Awards and Fellowships

Each year, a limited number of teaching and research assistantships, fellowships, and scholarships are offered to incoming graduate students. These may include renewable half-time graduate assistantships, which include a monthly stipend, nine (9) credits of tuition per semester, health insurance, plus a waiver of the out-of-state portion of tuition.

Because of the uncertainty and limited extent of departmental funding, we also encourage students to apply for funding from other MSU sources, as well as from government funding agencies and foundations. In general, most students do find support and funding.

The Department tries to fund students for multiple years, generally for the first four years in the program, assuming progress in the program is satisfactory. All funding is, of course, dependent upon the availability of funds.

In addition to the support available in the department, the following programs are available:

General Graduate School Funding Opportunities
Visit: https://grad.msu.edu/funding

University Fellowship Programs
Visit: https://grad.msu.edu/universityfellowships

This fellowship program provides financial support for outstanding students, based on demonstrated academic excellence and evidence of leadership potential. Students must be new to graduate study at MSU and plan to earn a doctoral (PhD) or MFA degree. Only US citizens or permanent residents are eligible. To be considered for the University Fellowship Program, students should indicate on the graduate application to MSU that they are interested in departmental funding. Those applications will be screened for suitability for a number of award opportunities, including the University Fellowship Programs.

International Studies & Programs Student Funding
Visit: https://www.isp.msu.edu/information-resources/student-funding/

Foreign Language Areas Studies (FLAS) Awards

The US Department of Education’s FLAS Fellowships are awarded to MSU graduate students enrolled in programs that combine the study of a modern foreign language with advanced training in international development studies or in the international development aspects of professional or other fields of study. An applicant must be a US citizen or permanent resident. Fellowships are given for both the academic year and for summer intensive courses.

African Studies Center
Visit: http://africa.isp.msu.edu/
The African Studies Center is one of a suite of highly respected international studies programs at MSU, whose purpose is to offer a truly global education while engaging in cutting edge research on the world’s most pressing challenges.