GUIDELINES FOR THE PREPARATION OF NOMINATIONS FOR
MASTER’S RESEARCH FELLOWSHIPS
Master’s Research Fellowships — Stipends and Tenure of Awards
The Master’s Research Fellowship will receive a monthly stipend. Fellowship stipends will be awarded
for two semesters and one summer session, a total of eleven (11) months (summer intersession May 16-
June 15 excluded). Students receiving an offer will begin the fellowship award in the fall semester.
U.S. citizens, permanent residents/immigrants, and international students may apply.
Fellowship recipients will be assigned a ten-hour per week research assignment that will provide
professional development opportunities for the student and be of value to the department. The research
assignment will be consistent with the student’s educational objectives. The Department Chair will
determine the research assignment and monitor the student’s progress.
A fellowship covers full tuition (nine hours maximum in summer) and provides a monthly stipend.
Fellowship recipients are required to register for a minimum of nine (9) graduate credit hours for fall and
spring semesters and three (3) graduate credit hours for summer. Please note that 601 or audit courses do.
Note: The Master’s Fellowship is considered as a recruitment/retention tool, and it is not to be given to
students who are in the final stages of their degree.
Tax Information
Fellowship stipends are paid through the university’s payroll system which requires income taxes to be
withheld. Fellows will fill out the Employee’s W-4 Withholding Allowance Certificate form (W-4 form)
as part of the research fellowship award packet. International students on temporary visas should contact
the International Tax Office, Woody Hall, or phone for an appointment at (618) 453-5275. Information
on taxation of fellowship awards can be found in IRS Publication 970: Tax Benefits for Education
(PDF).
Eligibility for Master’s Level Graduate Fellowships.
Although a student who has not yet completed all steps in the application process to the Graduate School and the program may be nominated, there must be sufficient documentation (transcripts, letters of recommendation, test scores) to ensure that the student is fully admissible and fully qualified. The
nominee must meet the following eligibility criteria*:
- An overall undergraduate grade point average of at least 3.40 (A=4); or
- An undergraduate grade point average for the last two years of at least 3.50 (A=4); or
- A score at or above the 75th percentile on a standardized test such as the GRE, MAT, or GMAT (if
applicable). - It should be noted that students may only receive the master’s Fellowship once. This is a one-time
only award at the master’s degree level. Also note that a master student cannot receive more than two calendar years (24 months) of financial support of all types (support limits may vary) unless granted an exception by the Graduate School. - Criteria for Awarding Master’s Level Fellowships
Master’s Level awards will be offered to the nominees who show the greatest promise for scholarly and professional achievement in their respective disciplines. It is expected that both undergraduate and graduate grade point averages will be high, and, that if any, the nominee’s graduate work will have been of extremely high caliber. The following criteria will be employed as indices of promise:
The assessment by the program of the nominee’s abilities and achievements including honors and
publications.
- Overall undergraduate and graduate grade point averages.
- Strength of letters of recommendation.
- Personal statement of the student.
Standardized Test scores (recommended but not required).
- For more details in preparing the fellowship nomination packet, please follow the instructions in the
FELLOWSHIP PACKET CHECKLIST
a. Completed by the program
APPLICATION FOR FELLOWSHIP AWARD
a. Completed by the student or by the program; please check to make sure data is up-to-date.
b. Program completes section “For Department Signature.”
i.Indicate the specific award for which the student is being nominated.
ii.Provide signature of Department Chair or Director of Graduate Studies, date, and name of
department making the nomination.
iii.Students cannot apply on their own. They must submit all documents to the program for
nomination.
PERSONAL STATEMENT
a. Completed by the student.
b. Three-page (maximum) personal statement indicating firsthand experiences, educational
goals, and professional interests and how these items can contribute to a more reflective,
responsive environment in the program, the discipline, and the larger university
community. The statement should also address academic qualifications in regard to
academic excellence which should include, but not be limited to the following: academics
achievements, honors, awards, publications, and extracurricular activities.
CURRICULUM VITAE
a. Completed by the student.
DEPARTMENTAL FELLOWSHIPS NOMINATION FORM
a. Completed by the program.
b. Graduate Degree and GPA, if any.
c. GRE/MAT/GMAT results (recommended but not required).
d. Departmental Ranking. The rankings of the nominee relative to all other master’s
fellowship nominees from the department. For example, a department might submit five
fellowship nominees. In this case, it would state for each nominee that he or she was ‘1 of
5’ or ‘2 of 5’, etc.
e. Define the reasons this student is being nominated and the basis for the programs ranking.
Include such factors as the academic quality of the program from which the student
received their degrees, and information concerning any special accomplishments, which
qualify them for a master’s-level award. Also include any information supporting the
student’s commitment to advanced study and a summary of any experience since being
awarded the bachelor’s degree. PLEASE TYPE.
THREE (3) LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION
a. These should be from persons who are familiar with the nominee’s academic record and
who are qualified to judge his or her promise for success in graduate studies. These letters
may be copies of those already received in the department in support of the nominee’s
application for admission to the program; however, it may be preferable to have new letters
specifically written to support the fellowship nomination.
b. These letters should refer to one or more of the following characteristics/skills:
communication, creativity, explanation (a reason or cause for some phenomena or finding),
motivation, planning, professionalism, and synthesis (those skills that facilitate the
development of an expert domain of knowledge structures). The letters should accompany the
nomination; they should not be sent separately to the Graduate School.
STANDARDIZED TESTS SCORES (recommended but not required)
a. If applicable, please attach a copy of official standardized test score.
i. Acceptable standardized tests are GRE, MAT, or GMAT.
TRANSCRIPTS
a. Please attach copies of final transcripts for ALL degree granting institutions.
i. A missing transcript will result in automatic rejection of fellowship application
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