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Funding Opportunities


Nothing is standing in your way, especially not money.

Nearly 50 percent of our graduate students receive some form of financial assistance. Last year alone, we've awarded $23 million in UWF graduate grants, scholarships, and loan assistance. We've also awarded $2.4 million in stipends and $2.3 million in tuition waivers to graduate assistants.

This page will provide you with information on a variety of scholarships and other funding opportunities available to graduate students at UWF. We also have several waiver options we can offer you as well.

Contact your academic department for information about scholarships and funding opportunities available for your program.

Student Loans

Low-interest, long-term loans are awarded on the basis of financial need or the cost of attendance. Types of loans include: Federal Perkins Loan, Federal Direct Loans, Federal Direct PLUS Loan for Graduate Students, and Alternative/Private Loans. Visit the UWF Financial Aid website for more information about the types of loans available, financial aid forms, and steps to apply for aid.

For federal aid, submit your application as early as possible, but no earlier than January 1, 2019, on the Federal Student Aid website. FAFSA UWF Code = 003955.

Graduate Assistantships

Each academic year, funds are dispersed from the Graduate School and are allocated to the various graduate academic departments. The academic departments are responsible for awarding these assistantships to high-performing graduate students.

UWF Graduate Grant

The UWF Graduate Grant is an institutional grant awarded by the Financial Aid Office to graduate students with documented need. Award amounts are determined by the academic department for eligible students each academic year (fall and spring). It is available to a limited number of graduate students working on a first graduate degree and enrolled full time (6 hours) in graduate level courses.

SGA Travel Fund

Graduate students engaged in academic travel may apply for funding through the Student Government Association. As long as there is matching funding through other departments, individuals may request up to $700 per fiscal year, and groups of 3 or more may request up to $2,100 per fiscal year. See details on the SGA travel fund.

McNair Scholar

The McNair Scholar website lists various agencies and organizations, both private and governmental, that offer financial support for graduate study. Some of the support opportunities are "full-ride" research fellowships, limited-duration research internships, or a set amount of funds for a specific scholarly work. See the McNair Scholars website for each opportunity.

Additional Funding and Financial Resources

Graduate School Scholarship Search

A new service from Sallie Mae which allows current and prospective graduate and professional students to hunt for private scholarships. The search tool boasts more than 850,000 scholarships that amount to $1 billion.

Peterson's Scholarship Search Tool

Searchable database of scholarships and grants available for graduate study.  Searches can be filtered to match selections that include keywords, degree type, study type, deadlines, eligibility, and availability.

GradSense.org

Online financial tool and resource designed to help graduate students make informed financial decisions about their education and future careers. Based on data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the National Science Foundation and the National Center for Education Statistics, GradSense.org was researched, designed and developed by the Council of Graduate Schools (CGS) in collaboration with TIAA-CREF. Along with median debt and income data, the website provides loan repayment advice, spending tips, and career guidance.

Academic Common Market

The Academic Common Market is a tuition-savings program for college students who want to pursue degrees that are not offered by their in-state institutions. Students can enroll in out-of-state institutions that offer their degree program and pay the institution's in-state tuition rates. More than 1,900 programs are available.

Graduate Funding Database (UCLA)

Search for awards from among 625 scholarships, grants, fellowships, and postdoctoral awards. Free-to-search for applicants to any graduate program, to graduate students working on a master's thesis or doctoral dissertation, and to postdoc scholars.  Updated and maintained by UCLA.

Graduate Funding Database (Cornell)

Updated and maintained by Cornell University.

Graduate Funding Opportunities (University of Arizona)

Monthly newsletter with scholarship, grant, and fellowship funding opportunities for graduate students. Presented and maintained by University of Arizona.

GradSchoolHub

Scholarships specifically pertaining to online graduate students.

Affordable Colleges Online - Black Students College Scholarships

Affordable Colleges Online has a database of funding opportunities specifically for African-American students.

Research Administration & Engagement Scholarship List

Student Opportunity Center

UWF currently subscribes to this service. You will need to create a login and affiliate yourself with the University of West Florida, but access to the resource is free.

GrantForward

Looking to streamline your funding search? GrantForward provides personalized recommendations, adaptive search features, and up-to-date results for all disciplines.  With GrantForward's search filters, users can easily find thousands of grant opportunities.

External Funding Resources and Databases (Cleveland State University)

Repository of graduate funding databases. Updated and maintained by Cleveland State University.

National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Programs (GRFP)

Students and faculty are eligible to receive this award. Deadlines range from October 21-25 depending on the program of interest.

Applicants must self-certify that they are eligible to receive the Fellowship. To be eligible, an applicant must meet all of the following eligibility criteria by the application deadline:

  • Be a U.S. citizen, national, or permanent resident
  • Intend to enroll or be enrolled full-time in a research-based graduate degree program in an eligible Field of Study in STEM or STEM education (See Appendix and Section IV.3 for eligible Fields of Study)
  • Have never previously accepted a GRFP award
  • If previously offered a GRFP award, have declined by the deadline
  • Have never previously applied to GRFP while enrolled in a graduate degree program
  • Have never earned a doctoral or terminal degree in any field
  • Have never earned a master's, professional, or bachelor's-master's degree in any field, unless (i) returning to graduate study after an interruption of two (2) or more consecutive years immediately preceding the deadline, and; (ii) are not enrolled in a graduate degree program at the application deadline
  • Not be a current NSF employee

U.S. Commercial Service Pilot Graduate Fellowship Program

The U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service Pilot (USFCS) Fellowship Program provides an opportunity for Master’s degree students in the fields of International Affairs, International Relations, International Studies, Economics, Business, Trade, Public Administration, or Public Policy, to increase their level of knowledge and awareness of the Foreign Commercial Service (FCS) and its vital role in promoting American exports and facilitating trade and commerce around the world.  Individuals who are U.S. citizens or U.S. nationals and are in the first year of an eligible Master’s degree program, or will complete their first year in the spring or summer of 2024, at a U.S. accredited institution, may apply. The program also provides a pathway to potential employment with the Department of Commerce, International Trade Administration, Global Markets, and particularly encourages students from underserved communities to apply.