalism (see eligible programs below). The aim of the fellowship is to retain excellent Kentucky students from minority and poverty backgrounds in the local community. The fellowship provides a $6,000 stipend, tuition scholarship for the upcoming spring term, and student health plan enrollment.
Criteria for Eligibility:
- Candidates for the Herald-Leader fellowship must be nominated by the program's director of graduate studies.
- Candidates may be enrolling for their first term of study in the program in an upcoming Fall Semester, or may be currently enrolled graduate students.
- Candidates must have an undergraduate grade point average of 3.0 or above.
- Candidates must have a graduate grade point average of 3.5 or above on any previous graduate work.
- New students applying to enter a program whose most recent degree is from a college or university outside the U.S. are ineligible.
- Students applying to either master's or doctoral programs in the following programs are eligible: Accounting, Business Administration, Communication, Computer Science, Diplomacy, Economics, Electrical Engineering, English, History, Library Science, Manufacturing Systems Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Political Science, Public Administration, Sociology, and Spanish.
Lexington Herald-LeaderFellowship - DGS Nomination Form
To view this, and other fellowships on the University of Kentucky Graduate School Fellowship Portal, follow the link at the top of this page.
Lexmark Fellowship
See eligible programs below
Applications Open: Monday, August 3, 2020
Application Deadline: UPDATE October 2, 2020
Amount: $7500 stipend, plus a spring tuition scholarship, and student health plan enrollment
Endowed by the Lexmark Corporation, the Lexmark Graduate Fellowship is a $7,500 award designed to assist students who are pursuing graduate degrees in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or Computer Science. Preference shall be given to minorities and females so long as they remain disproportionately represented in the above disciplines. The fellowship carries a tuition scholarship for the upcoming spring term and student health plan enrollment.
Criteria for Eligibility:
- Candidates must be nominated by the program's director of graduate studies.
- Candidates may be enrolling for their first term of study or may be currently enrolled graduate students.
- Candidates must be pursuing a graduate degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or Computer Science.
- Candidates must have an undergraduate grade point average of 3.0 or above.
- Candidates must have a graduate grade point average of 3.5 or above on any previous graduate work.
- Awards will be made based on academic achievement.
- Preference shall be given to minorities and females so long as they remain under-represented in the above disciplines.
- New students applying to a program whose most recent degree is from a college or university outside of the U.S. are ineligible.
- All nominees must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents of the U.S.
Lexmark Fellowship - DGS Nomination Form
To view this, and other fellowships on the University of Kentucky Graduate School Fellowship Portal, follow the link at the top of this page.
UK McNair Fellowship
For First Year Graduate Students
Applications Open: Friday, January 1, 2021
Application Deadline: Tuesday, March 9, 2021
Amount: $15,000, plus a tuition scholarship and student health plan enrollment
The McNair Program was named in honor of Ronald E. McNair, the African-American astronaut who died in the 1986 explosion of the space shuttle Challenger. First-year UK graduate students from undergraduate universities and colleges who are participants in the McNair program are eligible to be nominated for this competitive fellowship.
Criteria for Eligibility:
- Undergraduate university or college participation in the McNair Scholarship Program
- Acceptance to the UK Graduate School—professional programs not eligible
- Enrolling for their first term of study in the program in a an upcoming summer session or the upcoming fall semester
- No previous graduate or professional degrees from UK
- Undergraduate grade point average of 3.2 or above
UK McNair Fellowship - DGS Nomination Form
To view this, and other fellowships on the University of Kentucky Graduate School Fellowship Portal, follow the link at the top of this page.
Note to Directors of Graduate Studies: Programs may submit two nominations for the McNair Fellowship.
Northern Kentucky/Greater Cincinnati UK Alumni Club Fellowship
For First Year or Continuing Graduate Students
Applications Open: Friday, January 1, 2021
Application Deadline: Tuesday, March 16, 2021
Amount: $5,000, plus a tuition scholarship for one term
Endowed by a gift from the Northern Kentucky Greater Cincinnati UK Alumni Club, this fellowship will be given to support a full-time, degree seeking graduate student who is a resident of Northern Kentucky (defined as residents of Boone, Campbell, Gallatin, Grant, and Kenton Counties) and considered an in-state resident by the University of Kentucky standards. The student may choose to receive the fellowship in the fall term or the spring term.
Criteria for Eligibility:
- Undergraduate grade point average of 3.0 or above
- Graduate grade point average of 3.2 or above on any previous graduate work
- Northern Kentucky residency as defined above (county residency will be determined by the high school from which the student is a graduate)
Northern Kentucky/Greater Cincinnati UK Alumni Club Fellowship - DGS Nomination Form
To view this, and other fellowships on the University of Kentucky Graduate School Fellowship Portal, follow the link at the top of this page.
