Scholarships and Fellowships

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Graduate School

Scholarships and Fellowships

The ��ֱ�� features several scholarships and fellowships for graduate ��ֱ��. Explore the opportunities listed below and reach out to the Graduate School with any questions.

Bertha Morton Fellowship/Scholarships

Bertha Morton was a Helena, Montana native who worked most of her adult life for the Internal Revenue Service in Helena. She was not an alumnus of The ��ֱ��, nor did she actually attend any university. She worked hard and saved her money. When she died in 1977, she left a large part of her estate to the UM Foundation because she desired to encourage and help serious ��ֱ�� obtain an education here. Bertha Morton fellowships and scholarships have subsequently become our most prestigious awards for graduate ��ֱ��.

The Graduate School awards up to 3 fellowship and approximately 20 scholarships annually. Only graduate ��ֱ�� currently accepted for degree programs are eligible to apply. Students must also be enrolling for the 2025-2026 academic year. Program faculty nominate ��ֱ�� for these scholarships.

**Students must enroll in credits for the next academic year in order to be eligible for the Bertha Morton Scholarship**

Call for nominations for this scholarship will be made in December 2024 and student applications will be due on February 7th, 2025. Check back for more information.

To view a list of our most recent Bertha Morton fellowships and scholarships recipients, please visit our Scholarship Recipient Page.

1. Complete the . You will then be able to select the Bertha Morton opportunity.
2. Although the UM scholarship system requires several items, the only items reviewed for this application include:
  1. Upload a personal statement (maximum of 500 words) describing why you would be the best candidate to receive an award and how you embody the values and work of Bertha Morton.
  2. Upload a Resume, CV, or Statement of Achievements and Activities, that includes: professional certifications and credentials, honors and awards, research and creative scholarship, work experience, and university, professional, and community service (no page limit). *A student who previously received a Bertha Morton award and seeks an additional nomination, should limit their statement of achievements and activities to items not specified on the materials submitted with the previously awarded application.
  3. Please indicate which faculty member within your department you would like to write your nomination letter.
3. Faculty in the departments and schools will review the submitted applications and choose which applicant(s) to nominate based on the number allowed by the Graduate School which is based on enrollment numbers. The department will then submit a letter of nomination to kelly.speer@umontana.edu for their selected applicants by March 7th at 4:30 p.m.
4. The Graduate Council will evaluate and rank all nominations for scholarship or fellowship awards. Nomination documentation and recommendations should be based on the student’s academic record and accomplishments in one or more of the following areas:
  1. Honors and awards
  2. Professional certifications and credentials
  3. Research, creative scholarship, and other academic activities and achievements
  4. Work experience
  5. Professional, university, and community activities and achievements
5. All candidates will be notified no later than April 15^th regarding the status of the application.

Besancon Scholarship

The scholarship amount is up to $25,400 and will be decided upon by the selection committee.

The Besancon donor is specific about which disciplines are eligible for the scholarship. Eligible programs are biological sciences, chemistry, geology, mathematical sciences, physics or other pure physical sciences. To meet the donor’s requirements, only incoming or currently enrolled graduate ��ֱ�� are eligible to apply. Students apply directly to their programs. The eligible programs will nominate ��ֱ�� to the Graduate School. Each program, that nominates a student, needs to identify a faculty member who will participate in the selection process.

Applications are due on April 4th 2025.

If you have any questions about the Besancon Scholarship, please contact Kelly Speer in the Graduate School at kelly.speer@umontana.edu or by phone at x2572.

To view a list of our most recent Besancon scholarships recipients, please visit our Scholarship Recipient Page.

- Applicants must be accepted to or enrolled in a master’s or doctoral degree program at The Graduate School of The ��ֱ�� in one of the eligible disciplines.
- Applicants must be nominated by their program.
Application directions:
1. The ��ֱ�� apply directly to the program.
2. The program notifies the student that they will be nominated.
3. The nominated ��ֱ�� fill out the
The nomination packets must contain:

Uploaded in the on-line application:
1. One letter of nomination from the graduate program for each student.
2. Each student’s CV.
3. A one page statement from the ��ֱ�� discussing their research activity.
Delivered directly to the Graduate School:
1. An official transcript for all graduate academic work completed outside of The ��ֱ�� and an unofficial transcript for graduate academic work completed at The ��ֱ��.

