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Funding Subcategory: International Student Eligible

GSEE Final Year Dissertation Award

The GSEE Final Year Dissertation Award is administered by the Office of Graduate Student Equity and Excellence (GSEE) and is currently accepting applications. This is a highly competitive award for graduate students who demonstrate academic merit, have achieved candidacy, are on track to complete their doctorate in the next academic year, and whose graduate academic pursuits will contribute significantly to the intellectual and cultural enrichment of future scholarship and research. This award is intended to provide financial support, so students are free of TA/RA responsibilities while they are in the final stages of dissertation writing. This award is not intended for students who already have funding appointments through a departmental TA/RAship. Students will only be allowed to hold other graduate service or training appointments concurrently with this award on a case by case basis.

Final Year Dissertation Award funding prioritizes GSEE Fellows who received a first and final year award upon their recruitment to the University of Washington. Any remaining funds will be distributed on a rolling basis to GSEE students who are in need of final year dissertation funding.

Award Details

Recipients will receive a total stipend of $31,500 for the 2025-26 academic year ($10,500 per quarter). This award covers full tuition and students are eligible to receive health coverage through the Graduate Appointee Insurance Program (GAIP). Please note that students may apply for funding for Fall, Winter, and/or Spring quarters.

Eligibility

Students must have achieved candidacy and expect to defend their dissertation during the 2025-26 academic year.

Deadline

Applications must be submitted through the MyGrad system by Monday, September 15, 2025 at 11:59pm PST.

Application

The following information must be submitted:

Submit a one-page statement from the dissertation committee chair/or advisor, that addresses the following:

  1. Confirm that the student has achieved candidate status and provide a date of exam.
  2. Confirm that the student is in the final writing year of the dissertation. The letter should provide evidence that the student is on-track to defend the dissertation in the 2025-26 academic year. The committee chair can address issues such as dissertation prospectus approval status, IRB application status, percentage of data collected and writing completed, and a detailed timeline for remaining stages.
  3. Indicate a projected completion/defense date.
  4. Specifically state the academic quarters that are being requested for the dissertation fellowship. Options: (Fall 2025, Winter 2026, and/or Spring 2026).

Submit a one-page statement from the student that addresses the following:

  1. A brief dissertation abstract and outline of current progress and a projected timeline for completion of remaining stages and defense of dissertation.
  2. A brief description of how academic pursuits will contribute significantly to the intellectual and cultural enrichment of future scholarship and research.
  3. A brief description of future goals.
  4. A brief description of how this GSEE award will aid you in achieving your degree.
  5. Specifically state the academic quarters that are being requested for the dissertation fellowship. Options: (Fall 2025, Winter 2026 and/or Spring 2026).

Questions

Please email Fernando Puga, GSEE’s Fellowships & Awards Specialist at fernp21@uw.edu or uwgsee@uw.edu or call 206.543.9016 with any questions.

 

Graduate School Presidential Dissertation Fellowship in the Arts, Humanities, Social Sciences, and Social Professions

2025-26 nomination deadline: Tuesday, April 15, 2025 at noon (12 p.m. PT). 

The Graduate School Presidential Dissertation Fellowship assists Ph.D. candidates in the final stages of writing their dissertations. The 2025-26 Dissertation Fellowship is offered with the support of the University President and includes one quarter of UW state tuition and fees, GAIP insurance, and a stipend at the Predoctoral TA II rate (currently $3,291 per month). Each unit listed at the end of this announcement may submit ONE nominee.  

Eligibility

  • Must have passed the General Examination and attained Ph.D. candidate status at the time of nomination.
  • Must have demonstrated progress on the dissertation that indicates completion by the end of Summer Quarter 2026 or sooner.
  • Must be in a tuition-based program; students in fee-based programs are not eligible.
  • Must not have received another dissertation fellowship from the Graduate School (e.g., Gatzert, GSEE)

Application Process

Nominations are submitted in MyGrad by departments between mid-February and mid-April. Awardees are selected based on academic merit. Students wishing to be considered for this opportunity should contact their Graduate Program Adviser.

