The Graduate School offers several merit-based financial awards and fellowships for current and incoming students.
Newly admitted students who will begin their graduate program in the upcoming fall semester are eligible for supplemental funding through these awards.
Open to prospective and current doctoral and MFA students, this program prepares underrepresented ethnically diverse students to become professors.
Presidential Fellows are part of an engaged community of scholars pursuing doctoral
and MFA degrees across a wide range of academic disciplines.
Learn more
These one-time (non-renewable) awards are given to graduate students in memory of individuals who influenced particular fields of study and the University of South Carolina during their lifetimes.
Current students are eligible for additional funding through these fellowships.
Open to prospective and current doctoral and MFA students, this program prepares underrepresented
ethnically diverse students to become professors.
Learn more
These one-time (non-renewable) awards are given to graduate students in memory of individuals who influenced particular fields of study and the University of South Carolina during their lifetimes.
Current or graduated students are eligible for these annual $1000 merit awards.
The Dean’s Award for Doctoral Achievement is awarded to one doctoral student who demonstrates overall excellence in research, teaching, and service.
One award of $1000 is given annually to one doctoral student who demonstrates overall excellence in research, teaching, and service. The service contributions can extend beyond campus.
Nominees must be enrolled in Spring 2024 and can be from any academic program. The committee will consider relevant activities conducted from May 2023 through the time of the application’s submission.
Graduate Directors must submit nomination packets as one PDF document to Wright Culpepper. Only one nomination per program is allowed. The package must include:
The committee will consider the following:
Nominations are due by March 15, 2024
The Dean’s Award for Master’s Achievement is awarded to one master’s student who demonstrates overall excellence in research, teaching, and service.
One award of $1000 is given annually to one graduate student in any master's program who demonstrates overall excellence in research, teaching, and service. The service contributions can extend beyond campus.
Nominees must be enrolled in Spring 2024 and can be from any academic program. The committee will consider relevant activities conducted from May 2023 through the time of the application’s submission.
Graduate Directors must submit nomination packets as one PDF document to Wright Culpepper. Only one nomination per program is allowed. The package must include:
The committee will consider the following:
Nominations are due by March 15, 2024
The Outstanding Dissertation Award is presented to individuals who have completed dissertations representing original work that makes a significant contribution to the discipline. Individuals awarded are nominated for the national CGS/ProQuest Distinguished Dissertation Award. Thus, our award categories parallel the CGS/ProQuest categories. In 2024, the categories are (1) Mathematics, Physical Sciences and Engineering and (2) Social Sciences.
$1,000 is given to up to two graduate students with exceptional dissertations.
Winners of the USC competition will be nominated for the CGS/ProQuest Distinguished Dissertation Award.
Nominees should have:
Graduate Directors must submit nomination packets as one PDF document to Wright Culpepper. Only one nomination per program is allowed. The package must include:
Nominations are due by June 1, 2024
The Outstanding Community Engagement Award is awarded to any graduate student who demonstrates substantial impact and engagement related to community service, social advocacy, civic engagement, and/or volunteer opportunities conducted between the summer of 2023 and the spring 2024 academic semesters.
Emily Collie, Counseling and Rehabilitation
One award of $1,000 is given annually.
Nominees must be enrolled in Spring 2024 and can be from any academic program. The committee will consider relevant activities conducted from May 2023 through the time of the application’s submission.
Graduate Directors must submit nomination packets as one PDF document to Wright Culpepper. Only one nomination per program is allowed. The package must include:
The committee will consider the following:
Nominations are due by March 15, 2024
The Outstanding Research Award is awarded to one graduate student who conducted research during the 2023-24 academic year that is vital to their academic discipline and society at large.
Rajat Das Gupta, Epidemiology
One award of $1,000 is given annually.
Nominees must be graduate students enrolled in Spring 2024.
Graduate Directors must submit nomination packets as one PDF document to Wright Culpepper. Only one nomination per program is allowed. The package must include:
The committee will consider the following:
Nominations are due by March 15, 2024
The Excellence in Access and Opportunity Award is awarded to any graduate student who demonstrates excellence related to access, opportunity, diversity, equity, and/or inclusion.
One award of $1,000 is given annually.
Nominees must be enrolled in Spring 2024 and can be from any academic program. The committee will consider relevant activities conducted from May 2023 through the time of the application’s submission.
Graduate Directors must submit nomination packets as one PDF document to Wright Culpepper. Only one nomination per program is allowed. The package must include:
The committee will consider the following:
Nominations are due by March 15, 2024
The Outstanding Graduate Teaching Award is awarded to graduate students who have shown themselves to be exceptional graduate instructors or instructional assistants.
Elizabeth Churchya, Music
Amadi Afua Sefah-Twerefour, Marine Science
Two $1,000 awards given annually. Instructors of record and GTA/Lab Instructors are eligible. There will be one award from the following academic disciplines:
Graduate Directors must submit nomination packets as one PDF document to Wright Culpepper. Only one nomination per program is allowed. The package must include:
Graduate Directors must submit nomination packets as one PDF document to Wright Culpepper. Only one nomination per program is allowed. The package must include:
Programs may nominate up to two candidates (one in each category).
Nominations are due by March 15, 2024
Admitted and current students are encouraged to explore funding opportunities with campus partners and external organizations.
As a GEM Member University, we partner with industry leaders to provide underrepresented minorities in the STEM fields with internships at major companies and entirely lift the financial burden of attending graduate school.
We partner with the SREB to provide full tuition abatement and additional funding for underrepresented minority students who are interested in becoming professors. Two types of awards are available: one students at the start of their doctoral program and one for students entering their final year of dissertation work.
The college or school that houses your program can be a good place to find generous fellowships. In most cases, students must be nominated by their department to qualify. Ask in particular about teaching fellowships and dean's fellowships.
Assists graduate students striving to earn nationally prestigious fellowships by educating them on application cycles, alerting them to deadlines and resources and supporting them throughout the application process.
Supports research innovation and the scholarly and creative activities of our graduate students and faculty.