Fellowships at IU Indianapolis include all unrestricted, non-service related stipends, regardless of the funding source or name of the award for the purpose of aiding a graduate or professional student's study, training, or research. A Graduate Fellow will primarily focus on pursuing a course of study or research for their personal benefit.
Remember that funding for graduate school may come from many sources, so students should explore resources within IU Indianapolis as well as external resources. The Office of Student Scholarships, the Office of Student Financial Services, or IU Global offer additional resources on funding at IU Indianapolis.
Questions regarding IU Graduate School internal awards should be sent to grfellow@iu.edu.
Internal Fellowships and Awards
Internal awards and fellowships are funding that comes from the university. Most graduate-level funding at IU Indianapolis comes through the academic schools.
Students, please note that the individual departments or schools submit the nomination for the majority of these awards and fellowships. To determine if you can self nominate, check the Nominated by section or follow the links to websites.
University Fellowships Award Amount: One year support – Stipend / health insurance, tuition (provided by the program) – Master’s stipend ($18,000) PhD stipend ($22,500) – continued support by program in subsequent years Deadline: February 14, 2025 Student eligibility: Incoming PhD or Master’s students in research-based programs Nominated by: Department/School
University Fellowships are competitively awarded to the best MA/MS and PhD students entering Indianapolis's research-based graduate programs each fall. Discipline-appropriate research is therefore a key consideration in the evaluation of applications. Programs are encouraged to nominate candidates with extraordinary qualifications as this is a very competitive fellowship. Applicants must meet all admissions criteria for their program, be entering as a first year student, enrolled full-time on the Indianapolis campus during the fellowship year, and must maintain satisfactory academic performance.
Adam W. Herbert Graduate Fellowship Award amount: Four year stipend for PhD ($25,000), and two year stipend for Master’s student ($10,000) Deadline: Priority deadline - February 7, 2025 (by 4 p.m.) | Late deadline - February 23, 2025 Student eligibility: Incoming PhD or Master’s students in a science program who have graduated from an Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) Nominated by: Department/School
Created through an endowment from the President’s Fund for the purpose of supporting graduate study in an Indiana University Program at Indianapolis for graduates of HBCU newly-admitted to Indiana University Graduate School program(s).
Inclusive Excellence Fellowship Award amount: Five year support – Stipend / SAA, health insurance, tuition (shared support by Graduate School and program) $22,500 for non-STEM, and $25,000 for STEM Deadline: February 7, 2025 Student eligibility: Incoming outstanding PhD students Nominated by: Department/School
This program is open to all and seeks to support outstanding, newly-admitted students in their pursuit of an Indiana University degree at the Indianapolis campus. The program offers a multi-year funding package, professional development, and mentoring support to outstanding scholars in all fields. Schools are encouraged to nominate admitted individuals who: 1) bring varied perspectives and experiences to discovery and research; 2) have faced or overcame adversity and challenges; 3) are collaborative with an interest in broadening knowledge and research; and 4) are committed to service to others, improving the human condition, and expanding horizons. As part of the Indianapolis academic community these scholars, through their research, teaching, and service, will enhance scholarship in Indiana and beyond by virtue of their varied experiences, tenacity, and commitment to others.
John H. Edwards Fellowship Award amount: One year - $20,000 stipend Deadline: February 3, 2025 Student eligibility: PhD, EdD, M.D., J.D., M.F.A, M.A.T. students who have completed 24 credit hours by 2/2025 Nominated by: Department/School
Programs are encouraged to nominate a candidate with an extraordinary record of voluntary public service, exemplary character, superior scholastic ability, and intellectual capacity that promises dividends for society. Consistent with University policy, nominations for this award should be made without regard to sexual orientation or disability. Nominees should have a clear record of voluntary public service; special consideration will be given to nominees who can demonstrate financial need in order to complete their studies (see Nominee Financial Statement Form). Initiating service projects is an especially strong credential for earning this award.
The Wells Graduate Fellowship Award amount: One year - $42,000 stipend Deadline: November 4, 2024 Student eligibility: The nominee must be a doctoral or M.F.A. student. Nominated by: Department
Any department can nominate one doctoral or M.F.A. student who exemplifies the characteristics of Chancellor Wells. The nominee must be at least in the second year of graduate studies at any Indiana University Campus and a regularly enrolled student during the award.
