UMKC School of Graduate Studies

Up to 3 Minority Master's Student Fellowships may be awarded annually. Each fellowship is renewable for one additional year provided the student maintains a 3.0 graduate grade point average and the academic unit certifies that the student is in good standing and making normal progress toward the degree.

Eligibility: Applicants must be degree-seeking students, who are newly admitted or enrolled in a master's program at UMKC for the 2008-2009 academic year, and who are U.S. citizens and who are Native American, Black non-hispanic, Hispanic, or Asian/Pacific Islanders. Recipients must plan to enroll in at least six hours per semester during their fellowship years.

Benefits: The fellowships of $850 ($425 each semester) are applicable to the student's graduate educational fees.

Download the application form here - (PDF) (MS-Word)

The application packet must include:

* The completed application form
* Transcripts of previous work (students who will be new to the program in Fall 2008, supply transcripts from institution where undergraduate degree was conferred, plus transcripts of all graduate work to date; for continuing UMKC students, supply only a UMKC transcript
* Five copies of all application materials.
* Three Faculty letters of recommendation - If faculty provide these to you in a sealed envelope, we will make copies for your application packets. However, ALL recommendation letters must be turned in by February 1, 2008.

Arthur Mag Graduate Fellowships

Three Arthur Mag Graduate Fellowships may be awarded each year, one in Law, one in Business and Public Administration, and one for doctoral study in the College of Arts and Sciences.

Benefits: The Arthur Mag Graduate Fellowship in Law includes a stipend of $10,500 for the 2008-2009 academic years, plus remission of non-resident fees, if applicable, and remission of 18 hours of graduate law education fees, for a total possible compensation of nearly $28,000. The Arthur Mag Graduate Fellowship in Business and Public Administration and the Arthur Mag Doctoral Fellowship in Arts and Sciences Fellowship include a stipend of $15,000 for the 2008-2009 academic years and remission of 18 hours of graduate education fees, for a total possible compensation of nearly $27,000.

Eligibility: Applicants must be U.S. citizens who are planning to pursue a graduate degree at the University of Missouri-Kansas City on a full-time basis. First year graduate students and previous Arthur Mag Graduate Fellows will be given preference. High level of academic achievement is required. Personality, good citizenship, commitment to community service, and potential to contribute to programs in the Kansas City area will also be considered in the selection process. The deans noted below nominate applicants, and a committee of community members makes final selection.

Arthur Mag Graduate Fellowship in Law

Arthur Mag Graduate Fellowship in Law: Awarded to an outstanding student in the School of Law's LL.M. program.

Arthur Mag Graduate Fellowship in Business and Public Administration

Awarded to an outstanding student in one of the three graduate programs in the Henry W. Bloch School of Business and Public Administration or to an Interdisciplinary Ph.D. student who has Public Affairs and Administration as his or her coordinating discipline.

Arthur Mag Doctoral Fellowship in Arts and Sciences

Awarded to an outstanding student in the Ph.D. in Psychology degree program or to an outstanding Interdisciplinary Ph.D. student who has one of the disciplines housed in the College of Arts and Sciences as his or her coordinating discipline.

Download the Arthur Mag application form here - (PDF) (MS-Word)

The application packet must include:

* The completed application form
* Transcripts of previous work (students who will be new to the program in Fall 2008, supply transcripts from institution where undergraduate degree was conferred, plus transcripts of all graduate work to date; for continuing UMKC students, supply only a UMKC transcript
* Three copies of all application materials.
* Three Faculty letters of recommendation - If faculty provide these to you in a sealed envelope, we will make copies for your application packets. However, ALL recommendation letters must be turned in by February 1, 2008.

Chancellor's Doctoral Fellowships

Up to ten Chancellor's Doctoral Fellowships may be awarded each year.
Eligibility: Applicants must be new or continuing doctoral (Ph.D., D.M.A., Ed.D.) students who will be enrolled full-time during the 2008-2009 academic year. Applicants who are continuing Interdisciplinary Ph.D. students and who have been fully admitted for two or more semesters must have an approved Ph.D. plan of study on file with the School of Graduate Studies office.

