Funding & Fellowship Opportunities for Graduate Students
The Graduate School is dedicated to helping students secure funding during their time spent at MSU. Graduate students finance their education through a variety of assistantships, fellowships and other funding opportunities. This page provides a list of valuable resources to help ease the financial burden of graduate school and allow you to focus on your research and coursework.
Numerous external funding opportunities exist to support graduate students, and MSU’s Office of Research Development maintains an extensive collection of these resources for graduate students to explore. MSU also provides students with access to Grant Forward, an easy-to-explore research funding database with tools for personalizing the search and for setting up alerts regarding new funding opportunities in line with students' research interests. In addition to these resources, the Office of the Graduate School offers numerous internal funding opportunities to graduate students and the faculty who work with them. You can learn more about these internal funding opportunities by exploring the following drop-down menus:
MSU Internal Fellowships & Funding Opportunities
Funding opportunites from MSU are available for graduate students and faculty working with graduate students.
Overview
| Funding Program | Application Opens | Application Closes | Additional Information |
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Graduate Teaching Scholarships
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Fall: 1-Aug Spring: 1-Jan |
Fall: 15th day of instruction Spring: 15th day of instruction |
This scholarship is for current MSU GTA’s. Follow link for additional eligibility information and application instructions. |
| Crawford Wildlife Habitat Fellowship | November 1 |
February 1 |
This fellowship is for new and current graduate students (masters/doctoral programs). Please read the eligibility and information on how to apply. |
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Sloan Indigenous Graduate Partnership Fellowship
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See application deadlines |
Fall: 15-April Spring: October 15 |
Follow the program link for eligibility information and application instructions. |
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Louis Stokes Alliances for Minority Participation (LSAMP) Bridge to Doctorate Scholars
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Open | Open | Follow program link for eligibility information. To initiate the application process, please follow the contact information provided on MSU’s LSAMP webpage. |
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Varies. See additional information. | Varies. See additional information. | Contact the Office of the Graduate School for exact yearly deadlines. Applications are for the following academic year. |
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Montana INBRE Native American Graduate Fellowship
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always open; however, see priority review deadlines. |
Priority Review: Fall: 15-Feb Spring: 1-Nov |
Follow program link for eligibility guidelines and application information. |
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Dennis and Phyllis Washington Foundation Native American Graduate Fellowship
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See application deadline. | February 1st for a fellowship period beginning the next academic year | Follow program link for eligibility guidelines and application information. Applicants for the Washington Fellowship need to apply through the Cat Scholarships portal. |
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PhD Dissertation Completion Awards
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Fall: June 15 Spring: Oct 1 |
Fall: July 15 Spring: Nov 1 |
All PhD students approaching their final term can apply for a PhD Dissertation Completion Award. Follow link for eligibility details and application instructions. |
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Professional Advancement Grant
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Always Open | Always Open | These awards support travel for graduate students from any department to present scholarly research at professional conferences. Follow link for details and application. |
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AmeriCorp Alumni, Application fee and tuition waivers
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Always open | Always open | Follow program link for application instructions. |
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First Generation Application Waiver (MSU students only)
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Aways open | Always open | MSU recognizes their undergraduate First Gen students by providing an application waiver. See the link for details. |
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Past McNair Scholars, Application fee and tuition waivers
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Always open | Always open | Follow program link for application instructions. |
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Early April. See website for exact yearly dates. | Mid-May. See website for exact yearly dates and extended application deadline updates. | Professional leadership development program. Open to all MSU graduate students beyond their first year of study. |
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Varies by scholarship. | Varies by scholarship. | This database references funding opportunities for more than 50 different scholarship programs created by individuals, families, and institutions on behalf of current MSU students. |
| April 1st | July 15th |
This fellowship award is open to MSU graduate students from a wide range of disciplines who incorporate research from Montana's Digital Resources Database into their research projects. See website for fellowship information and application instructions. |
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| Varies | Varies |
Scholarships for many different needs, including professional development, education, and emergency funding for personal reasons. |
- Many academic departments offer opportunities for graduate teaching and research assistantships. Prospective graduate students should contact their admitting department for information on assistantship availability.
- Check the College of Education, Health and Human Development site for Graduate Assistantships across MSU.
- Check the Graduate School's policies and procedures regarding assistantships.
- Confirm your Graduate Appointment
Position: Graduate Assistant (GSA)
Department Name: Graduate School, Graduate Student Success
Description of Opportunity
Position Duration – This position is for an average of 10-19 hours/week for the fall 2026 and spring 2027 semesters.
Position Focus – This position and its duties are focused on graduate student success.
Position Description/Tasks –
- Coordinate the wellbeing champions—graduate students embedded in departments who organize wellbeing events and host local workshops. Meet twice per semester (minimum) and collect activity reports at end of each term. Liaise with department faculty partner and be the primary contact for the champions.
- Coordinate the First Year Community Mentors (FYC) – graduate students embedded in departments who organize events for and support first year students in their departments. Assist with initial training for mentors. Meet with once/twice per semester and collect end of semester reports. Liaise with departments when needed.
- Plan, organize, and lead wellness weeks for graduate students once per semester. Examples of previous themes: budget, empowerment, rest & recharge, fulfillment, connection, and so on. This may include an evening or two.
- Partner with groups on campus, including those working on basic needs (food, housing, childcare).
- Organize meetings for Graduate Student Diversity Leadership Council (GSDLC) at least twice per semester and assist with First Generation Week activities when asked. Support Grad Student Leadership Council (GSLC).
