Funding Through the Graduate School

Clare Boothe Luce Fellowships
Cunningham Doctoral Scholar Awards
David W. Francis and Lillian Francis Scholarship Fund
Dean's Diversity Assistantships
GEM Fellowship Programs
Graduate Dean's Assistantships
McNair Assistantship
PhD 2010
Powell Fellowship

Additional Funding Opportunities for Students

Cunningham Doctoral Scholar Awards

The Cunningham Doctoral Scholar Awards program is designed to recruit academically well-qualified doctoral students to Virginia Tech.

Student Eligibility

• Accepted into a doctoral program at Virginia Tech (preferably from a non-VT master's or bachelor's program)
• Outstanding academic record and strong academic potential for successful completion of a doctoral degree
• Academic department nomination
• U.S. citizen
• Matching commitment from academic department

Stipend

• Competitive assistantship stipend for GRA or GTA position (flexible, related to qualifications and academic discipline; work responsibilities defined by department; 9 or 12-month appointments available)
• Tuition scholarship

Duration

• Up to two years from Graduate School, with minimum departmental matching support equivalent to Graduate School 's commitment

Nomination/Application procedures

• Academic department submits nomination to the Vice Provost for Graduate
  Studies & Dean of the Graduate School as soon as candidate is identified
• Nominations should include the following information about the student: name of applicant, VT degree sought, previous university, recommendation letter from department addressing eligibility requirements .

The Graduate School makes decisions about nominees within 2-3 weeks of receiving the nomination. Number of available fellowships is dependent on resources. Fifty percent of the awards are expected to be made by February 1; remaining funds are expected to be awarded by March 1. Send requests directly to .

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David W. Francis and Lillian Francis Scholarship Fund

The David W. Francis and Lillian Francis Scholarship Fund was established to provide graduate fellowships in research emphasizing longer, safer, and healthier lives. The disciplines designated in the endowment include agriculture, engineering, bioinformatics, plant pathology, wood science and forest products, veterinary medicine and biotechnology.

The Francis Research Fellowship includes a stipend of $18,000 plus tuition for one academic year. One research fellowship will be awarded each academic year.  PhD students whose research emphasizes “longer, safer and healthier lives” and are in their final year of research are eligible for the Francis Research Fellowship.

Doctoral students should be nominated by their departments. The nomination packet should include a letter of support from the academic unit, a letter from the faculty advisor(s), a description of the student's academic work, and a synopsis of the student's research and its relevance to promoting “longer, safer and healthier lives”. Nominations are due by February 1 and should be submitted to , Vice Provost for Graduate Studies & Dean of the Graduate School. 

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Dean's Diversity Assistantships

This award is for one year with departmental matching required for the second year. Students are paid the regular departmental assistantship rate and in-state tuition; the out-of-state fee is waived. Students are responsible for paying their comprehensive fees. Master's and doctoral level students are eligible for this award. The number of awards made varies from year to year.

Each spring, the Graduate School Recruiting Office calls for nominations for the Dean's Diversity Assistantships. To be eligible, students must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents entering their first year of graduate study. Nomination forms will be available on line in January. For more information, please contact at 540/231-2494.

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National Consortium for Graduate Degrees for Minorities in Engineering and Science, Inc. (GEM) Fellowship Programs

Virginia Tech is a member of the GEM Consortium. GEM's mission is to enhance the value of the nation's human capital by increasing the participation of underrepresented minorities (American Indian, African American, Mexican American, Puerto Rican, and other Hispanic Americans) at the master's and doctoral levels in engineering and science. For more information on GEM or if you receive inquiries about application fee-waivers, contact at 231-2494. We ask that you encourage eligible Virginia Tech undergraduates to apply for funding through GEM.

M.S. Fellowship Program:

• Stipend of $13,200 over 3 semesters
• Full tuition and fees for four semesters
• 12-week summer internship with sponsoring GEM Member Company

Ph.D. Engineering Fellowship Program:

• Minimum $14,000 academic year stipend for 5 year
• Full tuition and fees (paid by the university)
• 12-week summer internship with sponsoring GEM Member Company
• Fellow must accept a research or teaching assistantship after the first year

Ph.D. Science Fellowship Program:

• Minimum $14,000 academic year stipend for 5 years
• Full tuition and fees (paid by the university)
• 12-week summer internship with sponsoring GEM Member Company
• Fellow must accept a research or teaching assistantship after the first year

GEM Applicant List:

The application deadline is November 1. The applicant list will be available in November/December. Departments will receive names of applicants and can target them for recruitment. Please feel free to contact the student and invite them to learn more about your program and give them contact information for the department.