Benefits. Each fellowship includes a stipend of $11,500 for the 2008-2009 academic year, plus remission of up to 18 hours of graduate education fees. Each fellowship is renewable for one additional year provided the student maintains at least a 3.25 graduate point average and the fellows' research advisor and committee certifies that the student is making satisfactory progress toward the goals set for the fellowship year.

Download the application form here - (PDF) (MS-Word)

The application packet must include:

* The completed application form
* Transcripts showing their baccalaureate degree work and transcripts of any graduate work attempted prior to admission to a UMKC doctoral program. Continuing doctoral students must also include a current UMKC academic transcript
* A sample of the applicant's professional writing (a publication, manuscript, report for a course, or any other appropriate documentation of the applicant's ability to communicate in his or her field)
* A one-page description of the applicant's research objectives and proposed research
* Five copies of all application materials.
* Three faculty letters of recommendation speaking to the quality of the applicant's research and an estimate of the applicant's research potential - If faculty provide these to you in a sealed envelope, we will make copies for your application packets. However, ALL recommendation letters must be turned in by February 1, 2008.

Each discipline in the Interdisciplinary Ph.D. program and Ph.D., D.M.A. and Ed.D. program may forward one nomination to the School of Graduate Studies. The Graduate Fellowship and Awards committee make the final selection and notification of awards will be made in early April.

School of Graduate Studies Preparing Future Faculty (PFF) Fellowships

Up to 4 new School of Graduate Studies Preparing Future Faculty (PFF) Fellowships may be awarded each year.

Eligibility: Competition for the PFF Fellowships is open to degree-seeking UMKC doctoral students who desire to pursue an academic career teaching in a college or university, who will be pursuing their doctoral studies full-time during 2008-2009, and have not yet reached doctoral candidacy. The pool of nominees will be evaluated on academic potential, educational philosophies, strength of the recommendation from their primary academic unit, and the way in which the composition of the class supports our goal to diversify the professoriate. Applicants must also meet the following requirements:

* Have an undergraduate or prior graduate grade point average of at least 3.5 on a 4-point scale
* Agree to participate in a Teaching Excellence Program throughout their fellowship tenure. This will include mentoring sessions, periodic PFF seminars and “Brown Bag” meetings addressing various aspects of teaching and the academic life, preparation of an electronic Teaching Portfolio, and exposure to a variety of college campuses PFF Fellows and their Faculty Mentors work together to establish goals for their PFF experience and are required to file annual reports summarizing their progress and goals for the ensuing year.
* Be recommended by the faculty in their degree program. This faculty recommendation needs to address the applicant’s potential for an academic career and name the faculty member who will be mentoring the student should he or she receive a PFF Fellowship.

Benefits: The fellowships include a stipend of $11,500 each, plus remission of up to 12 hours of graduate educational fees for full-time enrollment and remission of non-resident fees. Fellowships are renewable for two additional years provided the fellows are maintaining satisfactory progress in their degree programs and fulfilling their PFF participation expectations. PFF fellowship recipients receive priority in the competition for School of Graduate Studies Dissertation Research Fellowships when they reach that stage in their respective programs.

Download the application form here - (PDF) (MS-Word)

The application packet must include:

* The completed application form, including the requisite faculty recommendations.
* Academic transcripts covering baccalaureate degree and any graduate work completed to date.
* A narrative statement describing the applicant's educational philosophy, teaching and research objectives, and career goals.
* Ten copies of all application materials.

The appropriate review groups in the applicant's Interdisciplinary Ph.D. discipline or doctoral degree program will review all PFF applications submitted to them. Since the discipline or program must provide a teaching experience during one of the fellowship years for individuals selected as PFF fellows, the selection committee will consider only those applications returned to the School of Graduate Studies with a written endorsement by the discipline or program. The PFF Steering Committee makes the final selection of new PFF Fellows and may request that applicants come in for an interview as part of the selection process. Applicants will be notified of the disposition of their applications in early April.

School of Graduate Studies McNair Doctoral Fellowship

One School of Graduate Studies McNair Doctoral Fellowship may be awarded each year.

Eligibility: Applicants must be degree-seeking doctoral students (Ph.D., Ed.D., or D.M.A.) who are newly admitted for or continuing at UMKC for the 2008-2009 academic year, who have been McNair Scholars during their undergraduate programs, and who intend to pursue their doctoral work on a full-time basis.

