FIU - Florida International University, University Graduate School

FAQ

What is external funding?

External funding is funding that is provided by an organization (e.g., State, Federal, private) outside the university. There are a number of types of funding opportunities available to students, including everything from small grants for travel or research, to large, multi-year fellowships that cover stipend, tuition and fees, book expenses, and health insurance.

How do I search for external funding opportunities?

The database on this website contains major fellowships, and is one place to start. For a more comprehensive search, follow this link: https://osraweb.fiu.edu/spin/spinmain.asp.This database can be accessed only from on campus and allows you to search all types of funding opportunities (e.g., fellowships, travel, dissertation, post-doc). For guidance using it, please contact the UGS/DoR Graduate Research Center at aspirgel@fiu.edu

What if the award offered by a full fellowship is less than the award I would otherwise receive from my departmental teaching assistantship?

All of the benefits listed here will only be provided if the student goes through the pre-award process with a DoR Pre-Award staff member and the Graduate Grants Coordinator. They cannot be negotiated after the application has been submitted to the granting agency.

Students on full fellowships (i.e., one that pays a stipend of at least $16,000 or the semester equivalent) will have their non-resident fee set to zero. UGS will provide a tuition waiver for the remaining portion of tuition that is not paid by the award. If the stipend offered by a full fellowship is less than your department's teaching assistantship, UGS will consider supplementing the stipend up to the TA level. If a fellowship does not provide health insurance, UGS will pay the full cost of health insurance for students on a full fellowship. The insurance provided will be the same insurance that is provided to Graduate Assistants.

If I find an opportunity I am interested in applying for, how do I do it?

The first thing to do is discuss it with your Faculty Advisor. If your Faculty Advisor approves of you applying for external funding, contact the graduate grants coordinator (Arie Spirgel; aspirgel@fiu.edu) and the pre-award office of the Division of Research (http://research.fiu.edu/staff/staffListing.html). Pre-award will help get you started on any internal paperwork that may be required.

At which stage of my graduate studies should I consider applying?

There are awards available for students at all stages of their graduate studies. When you actually apply may depend on your field, and perhaps more-so, what award you are applying for. Awards may have eligibility restrictions based on what stage of your studies you are in (e.g., 1st year student, pre-dissertation phase, dissertation phase).

When should I start planning to apply for external funding?

As soon as possible. Many applications are due almost 1 year before the award is administered. The most prestigious and competitive awards will require extensive dedication to writing and revising your proposal. Additionally, there may be an award you are not eligible for presently, but you may decide that you want to plan your research so it is consistent with the goals of a particular program, making you a good candidate when you do become eligible.

Can I apply for graduate fellowships as an undergraduate?

Yes. Many fellowships that fund graduate students allow undergraduates to apply during the fall of semester of their final year. If you win the award, you must be accepted into an eligible graduate program to accept it. Winning fellowships as an undergraduate makes students highly marketable to graduate programs. Please contact me if you are interested in learning about graduate fellowship programs that accept applications from undergraduate students.