William M. Plater Civic Engagement Medallion Deadline: February 2025 Student eligibility: Applicants for the William M. Plater Civic Engagement Medallion are undergraduate, graduate and professional students who will receive their respective degrees from December 2024 - August 2025. If you are receiving your doctorate degree and have permission to walk in graduation from your academic school, you are eligible to apply for this award. Nominated by: Faculty / Staff / Student
The Plater Civic Engagement Medallion honor graduates who have excelled in their commitment to the community through activities such as service learning, volunteerism, community/social issue advocacy, community work-study, and political engagement.
University Distinguished PhD Dissertation Award Award amount: $5,000 Deadline: April 28, 2025 Student eligibility: Ph.D. students must have received a Ph.D. degree during the two previous academic years (see application for details) Nominated by: Director of Graduate Studies / Departmental Chair
Each degree granted by The Indiana University Graduate School may nominate one "truly outstanding" PhD dissertation for consideration by the Awards and Financial Aid Committee of the Graduate Council.
University Distinguished Master’s Thesis Award Award amount: $1,500 Deadline: September 23, 2024 Student eligibility: Must have received a Master’s degree from the IU University Graduate School during the two previous academic years Nominated by: Director of Graduate Studies / Departmental Chair
Each degree granted by the Indiana University Graduate School may nominate one "truly outstanding" master’s thesis for consideration by the Awards and Financial Aid Committee of the Graduate Council.
Inclusive Excellence Dissertation Fellowship at IU Indianapolis Award amount: One- year stipend - $22,500 for non-STEM, and $25,000 for STEM Deadline: April 21, 2025 Student eligibility: Applicants must have been admitted to candidacy and receive PhD recorder approval at least one month prior to the application deadline Nominated by: Department/School
These are one-time fellowships meant to offset a scholar’s living expenses while completing the dissertation. This competition is open to all current IU PhD students in good standing that are enrolling in their final year of study. The fellowship is aimed at IU PhD graduate students on the Indianapolis campus. Schools are encouraged in thinking about nominees to consider IU PhD students who have: 1) brought varied perspectives and experiences to their research and scholarship; 2) overcome challenges and adversity; 3) are collaborative and have strived to broaden knowledge and research; and 4) are committed to service to others, improving the human condition, and expanding horizons. Graduate students in the natural, physical and life sciences, technology, and math fields, are especially encouraged to apply. In order to apply for this award, applicants must have been admitted to candidacy and receive PhD recorder approval at least one month prior to the application deadline.
INSPECT Fellowship Award amount: $8,500 Deadline: February 3, 2025 Student eligibility: Current science-based graduate students. Nominated by: Department/School
Available to current science-based graduate students, the INSPECT Fellowship is a paid, 10-week summer fellowship sponsored by the Graduate School and the Indiana Academy of Science. Selected Fellows are placed as nonpartisan, scientific advisors in specified executive agencies (Host Office) within the state of Indiana, with the appointment starting May 30. While gaining real-world experience in science policy by researching and drafting science, technical, and/or policy issues of agency interest, Fellows build their network and expand future career opportunities in the field of science policy. Previous fellows were placed as advisors in the IN Dept of Education and IN Dept of Health.
Google PhD Fellowship Award amount: a fellowship stipend up to 2 years Deadline: internal IU, April 28, 2025 Student eligibility: full-time PhD students in the following fields - Algorithms and Theory, Distributed Systems and Parallel Computing, Health and Bioscience, Human-Computer Interaction and Visualization, Machine Intelligence, Machine Perception, Natural Language Processing, Networking, Quantum Computing, Security, Privacy and Abuse Prevention, Software Engineering, Software Systems, and Speech Processing. Other areas may be listed on the application Nominated by: Student, with 2-3 recommendation letters
IU Indianapolis Travel Fellowships Award amount: Up to $1,000 Deadline:If you are traveling between May 8, 2024 and April 30, 2025, the application deadline is October 11, 2024. Award notification by November 10, 2024. If you are traveling between March 1, 2025 and September 30, 2025, the application deadline is March 14, 2025. Award notification by April 12, 2025. Student eligibility: Master’s and PhD students in research-based programs presenting a first author poster / oral presentation at a research conference Nominated by: Student / Mentor
The Fellowship Committee has set aside funds for Travel Fellowships to assist full-time graduate students in attending a meeting or conference relevant to their degree program to present their research. Students must be currently enrolled in a research degree program on the Indianapolis campus (master's or Ph.D.) to qualify for these competitive awards. Additionally students must be registered full time when their application for a Travel Fellowship is submitted, and be similarly enrolled full time on the Indianapolis campus during the semester of their travel. These awards are competitive with students eligible to receive this fellowship only one time per academic year.
