Graduate School Fellowships, Awards and Competitions

NinerScholars

NinerScholars is the student application portal for admitted graduate students. This portal is UNC Charlotte's online scholarship application portal that matches students to scholarships. New graduate students must be accepted and activate their NinerNET account to create a scholarship profile.

 

The Graduate School provides annual funding. $500K in summer fellowships and $120K in conference expenses.

Fellowships

Summer Fellowships

The Graduate School offers fellowships for summer funding. Applications are due each March through the funding application portal and are reviewed by faculty.

Graduate Fellowships

Each spring the Graduate School administers fellowships to outstanding UNC Charlotte graduate students. Awards begin in the upcoming academic year. The below fellowships are available to UNC Charlotte students only. 

JOANNA R. BAKER MEMORIAL GRADUATE FELLOWSHIP
A $3,000 grant plus $750 travel allowance for new or continuing master’s or doctoral mathematical, computer science or information technology research.

CRAIG R. BROWN GRADUATE FELLOWSHIP
$2,000 grant plus NC resident tuition for a first-year U.S. Citizen or Permanent Resident master’s or doctoral student conducting research to address societal issues.

DRReaM GRADUATE FELLOWSHIP
$1,000 needs-based award for a continuing master’s or doctoral student in a health-related program.

FAYE JACQUES MEMORIAL GRADUATE FELLOWSHIP
$1,000 needs-based grant to a continuing master’s or doctoral student.

JOAN F. LORDEN GRADUATE OPPORTUNITY SCHOLARSHIP
$2000 award for a continuing master's or doctoral student.

JOHN PAUL LUCAS, JR. SCHOLARSHIP FOR EDUCATIONAL LEADERSHIP
$1,000 scholarship for a new or continuing master’s student pursuing a degree in English or English Education.

CLAUDIA M. REYNOLDS GRADUATE FELLOWSHIP
$1,000 award for continuing non-traditional master's or doctoral students.

THOMAS L. REYNOLDS GRADUATE STUDENT RESEARCH AWARD
Up to $1,500 for continuing master’s or doctoral students to assist with costs often overlooked in other funding sources.

ZONTA CLUB SCHOLARSHIP
$1,000 grant for new US resident master’s or doctoral students.

Graduate Program Director Nomination Only Awards

WAYLAND H. CATO JR. FIRST-YEAR DOCTORAL FELLOWSHIP
GPD Nominated. $20,000, tuition and health insurance for a newly admitted doctoral student.

HERSCHEL AND CORNELIA EVERETT FOUNDATION FIRST-YEAR GRADUATE FELLOWSHIP
GPD Nominated. $11,000 for a newly admitted U.S. Citizen or Permanent Resident master’s student, $15,000 for a newly admitted doctoral student, both plus tuition. Doctoral students also receive health insurance.

LUCILLE P. AND EDWARD C. GILES DISSERTATION-YEAR GRADUATE FELLOWSHIP
$20,000, tuition and fees, health insurance and $1,000 for travel for a U.S. Citizen or Permanent Resident doctoral student in the STEM disciplines.

WILLIAM F. KENNEDY GRADUATE FELLOWSHIP
GPD Nominated.  Review criteria.  $20,000, tuition and health insurance for a first-year doctoral student.

Apply through the Graduate School

GRADUATE DEAN'S DISTINGUISHED DISSERTATION AWARD
Presented by the Graduate School to recognize outstanding research and scholarship by a doctoral student at UNC Charlotte.

OUTSTANDING MASTER'S THESIS AWARD 
The Master’s Thesis Award is awarded to a student on the basis of clarity of style and presentation, scholarship, research methodology, and contributions to the field or discipline.

Apply through the Thomas L. Reynolds Center for Graduate Life and Learning

OUTSTANDING GRADUATE TEACHING ASSISTANT AWARD
The award recognizes master's and doctoral students nominated by faculty supervisors for their outstanding and innovative teaching techniques.

THREE-MINUTE THESIS COMPETITION
Originating at the University of Queensland, Australia, 3MT® challenges graduate students to condense their graduate body of work into a clear and engaging three-minute presentation supported by only one static overhead slide.

Conference Expenses

When additional funding is available, graduate students who have been selected to present at a scholarly conference may apply for a $1,500 scholarship to help with expenses. The Graduate School has provided up to $120,000 so far on conference expenses. When available, opportunities will be posted in the funding application portal.


The Graduate School and the Graduate Admissions office in the Reese Building, Fifth Floor, is temporarily closed to allow contractors to complete some needed work in the space safely.

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