Presidential Graduate Fellowship
For Currently Enrolled Graduate Students
Applications Open: Friday, January 1, 2021
Application Deadline: Tuesday, January 26, 2021
Amount: $20,000, plus a tuition scholarship and student health plan enrollment
The Presidential Fellowship is available for a continuing student who demonstrates outstanding academic merit and research capabilities in their field of study. Students enrolling for their first term of study in the fall semester are not eligible for this fellowship. Students who are currently supported or have been previously supported by the Dissertation Year Fellowship are also not eligible for this fellowship.
Criteria for Eligibility:
- Currently enrolled in a UK graduate program
- Graduate grade point average of 3.7 or above for each institution at which you have been enrolled
Presidential Fellowship - DGS Nomination Form
To view this, and other fellowships on the University of Kentucky Graduate School Fellowship Portal, follow the link at the top of this page.
Note to Directors of Graduate Studies: Programs may submit two nominations for the Presidential Fellowship.
For First Year or Continuing Graduate Students, Doctoral Only
Deadline: Details announced via DGS email each Fall
Amount: $3,000 or amount determined by the program.
Thanks to a generous bequest from the estate of Max Steckler, the seven graduate programs below have funding available for awards in the amount of $3,000.00 or as determined by the program for doctoral students selected by the department. The programs are: Biomedical Engineering, Biochemistry, Business Administration, Chemistry, Economics, Mathematics, and Physics. Steckler Awards will be disbursed to the recipient’s student account as one lump sum payment in September.
Criteria for Eligibility:
- Must be in a PhD program, and in good standing
Lyman T. Johnson Diversity Fellowship
For First Year or Continuing Graduate Students
Applications Open: January 1, 2021
Application Deadline: April 2, 2021
Amount:
New awards: $15,000
Renewals for 2019-2020 first time recipients: $15,000
Renewal amounts vary for students first awarded an LTJ 2018-2019 or prior (subject to department’s continuing match)
A standard tuition scholarship (excludes some mandatory fees & all course, lab, or instrument fees) and student health plan (SHP) enrollment is provided for all recipients.
The University of Kentucky believes that recruiting and retaining students from all racial and ethnic groups, including Hispanic or Latino, Black or African American, American Indian, Alaskan Native, Native Hawaiian, other Pacific Islanders, and first-generation college students is central to our success as an institution. Towards that goal, the Lyman T. Johnson (LTJ) Diversity Fellowship is available for students entering one of the many programs at the University of Kentucky Graduate School.
The LTJ Fellowship consists of three types of awards:
- New LTJ Fellowships provide a $15,000 stipend, a full standard graduate tuition scholarship, and student health plan enrollment. New awards are renewable, with a total number of two years of funding for master’s students, or three years of funding for doctoral students, based on availability of funds and subject to meeting the required criteria. Applicants must be nominated for this award by their DGS (see below for DGS Nomination Forms). Awards are competitive and made on the basis of GPA, GRE or GMAT scores, letters of recommendation and continuation of the University's compelling interest in the educational benefits of diversity. Funds for new awards will be entirely provided by the Graduate School. The LTJ award does not provide funding for May through August.
- Students that first received an LTJ in 2019-2020 may be eligible for a renewal of a $15,000 stipend, SHP coverage, and a standard tuition scholarship, provided they meet the other criteria. The maximum potential funding period is two years for master’s students, and three years for doctoral students, based on availability of funds. A DGS nomination is not required for these awards. The LTJ award does not provide funding for May through August.
- Students who first received the LTJ during the 2018-19 academic year and prior may be eligible for a renewal consisting of a matching award, where the student holds the equivalent of a half-time teaching or research assistantship or departmental fellowship in one of UK’s graduate programs. For these awardees, the Graduate School provides a match for stipends of up to $7,500 per year against department contributions ($15,000 total stipend with the departmental match), plus a tuition scholarship and student health plan enrollment. The maximum potential funding period is two years for master’s students, and three years for doctoral students, based on availability of funds. Students that seek to renew an LTJ award first awarded during the 2018-2019 academic year must be nominated by their DGS (see below for DGS Nomination Forms). The LTJ award does not provide funding for May through August.
Criteria for Eligibility:
New students must be admitted to the Graduate School and have an activated LinkBlue before they can apply. Continuing students must maintain a minimum GPA of 3.2. Consideration will be based on holistic, individualized assessment of each applicant in such areas as:
- Contributing to the University of Kentucky's compelling interest in diversity
- Representing first generation college students
- Leadership experience, extracurricular activities, awards and recognition, and/or community service
Students must include in their online application for a new LTJ:
- A Completed DGS Nomination Form.
- Undergraduate and Graduate (if applicable) GPAs.
- A copy of the unofficial transcripts from all undergraduate and graduate institutions attended.
- If available and/or required by program, a copy of unofficial GRE/GMAT scores (percentiles).
- A resume or Curriculum Vitae.
- The names and emails of two individuals that can serve as references (References will receive an email from Blackbaud Award Management asking them to provide a letter in support of the student’s application).
- The name and email of the student’s Director of Graduate Studies. DGS’s will also receive an email from Blackbaud Award Management and will be asked to indicate how the student contributes to the university's commitment to diversity.