Nomination Materials

  1. A robust letter of nomination from the GPC or Chair of the department. Information about the nominee’s current status and performance in the program or comparison with other recent students would be useful.
  2. A one-page statement from the dissertation adviser demonstrating their opinion of:
    • The significance of the research;
    • The progress made to date, including anticipated completion date;
    • Where appropriate, the nature and importance of the nominee’s contribution to a team project should be included
  3. A four page, double-spaced statement from the candidate that describes the dissertation project and includes its title, relation to current literature, methodology and goals. Footnotes can be single-spaced and are included in the four page statement limit. Bibliography or end notes are limited to one page, single-spaced, and are not included in the four page statement limit.
  4. Timeline of expected dissertation activities in 2025-26 and specifically during the planned fellowship quarter (not to exceed one single-spaced page).
  5. The nominee’s curriculum vitae.
  6. An unofficial copy of the student’s current UW transcript. 

Fellowship Requirements

  • Fellowship must be used during the 2025-26 year (summer 2025–spring 2026). The choice of the quarter will be left to the discretion of the graduate student in consultation with the supervisory committee chair.
  • Students must enroll for at least 10 credits during the quarter they receive the fellowship (except in summer, when it is 2 credits).
  • The purpose of the fellowship is to facilitate full-time work on writing the dissertation. During the tenure of the fellowship, service responsibilities such as teaching and research are typically suspended.
  • During the quarter of fellowship, students may not receive funding or employment from another source without prior approval from the Office of Fellowships and Awards.

Eligible programs for the Graduate School Dissertation Fellowship competition:

Arts and Humanities Social Sciences and Social Professions
Art History
Asian Languages and Literature
Cinema & Media Studies
Classics
Digital Arts and Experimental Media
Drama
English
French and Italian Studies
German Studies
History
Individual Ph.D. Program
Linguistics
Music
Near and Middle Eastern Studies
Philosophy
Scandinavian Studies
Slavic Languages and Literature
Spanish and Portuguese		 Anthropology
Business School*
Built Environment*
Communication
Economics
Education
Environmental and Forest Resources*
Gender, Women and Sexuality Studies
Geography
History
Human Centered Design and Engineering*
Individual Ph.D. Program
Information School*
International Studies (Jackson School)
Law
Near and Middle Eastern Studies
Philosophy
Political Science
Psychology*
Public Affairs
Social Work
Sociology
Speech and Hearing Sciences*
Urban Design and Planning
*Social sciences emphasis only 

Questions?

Contact the Office of Fellowships & Awards.

Return to List of Fellowships

Graduate Student Conference Presentation Awards

Conference presentation awards assist graduate students with travel fares and conference registration fees for conferences at which they will present papers, posters, performances or installations.

Maximum Amounts

  • $300 for virtual conference registration fee
  • $300 for domestic travel and conference registration fee
  • $500 for international travel and conference registration fee

Eligibility

The student must:

  • be confirmed as a presenter;
  • be in a UW graduate degree program and presenting work developed at the UW (not a prior institution);
  • be enrolled in UW courses at the time of the conference (or enrolled in the spring and registered for autumn if conference is in the summer);
  • not have received a Graduate School conference award in the prior year (July 1–June 30).
  • Award requests are due prior to the conference. Conference awards will not be awarded retroactively.

Application Process

Award requests are made to the Graduate School by departments. Students wishing to be considered for a conference presentation award should contact their Graduate Program Adviser.

Questions?

Contact the Office of Fellowships & Awards.

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William P. and Ruth Gerberding Rome Studies Fellowship

Funded by the William P. and Ruth Gerberding Rome Studies Endowment

Award Information

This endowment fund was established to honor William and Ruth Gerberding. The Gerberdings came to the University of Washington in 1979 when William began his term as UW president, a term that lasted 16 years. Ruth was instrumental in helping to build public and private support for the University and served on many community committees and boards, including the UW Rome Center Advisory Committee.

These fellowships provide a lump sum award to assist with travel for graduate students who will be enrolled in a UW faculty-led program of study at the Rome Center.

Awards will range from $500 to $1,000, depending on the availability of funding and number and quality of nominees. While awards will be distributed prior to the study abroad program, if for any reason the awardee does not enroll in, attend, and complete the study abroad program at the Rome Center, he or she will be required to refund the full amount of the award to the Graduate School.