- Assist with other student success tasks as assigned including website updates for
Wellbeing, First Generation, Sloan, GSLC, booking rooms, ordering catering for events,
and more. Occasionally cover the front desk and answer the phone.
Field-based skill development description –
This Graduate Assistant (GA) will work for the Graduate School Graduate Success Office to support wellbeing and student success activities. The GA will have a leadership opportunity to work with the ~ 25 graduate wellbeing champions and FYC mentors assisting them with hosting events in their department. The GA will also have the opportunity to experience working with other units across campus and build relationships. For the right candidate, this position can offer an opportunity for the GA to put their education into practice.
Transferable/portable skill development description –
This position will help the GA develop leadership skills and a strong understanding of how change can be implemented.
Preferred skills/qualifications –
- Professionalism and maturity (especially in email communication)
- Strong attention to detail
- Strong interpersonal skills including communication
- Strong organizational skills including reliability
- Oral, written, and/or nonverbal communication skills
- Ability to work independently and as part of a team; can take initiative and follow through without prompting
- Professional experience with wellbeing projects
- Meet academic requirements of a GTA position:
- Degree-seeking graduate student
- Maintain term enrollment of a minimum of 6 credits
- Cumulative, term, and program of study GPA must be 3.00 or better
- Make satisfactory annual progress toward degree achievement
Performance and Feedback
- The general philosophy of the Graduate School is to provide feedback on an ongoing basis.
Compensation
- Stipend: $987.50 biweekly (or $9875/semester; prorated if below 19 hours).
- The appointment is for an average of 19 hours/week. (You may be asked to work more hours some weeks and less other weeks.)
- Per the Collective Bargaining Agreement, you will also receive an additional payment of $106.50 biweekly if you are in the first five academic semesters of your degree program.
- Tuition remission up to 12 credits/term.
- The student is responsible for all university fees.
- This appointment is part of a Collective Bargaining unit represented by the Graduate Employee Organization (GEO) and the Montana Education Association-Montana Federation of Teachers, MEA- MFT. The Collective Bargaining Agreement can be found at: https://mus.edu/hr/cba/collbarg.html. You will be bound by the terms and conditions in the Collective Bargaining Agreement, applicable policies of the University and Board of Regents, and applicable state and federal laws.
- If non-academic issues arise, the GSA may take concerns to their supervisor or the University’s Human Resources Department.
To apply for a position, please submit the following:
- Current Resume or CV
- Contact information for two professional references
- Letter of interest for this position
Materials may be submitted through email or mail to:
Graduate Student Success, The Graduate School 104 Montana Hall
Gradsuccess@montana.edu
Applications must be received by Friday, July 6, 2026
Overview
| Name | Application Opens | Application Closes | Application Link |
| Fall Delta Grants | 26-Jun | 15-Jul | Application in Infoready |
| Spring Delta grants | 1-Dec | 21-Jan |
InfoReady |
| HASS PhD Fellowship | 5-Feb | 3-Jun |
InfoReady |
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University Fellowship |
1-Dec |
Until allocated funds exhausted |
InfoReady |
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Mildred Livingston Presidential Award |
1-Nov |
Until allocated funds exhausted |
InfoReady |
| PhD Start Awards (AKA PhD enhancement awards) | 1-Nov | 21-Jan | InfoReady |
Additional Information
Students may not apply for these awards. They must be nominated by faculty or their department.
Delta Grants are designed for faculty to support a Ph.D. student if the faculty’s grant has some years of funding for the student, but perhaps not long enough for the full duration of a Ph.D. Delta funds can be used to cover the difference between the typical GRA and GTA stipends.
Each Delta award will provide the difference between the GRA stipend the faculty has been paying the student (or will pay) and the average GTA stipend for that department.
Students may not apply for these awards. They must be nominated by faculty or their department.
Faculty should apply by Jun 3rd.
MSU’s Humanities, Arts, and Social Science graduate programs contribute enormously to the scholarship and creative works that advance the mission of our university. In recognition and to advance their continued excellence, we invite applications from faculty for one year of GRA support for doctoral students in one of the following doctoral programs; American Studies, History, and Psychology.
Each HASS Ph.D. fellowship will have a 10-month GRA stipend of $22,000, $910/semester additional payment, and up to 18cr of tuition waivers. The intent is that the Ph.D. student will be supported by the nominating faculty and department for the other years of their Ph.D. degree. The student can be a current student at any stage of their Ph.D. program or an incoming student for Fall 2024 or Spring 2025. We anticipate that one award will be made during FY25.
Students may not apply for these awards. They must be nominated by faculty or their department.
Nominations for the University Fellowship (formerly known as the Meritorious Award), for Fall 2026 are now open. The purpose of this award is to attract outstanding new doctoral students and thus grow graduate student enrollment in alignment with the university’s academic strategic plan.
Each award is $5K/year for up to 5-years.
Students may not apply for these awards. They must be nominated by faculty or their department.
Nominations for the Mildred Livingston Presidential Award are now open for Fall 2026.The award is for new graduate students. Each award is $5K/year for up to 2-years.
Past McNair scholars can be nominated or apply for an an application fee waiver and/or tuition waiver to be used at Montana State University.
Students may not apply for these awards. They must be nominated by faculty or their department.
Indigenous (Native American, Alaskan Native, Native Hawaiian – U.S. Citizenship) graduate students pursuing degrees in STEM at MSU are eligible to apply for the scholarship program established by the A.P. Sloan Foundation.
For more information, please click through to the PhD Start Awards informational page. (note this program used to be known as the PhD Enhancement award, but the name changed to better reflect that it is to assist students at the start of their PhD).