Funding your graduate studies
Once you understand the ins-and-outs of funding graduate education, one of your biggest questions probably is still, “How will I pay for this?” Explore these fellowship and financial aid resources for more ways to pay for graduate school.
Helping graduate students fund their education is a priority for the University of California. Our students are among the top recipients of prestigious extramural awards, and our campuses provide a wide range of university and departmental support.
Financial aid resources
All prospective students are strongly encouraged to contact campuses regarding financial support, including diversity and other campus-specific fellowships.
Prospective graduate students may browse a number of Web-based resources for financial support. Although this list is not comprehensive, these sites offer guidance and information on applying for graduate, discipline-specific and other types of extramural funding. Some sites require a log-in via campus subscription to access services (noted below).
GRAPES
UCLA’s graduate and postdoctoral funding search engine, with more than 620 private and publicly funded awards, fellowships and internships.
Federal Student Aid
All students are encouraged to fill out a FAFSA, as some financial assistance opportunities are based on financial need.
GRANTS.GOV
Online source for federal grant and fellowship programs offering approximately $500 billion in annual awards.
Grant Forward
Database of funding opportunities across 39 subject areas, more than 2,000 categories and 9,000 sponsors. Ask your campus for for access.
Pivot
Database of more than 23,000 records, representing over 400,000 funding opportunities, worth more than $33 billion. Requires a campus subscription for access; all UC campuses and six CSU campuses subscribe.
International Education Financial Aid
Resource for financial aid, college scholarship and grant information for students wishing to study abroad.
Discipline-focused databases and other resources
NASA Internships and Fellowships
For graduate students primarily in STEM disciplines.
The National Institutes of Health (NIH)
Funds research in areas related to human health and disease.
National Science Foundation (NSF)
Funds research and education in most fields of science and engineering.
Graduate Fellowships for STEM Diversity
Formerly known as the National Physical Science Consortium (NPSC), was founded in 1989 “To increase the number of American citizens with graduate degrees in STEM fields, emphasizing recruitment of a diverse applicant pool.” Graduate Fellowships for STEM Diversity (GFSD) is a partnership between federal agencies & laboratories, industry, and higher education institutions. GFSD has a strong partnership with the University of Southern California.
H-Net—Humanities and Social Sciences Online
Fellowships and grants from academic institutions around the world.
