Fellowships
Fellowships are awarded on a competitive basis in recognition of a student's demonstrated scholarship, scholastic and creative promise, and/or financial need. There is no service or work requirement associated with fellowship awards. A student holding a fellowship or a traineeship must be a full-time student during the period of appointment.
For New Students
Students newly admitted to UNL graduate degree programs may be eligible for these fellowships.
Complete your Application for Admission as early as possible — many departments are reviewing applications by mid-January and making nominations for some fellowships by mid-February. For further information regarding fellowships that might be available to you, contact your academic department.
Othmer Fellowships
Othmer Fellowships are intended to assist in recruiting exceptional scholars who are seeking a terminal degree (i.e., Ph.D., Ed.D, D.M.A, M.F.A.). While UNL alums are not prohibited from receiving an Othmer Fellowship, the general assumption is that a UNL student would only receive this fellowship if we are actively competing with other prestigious institutions to retain the student at UNL.
Selection Criteria
- Newly admitted doctoral or M.F.A. student
- Exceptional scholar with excellent letters of recommendation and a minimum GPA of 3.5 in previous degree
- Student must be offered a department assistantship that is (1) at least equal to the highest amount offered by the department to first-year students and (2) renewable for up to 3 years
Award
In addition to the departmental assistantship: fellowships of $4,000 or $8,000 per year can be granted, renewable for up to three years given continued excellent progress toward the degree.
How to Be Considered For It
Meet criteria. Academic departments select recipients from their pools of newly admitted students.
Chancellor's Fellowships
Chancellor's Fellowships are designed to assist departments with the recruitment of superior graduate students by adding fellowship funds to an assistantship.
Selection Criteria
- Newly admitted doctoral or master's student
- Excellent academic record with excellent letters of recommendation and minimum 3.0 GPA in previous degree
- Student must be offered a full department assistantship that is (1) at the typical level for first-year master's or doctoral students and (2) renewable for up to two years
Award
In addition to the departmental assistantship: $4,000 fellowship per year, automatically renewable for a second year given excellent progress toward the degree.
How to Be Considered For It
Meet criteria. Academic departments select recipients from their pools of newly admitted students.
Edgren Tuition Fellowship
Edgren Tuition Fellowships are designed to assist departments in recruiting excellent graduate students by providing funds to reduce tuition costs.
Selection Criteria
- Newly admitted full-time domestic doctoral or master's students.
- Excellent academic record with excellent letters of recommendation and minimum 3.0 GPA in previous degree.
- Student must be classified as a non-resident for tuition purposes.
- Student must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident of the U.S.
Award
Students are awarded up to $7000 in the academic year (fall & spring semester), and up to $1,500 in the summer.
How to Be Considered For It
Meet criteria. Academic departments select recipients from their pools of newly admitted students.
For Current Students
Awarded Graduate Fellowships
The Presidential Fellowship is awarded to advanced doctoral or MFA students. The fellowship is $24,000. This award also includes tuition, fees, and the University's portion of the student health insurance for one academic year. Eligible students must be scheduled to graduate no later than August 2025. See our Presidential Fellowship Guidelines for more information.
The Fling Fellowship is awarded to advanced masters or doctoral students. Masters students must be within one year of graduation and doctoral students must be within two years of graduation. The fellowship is $20,000. This award also includes tuition, fees, and the University's portion of the student health insurance for one academic year. See our Fling Fellowship Guidelines for more information.
The Dean's Fellowship will be awarded to advanced masters or doctoral students. The fellowship is $5,000. See our Dean's Fellowship Guidelines for more information.
Department faculty may nominate current graduate students for each fellowship. Nominators will be required to submit a nomination letter and the nominee's personal statement.
Other Opportunities
(not part of the fellowship application process)
Funding Opportunities, UNL Office of Research
Questions? Please contact graduate@unl.edu.