Eligibility

  • Nominee must be a current UW graduate student who has been accepted into a UW faculty-led program being held at the Rome Center.
  • Nominee must be enrolled as a graduate student in a UW degree program at the time of nomination and receipt of fellowship. On leave status is not considered enrolled.
  • Nominee cannot have received a prior Gerberding Rome award.
  • Nominees may not be receiving other Graduate School travel funding for travel during the time of the program or immediately before or after.
  • Students in both fee-based programs and tuition-based programs are eligible.
  • Student cannot be employed in any capacity in the study abroad program.

Nomination Process

Graduate students must be nominated for this award by the academic unit sponsoring the Rome Center program; please contact the program for more information.

Questions?

Contact the Office of Fellowships & Awards.

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DAAD: German Academic Exchange Service Fellowship

The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) is a publicly-funded independent organization of higher education institutions in Germany. Each year DAAD, its regional branch offices, its information centers, and DAAD professors around the globe provide information and financial support to more than 120,000 highly qualified students and faculty for international research and study. Visit the DAAD website for a full list of funded programs.

Research grants are awarded to highly qualified candidates who have completed a master’s degree or diploma, to those who have already completed a Ph.D., or to those wishing to earn a doctoral degree in Germany.

Those who have received an undergraduate degree of any discipline may apply for the DAAD Study Scholarship for a full master’s degree program at a German university, or for study at a German university as part of a post-graduate or master’s degree program completed in the home country.

Many study programs and research opportunities funded by DAAD do not require proficiency in the German language; applicants should indicate interest in developing proficiency in the language before and during time overseas.

Deadlines

  • UW campus priority status deadline: October 3, 2025
  • DAAD application deadline: October 31, 2025, 3 p.m. (Pacific)

Those applying for graduate study scholarships and standard research grants (for a duration of at least 7 months) are eligible to be considered for UW’s single priority nomination. Per DAAD guidelines, applicants for shorter term research grants may not be considered for priority status.

Eligibility

  • Current UW graduate students or postdocs within two years of Ph.D. completion
  • Both U.S. citizens and international students are eligible to apply for DAAD awards; citizenship status may affect the types of awards for which students are eligible
  • Non-Ph.D. holders must be enrolled in a doctorate program at the time the grant is used
  • Doctoral students: the start of your doctorate should not be more than 3 years ago at the application deadline

View the DAAD FAQs for more information about eligibility.

Application process

Current graduate students who wish to be considered for the priority nomination should apply through the University of Washington. Both research and study applicants of all disciplines should find the appropriate program for which to apply through DAAD’s scholarship database. The program’s profile will indicate all required application materials.

Search the DAAD Scholarship Database

View the DAAD Applicant Checklists

Apply for Priority Consideration:
  • Note: Only applicants proposing a research period of 7 months or longer may apply for priority consideration.
  • Once you have identified your desired program opportunity from the scholarship database, open an application in the DAAD online portal.
  • Complete all components of your online application, but do not submit the application.
  • Generate a recommendation form in the portal and instruct your reference writer to email the completed letter to you, or directly to the Office of Fellowships & Awards (gradappt@uw.edu) if they wish for the letter to be confidential.
    • NOTE: If your recommender prefers for your letter to be confidential, in addition to emailing the letter to Fellowships & Awards, they will also need to mail a hard copy to the DAAD before the final deadline: Regional Office New York, German Academic Exchange Service, 871 United Nations Plaza, New York, NY 10017.
  • Email a PDF copy of your application summary and all supplemental materials (letter of motivation, research proposal, CV, etc.) to gradappt@uw.edu by the priority deadline.
  • After the campus committee review, you will receive feedback and have the option to revise your application materials before submitting your application in the DAAD portal by the national deadline.
Apply without Priority Consideration:
  • Once you have identified your desired program opportunity from the scholarship database, open an application in the DAAD online portal.
  • Generate a recommendation form in the online portal and instruct your reference writer to either provide the letter to you electronically or mail the signed and completed form to the DAAD: Regional Office New York, German Academic Exchange Service, 871 United Nations Plaza, New York, NY 10017.
  • Complete all components of your online application and submit via the portal by the DAAD final deadline.
  • Note: all applicants proposing a research period of 6 months or less must apply without priority consideration.

Questions?

The Office of Fellowships & Awards can assist you with questions.

Consider registering for Global Fellowships Prep for additional online tips and resources.