Dennis Washington Leadership Scholarship

Endowed in 2008, Dennis Washington Leadership Scholarship, formerly the Dennis R. Washington Achievement Graduate Scholarship, provides financial assistance to State and National Horatio Alger Scholar Alumni who have exhibited leadership, integrity, entrepreneurial skills, and perseverance in overcoming personal adversity, and who aspire to pursue a graduate level education. The program awards scholarships annually to deserving National or State Horatio Alger Scholar Alumni who are working towards a post-graduate degree in an eligible field.

For more information and to apply visit the .

Dennis and Phyllis Washington Foundation Native American Graduate Fellowship

Washington Native American Scholarships for 2025-2026 are due May 9th, 2025.

The Fellowship upholds Dennis Washington's long time vision of promoting the betterment of society and the development of a highly diverse workforce through education.

There will be two scholarships awarded which will consist of:

$10,000 scholarship each
If you already have been awarded a graduate assistantship, this will be in addition to that award. If you have not, please indicate so on your scholarship application.
Eligibility for Montana Native American Fee Waiver

The ��ֱ�� can choose whether or not to renew the Fellowship after the first year (maximum 2 years for a Master's program and 3 years for a Ph.D. program).

Specific application information can be found at

- Applicants must be accepted to a Master's or Doctoral Degree program at the Graduate School of The ��ֱ�� or Montana State University
- Minimum GPA of 2.5 for undergraduate and 3.0 during any graduate program work
- Graduate from a 4-year regionally accredited institution of higher learning anywhere in the United States
- Montana resident
- Enrolled member of a Montana Indian Tribe
1. Complete the You will then be able to select the Bertha Morton opportunity.
2. Upload your essay.
3. Enter your references.

Stella Duncan Memorial Fellowship

Applications are due April 4th 2025.

Recipients shall be outstanding doctoral ��ֱ�� admitted to candidacy in biomedical science programs at the ��ֱ��. The award amount can be up to $28,100 and will be decided upon by the selection committee.

To view a list of our most recent Stella Duncan Memorial fellowship recipients, please visit our Scholarship Recipient Page. Also, please visit this for more information.

1. Fill out the You will then be able to select the Stella Duncan opportunity.
2. Upload your proposed research statement. The proposed research should be innovative and basic (as opposed to clinical).
3. Enter your advisor's name and email to submit a letter of support.

Dennis and Phyllis Washington Scholarship

An annual $2,000 award.

Eligibility requirements:

Have financial need.

To apply:

Fill out the by February 1, 2023.

Sloan Scholars Program

The UM Sloan Indigenous Graduate Partnership (UM SIGP) was established in the fall of 2005. Indigenous (Native American, Alaskan Native, Native Hawaiian) graduate ��ֱ�� pursuing degrees in STEM at The ��ֱ�� are eligible to apply for the scholarship program established by the A.P. Sloan Foundation. The UM SIGP Program is intended to increase the number of Indigenous Americans earning masters and doctoral degrees in STEM disciplines.

The UM SIGP program provides supplemental funding to selected graduate ��ֱ�� on a competitive basis. The amount for master’s level ��ֱ�� is up to $20,000 and doctoral ��ֱ�� are awarded up to $40,000 for their program. In addition to the supplemental funding, ��ֱ�� may be offered tuition waivers, faculty mentoring, professional development, and academic support services through Indigenous Research and STEM Education and The ��ֱ�� Graduate School.

If you are an Indigenous American who is interested in a graduate degree in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM), we are very interested in talking with you. We believe you will see that the UM SIGP program can offer you a unique opportunity to earn your graduate degree. Not only will you be given the opportunity for financial support, you will also have access to top faculty here on campus and the chance to connect with other Indigenous Americans pursuing graduate degrees. For more info visit the Indigenous Research and STEM Education website.

Sloan Scholars Online Application

Please send the completed application and accompanying materials to Dr. Aaron Thomas at aaron.thomas@mso.umt.edu.

American Indian College Fund-Mellon Faculty Career Enhancement Fellowship Program

Faculty who are “all but dissertation” (ABD) in a Ph.D. program are eligible to apply. The amount of the fellowship award is $40,000 for a one year period. It is expected that the fellow will be conferred their Ph.D. (or other terminal degree) by the end of this period.

Other opportunities

Check individual graduate programs on this website for application procedures and more detailed information about scholarships that are awarded by individual programs.