Benefits: The fellowship includes a stipend of $11,500 for the 2008-2009 academic year, plus remission of up to 18 hours of graduate educational fees, divided as appropriate to the student's program, over the fall, winter and summer terms. The fellowship is renewable for one additional year.

Download the application form here - (PDF) (MS-Word)

The application packet must include:

* The completed application form
* Transcripts of previous work (students who will be new to the program in Fall 2008, supply transcripts from institution where undergraduate degree was conferred, plus transcripts of any graduate work to date; for continuing UMKC students, supply only a current UMKC transcript.)
* Two Faculty letters of recommendation - If faculty provide these to you in a sealed envelope, we will make copies for your application packets. However, ALL recommendation letters must be turned in by February 1, 2008.
* A letter of recommendation from the director of the student's McNair program
* Five copies of all application materials.

School of Graduate Studies Minority Doctoral Fellowships

Up to 4 School of Graduate Studies Minority Doctoral Fellowships may be awarded each year.

Eligibility: Applicants must be degree-seeking doctoral students (Ph.D., Ed.D., or D.M.A.), who are U.S. citizens who are Native American, Black non-Hispanic, Hispanic, or Asian/Pacific Islanders, and newly admitted for or continuing at UMKC for the 2008-2009 academic year. Preference will be given to nominees who are entering doctoral programs at UMKC for the first time in the Fall of 2008 and current School of Graduate Studies Minority Doctoral Fellows.

Benefits: The fellowships include a stipend of $11,500 each, plus remission of up to 18 hours of graduate educational fees divided as appropriate to the student's program, over the fall, winter and summer terms.

Download the application form here - (PDF) (MS-Word)

The application packet must include:

* The completed application form
* Transcripts of previous work (students who will be new to the program in Fall 2008, supply transcripts from institution where undergraduate degree was conferred, plus transcripts of all graduate work to date; for continuing UMKC students, supply only a UMKC transcript
* Five copies of all application materials.
* Three Faculty letters of recommendation - If faculty provide these to you in a sealed envelope, we will make copies for your application packets. However, ALL recommendation letters must be turned in by February 1, 2008.

School of Graduate Studies Dissertation Research Fellowships

Up to 11 School of Graduate Studies Dissertation Research Fellowships may be awarded each year.

Eligibility. The competition is open to doctoral students (Ph.D., Ed.D., and D.M.A.) who have passed their comprehensive examinations and advanced to candidacy prior to February 1, 2008. Dissertation Research Proposals approved by the student's Supervisory Committee must be on file before February 1, 2008. The significance of the potential contribution of the proposed research to the applicant's fields and whether the applicant could realistically be expected to complete the dissertation during the fellowship year will be considered in the selection process. Preference will be given to students who have previously received a PFF, Chancellor's Interdisciplinary Ph.D., Mag, Dean's Doctoral Scholar, or Minority Doctoral Fellowship.

Benefits. The fellowships include a stipend of $15,500, remission of one hour of dissertation credit per semester during the fellowship year.

Download the application form here - (PDF) (MS-Word)

The application packet must include:

* The completed application form
* A UMKC academic transcript
* An abstract of the proposed dissertation research
* A statement from the student of how he or she would use the dissertation fellowship to complete his or her dissertation during the fellowship year
* Two Faculty letters of recommendation from members of the student's supervisory committee other than the Committee Chair
* A letter of recommendation from the student's supervisory committee chair speaking to the quality of the proposed research, its potential contribution to the field(s), and the probability of the student being able to complete the proposed research within the fellowship year
* Five copies of all application materials.

If faculty provide recommendation letters to you in a sealed envelope, we will make copies for your application packets. However, ALL recommendation letters must be turned in by February 1, 2008.

School of Graduate Studies Master of Fine Arts Fellowships

Applications from students are not required for this fellowship. Nominations are made by the students' degree program faculty

Four School of Graduate Studies Master of Fine Arts Fellowships may be awarded each year. Each fellowship includes a stipend of $11,500 and remission of up to nine hours of resident fees for full-time enrollment in Fall and Winter semesters.

Eligibility/selection criteria. Students entering the Master of Fine Arts Program in Theatre are eligible for consideration. The Department of Theatre makes nominations. Preference is given to McNair Program graduates. Recipients will be notified of their selection by mid-April.