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UWRA Patricia Dougherty Fellowship in Aging

Award Information

The Graduate School is pleased to announce a competition for a fellowship for the 2025–26 academic year made possible through the generosity of the University of Washington Retirement Association (UWRA).

The UWRA Patricia Dougherty Fellowship in Aging is a one-quarter fellowship that supports graduate students of outstanding academic merit who have a demonstrated academic and personal interest in aging-related issues or concerns. The fellowship will provide a monthly stipend equivalent to the standard TA II level (currently $3,291/month), GAIP health insurance, and a waiver of state tuition for up to 18 credits (excluding U-PASS and international student fee) in the quarter when the student takes the fellowship. The choice of the quarter will be left to the discretion of the graduate student in consultation with his or her department.

Application Deadline: Wednesday, February 5, 2025, 4 p.m. (Pacific Time) 

Eligibility

At the time of application, students must be matriculated in a UW graduate degree tuition program (fee-based programs are not eligible) and not in their last year of study. The recipient of the award must be enrolled in full-time credits (at least 10) during the fellowship quarter. Students in fee-based programs are not eligible to apply.

Application Materials

  1. Academic/research statement (maximum of two double-spaced pages) describing the applicant’s academic/research interests in aging-related issues and concerns.
  2. Personal statement (maximum of two double-spaced pages) describing the applicant’s personal interests and background in aging-related issues and concerns—e.g. personal experience, community service, work experience or other involvement.
  3. Curriculum vitae (maximum of two-pages)
  4. Unofficial UW transcript showing graduate coursework (available as a PDF from MyUW). Undergraduate transcripts are not required but can be submitted if they show evidence of relevant coursework in aging studies.
  5. Letter of recommendation from the applicant’s faculty advisor, addressing the applicant’s academic and personal commitment to aging-related issues and concerns. The letter of recommendation should be submitted directly by the writer. Students will send out recommendation requests via the application in MyGrad.

Apply Now via MyGrad

Selection Criteria

  • Demonstrated academic focus on aging-related concerns or issues as evidenced through the academic/research statement, curriculum vitae, and letter of recommendation.
  • Personal commitment to aging-related concerns and issues as evidenced through the personal statement, letter of recommendation, curriculum vitae, etc.
  • Academic merit as evidenced through GPA, letter of recommendation, transcript, and curriculum vitae.

Questions?

Contact the Office of Fellowships and Awards.

Return to List of Fellowships

International Research Fellowships

Funded by the Chester Fritz and Boeing International endowments

These one-quarter grants provide support to UW graduate students doing research that takes place outside of the United States. Successful applicants are awarded either a Chester Fritz Fellowship or a Boeing International Fellowship.

The fellowships are available to fund research periods of one quarter (three full months) abroad during the 2025–2026 year (autumn 2025–summer 2026). These awards DO NOT support faculty-led UW study abroad programs. 

Awardees will receive a stipend of $2,800 per month, and paid health insurance (GAIP). During the quarter of their award, fellows are required to register for independent learning through UW Study Abroad. The program fee is covered by this fellowship. No extra money is included for airfare.

AWARD DEADLINE: Monday, February 24, 2025, noon (Pacific)

Eligibility

  • Must be a currently enrolled student in a UW master’s or doctoral tuition-based graduate program at the time of application and receipt of fellowship. Students who are on academic leave are not eligible.
  • Students in fee-based programs are not eligible.
  • Students who have already received a previous Graduate School International Research Fellowship are ineligible.

Application Materials

All of the following materials must be received by the application deadline in order for applicants to be considered; no late materials will be accepted. For a more thorough description of the required materials, please refer to the online application.

  1. Statement of purpose or outline of research project
  2. Timeline (by week) of proposed research activities
  3. Documentation of affiliation (optional but recommended)
  4. CV/Resume
  5. Unofficial UW Transcript
  6. One letter of recommendation. Applicants will designate a recommender via MyGrad.