Additionally, UCLA maintains a database of 625 graduate and postdoc funding through scholarships, grants, fellowships, and awards with application information. The University of Illinois Urbana-Champain also has a Fellowship Finder. We encourage you to look through it for both your time at UM and beyond.

Fellowships and Traineeships

Study Abroad

Guidebook to Studying Abroad for Graduate Students School

For assistance, contact Shareen Grogan, Coordinator for Writing Center Programs, External Scholarships, and Advising, LA 144, shareen.grogan@umontana.edu, (406) 243-2450

ETS R&D Fellowship and Internship Programs

The goals of the ETS awards programs are to provide research opportunities to scholars who either hold a doctoral degree or are enrolled in a doctoral program and to increase the number of women and underrepresented minority professionals in the field of educational research or related fields, such as statistics, psychometrics, cognitive science, learning sciences, psychology, teaching and classroom research, linguistics, policy research, and specific content areas such as mathematics and reading.

For more information view their .

The NSF East Asia Pacific Summer Institutes (EAPSI) Program

The NSF East Asia Pacific Summer Institutes (EAPSI) Program provides U.S. graduate ��ֱ�� in science and engineering 1) first-hand research experience in Australia, China, Japan, Korea, New Zealand or Taiwan; 2) an introduction to the science and science policy infrastructure of the respective location; and 3) orientation to the society, culture and language. The primary goals of EAPSI are to introduce ��ֱ�� to East Asia and Pacific science and engineering in the context of a research laboratory, and to initiate personal relationships that will better enable them to collaborate with foreign counterparts in the future. The institutes last approximately eight weeks from June to August. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) co-sponsor the Summer Institute in Japan.

For more information

American Councils for International Education: ACTR/ACCELS opportunities

The program provides graduate ��ֱ��, advanced undergraduates, scholars, and professionals intensive individualized instruction in the languages of Eurasia. Participants may in enroll in semester, academic year, or summer programs. All courses are conducted by expert faculty from leading local universities and educational institutions. Students with at least two years of college-level instruction in Russian or the host-country language are eligible to apply to the program.

Application Information on the or the

Montana INBRE Native American Graduate Fellowship

The goal of the Montana INBRE Native American Graduate Fellowship is to provide an opportunity for highly motivated Native American ��ֱ�� who have demonstrated leadership potential in the biomedical, social and behavioral health sciences, as well as in the development of STEM programs and research in tribal colleges, to pursue their doctoral degree. In some cases, applications for study at the master’s degree level will be considered, though applicants are strongly encouraged to pursue the Ph.D. as their terminal degree.

Fellows will have the opportunity to work closely with a mentor or mentors in a program of study and to immerse themselves fully in their coursework and research. Montana INBRE will provide a year-round stipend so that fellows can devote 100-percent effort towards their degree as full-time graduate ��ֱ��. Through regularly scheduled meetings with program staff, fellows will learn about best practices in reporting and presentation. Fellows at the Ph.D. level will also be provided funds to attend one national meeting annually in their area of interest. Master’s level ��ֱ�� who are presenting at a professional conference also are eligible to apply for graduate travel awards.

Native American Graduate Fellowships provide up to a $30,000 stipend, depending on other funding and scholarships available to the student. If a fellow’s tuition and fees are not already covered through other fee waivers or funding sources, Montana INBRE will also consider funding some of these additional expenses on a case-by-case basis, again depending on availability of funding and other factors. Receipt of the fellowship is contingent upon admission by the Graduate School at either Montana State University or the ��ֱ��. Proof of graduate school enrollment is required prior to awarding of the fellowship. Students who receive a fellowship or scholarship of equal or greater value may not be eligible for funding through this Fellowship. Fellowships are renewable for up to three years if ��ֱ�� are meeting the expectation of progress to degree completion as determined through regular meetings with INBRE staff.

Applications are welcome at any time; priority review will take place at the following dates:

Application review for funding beginning during a spring semester will begin November 1.
Application review for funding beginning during a fall semester will begin February 15.

Application information on the .

Army ROTC

The ��ֱ�� Army ROTC has scholarships available and are awarded on student merit and grades. If interested in paying for school and serving as an Officer in the United States Army, U.S. Army Reserve, or the National Guard visit the UM military science website.

Or Contact CPT Tracy Mitchell, Recruiting Officer, at 406-243-4400 or tracy.mitchell@mso.umt.edu

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Graduate School