Federally Supported Sources of Financial Aid for Graduate Students

Graduate students who are U. S. citizens or permanent residents and who are enrolled at least half-time, with financial need demonstrated via the FFS analysis, may be considered for aid through the College Work Study Program. They may also apply for a Perkins Loan (formerly NDSL) or a Guaranteed Student Loan. Additional information on these programs is available from the UMKC Financial Aid and Scholarships Office, Administrative Center Room 101, UMKC, 5115 Oak Street, Kansas City, MO 64110, phone (816) 235-1154. Staff are available for information, inquiries, and assistance with applications from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays.

Institutionally Supported Sources of Financial Aid for Graduate Students at UMKC

Application forms for the following competitions and types of assistance are available from the School of Graduate Studies Office, 300F Administrative Center, UMKC, 5115 Oak Street, Kansas City, MO 64110, phone (816) 235-1161.

Women's Council of UMKC Graduate Assistance Fund

Website & Application forms

The annual competition for Women's Council GAF Fellowships takes place in early spring. The deadline for making application usually occurs during the second week of February. The number of fellowships awarded varies from year to year. The fellowships are meant to enable currently enrolled female graduate students to complete requirements for graduate degrees, to facilitate their studies, and to enrich their educational experiences. Awards range from $250 to $1,000 and are based on the budget submitted with the applications. Additional monetary awards are occasionally granted to applicants with projects of exceptional merit; however, the maximum award possible to any applicant is $2,000. Examples of support considered include: expenses in conjunction with completion of theses and dissertations; unusual photocopying needs; special laboratory or art supplies; extensive use of computing services; special equipment needs; unusual costs for surveys or other research tools; travel to enhance the applicant's graduate research; or unusual living or education costs (e.g., extenuating personal circumstances that require additional financial support).

In addition to the fellowships, throughout the year the Women's Council considers requests for Immediate Assistance Grants for expenses, such as those listed above, which are of an immediate nature and cannot be delayed until the next fell

Graduate Teaching and Research Assistantships

Financial support for graduate students at the University of Missouri-Kansas City is primarily provided through the academic unit in which the student is enrolled. This support may be in the form of a Graduate Teaching Assistantship (GTA), a Graduate Research Assistantship (GRA), or a fellowship. The stipend amounts and number of awards vary from unit to unit. Students interested in being considered for such support should contact the Principal Graduate Adviser or Graduate Officer in the respective academic unit for information on application procedures and deadlines. Each semester, students who hold GTA or GRA appointments may also be recommended by their academic units for Chancellor's GTA/GRA Fee Remission awards. These awards cover the basic graduate educational fee for six credit hours. Doctoral or MFA students who receive a Chancellor's GTA/GRA Fee Remission Award and who have an appointment of at least 50% FTE (approx. 20 hrs. per week) may also be nominated for a Special Ph.D./DMA/MFA Fee Remission Award that covers the basic graduate educational fees for three additional credit hours. A minimum FTE of 25% (approx. 10 hrs. per week) is required to be eligible for this latter award.

Graduate Student Travel Support

The School of Graduate Studies provides funds to help defray graduate student travel costs for the purpose of presenting original research papers at reputable professional meetings or equivalent activities in the creative arts. Such presentations may be volunteered or invited, and may be podium or poster presentations. In order to assist the maximum number of graduate students, support from the Graduate School is limited to 2/3 of the cost of: transportation, registration fee (if required), one night's lodging, and the current University per diem rate for one day's meals. The remaining 1/3 of the above expenses must be committed in advance by the student's academic unit. Students are normally limited to no more than one graduate student travel grant per academic year and the maximum amount of each award is $200.

Application for Graduate Student Travel Grants: PDF format MSWord

Click here for Travel Reimbursement form.

GEM Fellowship Programs

The GEM Fellowship Programs are designed to offer opportunities for underrepresented students to obtain M.S. degrees in engineering and Ph.D. degrees in engineering and the natural and physical sciences through a program of paid summer internships and graduate financial assistance. To learn more about GEM at the University of Missouri-Kansas City, send an email to Cheryl L. Hooper, Manager Diversity and Outreach, School of Computing & Engineering at hooperc@umkc.edu