G-PEG’s, are grants awarded to graduate and professional students at IU Indianapolis by the Graduate and Professional Student Government (GPSG) for the assistance in the development of their educational experiences. G-PEG’s can be applied towards attending a conference, conducting research, or gaining training outside the campus. Each student can receive up to $500 per academic year. G-PEG’s are individual and not group grants (i.e. a group attending a conference cannot apply together, each participant must submit a separate and unique application).
Lieber Memorial Teaching Associate Award Award amount: $1,000 Award Deadline: October 4, 2024 Student eligibility: Graduate students who combine their programs of advanced study with instructional employment in their schools and departments Nominated by: Department chairs or deans
The Lieber Memorial Teaching Associate Award is available to outstanding teachers among the university's graduate students. Students who receive this award can be nominated for the MAGS Excellence in Teaching award. Find out more information on how to prepare a Lieber Memorial Teaching Associate Award dossier.
Sherry Queener Graduate Student Excellence Award Award amount: $1,000 Award Deadline: November 15, 2024 Student eligibility: Master’s / Doctoral or Professional Degree Students Nominated by: Department/School
This is an Indianapolis campus-wide honor includes a $1,000 cash award. One award will be given to an outstanding Indianapolis candidate enrolled in a master’s degree program, and another award will be presented to an outstanding Indianapolis student pursuing a doctoral or professional degree. Students will be nominated by their respective schools, and the nomination must be accompanied by a dossier. Each school will be asked to nominate one currently enrolled master’s degree student and one student pursuing a doctoral or professional degree.
Chancellor’s Scholar Award Deadline: January 24, 2025 by 5 PM Student eligibility: Degree seeking master’s and doctoral student in their final year who has the highest cumulative GPA Nominated by: Indiana University Indianapolis Graduate School
One student from each designated academic unit is to be selected. The IU Graduate School Indianapolis works directly with the Indiana University Graduate School programs to identify the annual Chancellor’s Scholar who meets the eligibility criteria for this award. The student selected should have met the stated criteria at the end of the fall semester; he or she may be a December, May, or summer graduate.
Lieber Memorial Associate Instructor Award Award amount: Recipients of this award will receive a one-time supplemental pay of $2,500 Deadline: October 4, 2025 (by 5:00 p.m. EDT) Student eligibility: Nominees must have held an appointment as an associate instructor for at least two years. Nominated by: Department Chair/Dean or Dean's designee
The Lieber Memorial Associate Instructor Award recognizes distinguished teaching by IU graduate students with an appointment as an associate instructor. A recipient of the Lieber Memorial Associate Instructor Award becomes Indiana University’s nominee for the Midwestern Association of Graduate Students Awards (MAGS).
Nomination dossiers include the following:
Primary Letter of Nomination Nominee’s Teaching Philosophy and Self-Analysis Statement Current Curriculum Vitae of Nominee Courses Taught at Indiana University Course Evaluation Summary and Reflection Peer/Administrative Review Portfolio Video Recording of Teaching Research and Public Activity Related to Teaching (Optional) Academic Student Counseling and Mentoring (Optional) Additional Letters of Support (Optional)
External awards and fellowships are also available, which is funding that comes from organizations and corporations unaffiliated with the university.
Featured Award
GEM Fellowship
The GEM Fellowship is designed to focus on promoting opportunities for individuals to enter industry at the graduate level in areas such as research and development, product development, and other high level technical careers. GEM offers MS and Ph.D. level students an outstanding opportunity and access to dozens of the top Engineering and Science firms and Universities in the nation. Students should apply as undergraduates or Masters students. The application opens July 1, 2025. Please see the National GEM Corporation website for more details and select IU Indianapolis as the institution Applicants must be a U.S. citizen or U.S. permanent resident at time of application.
The Office of Scholar Development (OSD) supports students who are interested in competitive national scholarships and grants. The Office of Scholar Development is open to all IU Indianapolis students. See the national scholarships that OSD supports by visiting the Office of Scholarship Development website.
ProFellow is a free database of more than 2,800 funding awards for graduate study and professional development.
Other resources for fellowships, scholarships, internships and more.