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Graduate Dean's Assistantships

Approximately 20 of these assistantships are awarded per year, for innovative or interdisciplinary efforts. In-state tuition and stipend will be paid by the Graduate School at the typical department level for the 9-month academic year. The out-of-state fee is waived. Send requests directly to by November 1.

McNair Assistantship

This assistantship is for one year with departmental matching required for the second year. It is restricted to students who were Ronald E. McNair Scholars as undergraduates. Students are paid the regular departmental assistantship rate and in-state tuition. The out-of-state fee is waived. Students are responsible for paying their comprehensive fees. Master's and doctoral level students are eligible for this award. One award will be made.

Each spring, the Graduate School Recruiting Office calls for nominations for the McNair Assistantship. To be eligible, students must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents entering their first year of graduate study. Nomination forms will be available on line in January. For more information, please contact at 540/231-2494.

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PhD 2010 Program

The PhD 2010 program describes the university's commitment and plan to increase doctoral enrollment by 900 students by the year 2010, starting with 2002-03 enrollment. The enrollment commitment was developed with input from the colleges. Each college has agreed to make an effort to increase PhD enrollment by a specific number of students.

There are three parts to the PhD 2010 program:

• New doctoral students whose tuition and stipends will be paid by the university. This part is administered by the Graduate School.
• New doctoral students whose tuition and stipends will be paid by sponsored research grants. This part is administered by colleges/departments.
• New doctoral students whose tuition will be paid through fellowships and endowments. This part is administered by colleges/departments.

Conditions, Duration and Level of University Funding

Doctoral students in this program are identified by the college. These students are eligible for 3 years of academic year funding for stipend and tuition (August through May). Payment of comprehensive fees are not included in this program. Funding for the second and third year is conditional on the college's ability to increase its doctoral enrollment compared to the previous year. The Pay Step for doctoral students is the level typically awarded by departments for beginning doctoral students. Enrollment figures will be checked at the end of the academic year and colleges/departments will be notified by the Graduate School whether a student is eligible to continue on the university's PhD 2010 funds. The first year of funding is AY 2005-06.

Graduate School Procedures

• The college provides the name, Pay Step and type of appointment (GTA/GRA) of eligible students to the Graduate School. This is typically coordinated through the college dean or designee.
• The Graduate School will prepare and send an assistantship agreement form signed by the dean of the Graduate School to the department for the student's signature. The signed original form should be returned to the Graduate School. Contracts are for 20 hours a week for the academic year. The student's work assignment is made by the department. If a department has already issued an agreement for a student before the PhD 2010 appointment by the Graduate School, that agreement should be voided. Funds are held at the Graduate School and will not be transferred to departments.
• The Graduate School will enter the appointment on Banner and will enter academic year tuition. The Graduate School will be responsible for ensuring that I-9, Selective Service and tax forms are completed.
• For second and third year of funding, the Graduate School will confirm that the appointment is to be renewed, and will verify the student's Pay Step with the department. The Graduate School will prepare and send the assistantship agreement to the department for the student's signature, and the signed original should be returned to the Graduate School . The Graduate School will enter the appointment on Banner, and will enter the tuition award.

For more information, contact Graduate School Student Services at 540/231-4558.

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Powell Fellowship

This fellowship is for one year. The award includes a $20,000 stipend, plus in-state tuition. It is restricted to students who are long-term Virginia residents. Master's and doctoral level students are eligible for this award. Two awards will be made.

Each spring, the Graduate School Recruiting Office calls for nominations for the Powell Fellowship. To be eligible, students must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents entering their first year of graduate study. Nomination forms will be available on line in January. For more information, please contact at 540/231-2494.

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Additional Funding Opportunities for Students

For information regarding funding opportunities, you may direct your students to the Graduate School's Current Funding Opportunities webpage. This page has information about assistantships, NSF Fellowships, and possible sources of outside funding.