Open an application in MyGrad

Selection Criteria

Criteria for selection are not limited to but include:

  • Explanation of the research that will be done on the fellowship
  • Evidence of the relationship between the proposed research and the applicant’s academic program
  • Evidence of the necessity to go overseas to conduct the research and the relevance of the university or locale to the planned research
  • Evidence of appropriate skills (including language competence) and support (including evidence of affiliation, if required or appropriate) to carry out the proposed project
  • If applicable, demonstration of the proposal’s innovativeness or contribution to the field

Applicants are not required to affiliate with an institution; however, your application will be stronger if you have arranged an affiliation that will provide you access and/or facilities to do your research/ study, or if you can demonstrate you are in the process of arranging such an affiliation.

Terms of Award

Successful applicants are expected to be in-country for the three months of the quarter in which they receive this fellowship.

Successful applicants may not receive funding or salary from another source comparable to the Fritz or Boeing Fellowship during the quarter in which they receive this fellowship. One-time travel or research grant funding may be acceptable with prior approval from the Office of Fellowships and Awards.

If the research includes systematic collection of information about or from humans or animals, the fellowship will not be disbursed until the student has received either approval or exemption from the Human Subjects Division or the Office of Animal Welfare. It may take several months to complete the process. Complying with Human Subjects Division or Animal Welfare review is the responsibility of the student, in coordination with their faculty advisor and department chair.

Travel to countries under U.S. travel warnings may not be permitted while on this fellowship. Students can consult with the Office of Fellowships and Awards for more information.

Questions?

Michelle Sutton in the Office of Fellowships & Awards can assist you.

Return to List of Fellowships

Gatzert Child Welfare Fellowship

2025-26 application opens February 18. Deadline: Tuesday, April 15, 2025 at noon (12 p.m. PT). 

Apply via MyGrad Program through the ‘Request Award’ > ‘Request New Award’ links. 

The Gatzert Child Welfare Fellowship is a one-quarter fellowship awarded for the writing of a doctoral dissertation that contributes to the lives of children with disabilities. The Gatzert Fellowship includes one quarter of UW state tuition and fees, GAIP insurance, and a stipend at the regular Predoctoral TA II rate (currently $3,291 per month). The fellowship was established in the 1930s by the Bailey and Babette Gatzert Foundation for Child Welfare.

Eligibility

Students in any academic discipline whose research focuses on supporting the lives of children with disabilities are eligible. To be considered for this fellowship, the applicant must:

  • have achieved doctoral candidate status at the time of application
  • have demonstrated progress on the dissertation which indicates completion by the end of spring quarter 2026 or sooner
  • Be in a tuition-based program; students in fee-based programs are not eligible
  • not have received another dissertation writing award from the Graduate School (e.g., GSEE, Presidential Dissertation, etc.)

Criteria

  1. Significance of the dissertation research to supporting the lives of children with disabilities;
    • competitive applications will propose research that is focused on children with disabilities rather than research that has children with disabilities as one possible group for whom the research would apply;
  2. Originality of the dissertation research;
  3. Potential of the student to make significant scholarly contributions;
  4. Student is both ready and in need of a full quarter to work on writing the dissertation.

Application 

No late materials will be accepted; applications will not be considered unless they are complete and submitted by the deadline.

Application Materials:

  1. A four page, double-spaced statement that describes the dissertation project and includes its title, relation to current literature, methodology and goals.
    • Footnotes may be 10-point, single-spaced and are included in the four-page statement limit. 
    • Bibliography or endnotes are limited to one, single-spaced page and are not considered part of the four-page statement limit.
  2. Timeline of expected dissertation activities and specifically during the planned fellowship quarter (not to exceed one single-spaced page).
  3. A letter of recommendation from the dissertation adviser describing their opinion of:
    • The significance of the research;
    • The progress made to-date, including the anticipated completion date;
    • If appropriate, the nature and importance of the candidate’s contribution to a team project;
    • The student’s status and performance in the program in comparison with other recent students
  4. Curriculum vitae  
  5. An unofficial copy of the current UW transcript

Requirements

The fellowship must be used during the 2025-26 academic year (summer 2025–spring 2026). The choice of the quarter will be left to the discretion of the student.

The purpose of the fellowship is to facilitate full-time work on writing the dissertation. During the tenure of the fellowship, service responsibilities such as teaching and research are typically suspended. Students must enroll in at least ten credits during the quarter in which they receive the fellowship (except for summer quarter when two credits are required). 

Questions?

Contact the Office of Fellowships and Awards: gradappt@uw.edu or 206.543.7152.

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