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First Generation PhD/MFA/MArch Fellowship

The funds for the First Generation PhD/MFA/MArch Fellowship Program are made available to The University of Memphis by the State of Tennessee. The purpose of the fellowship is to provide financial assistance to graduate students who will become the first person in their immediate families to earn a doctoral degree. DMA students are also eligible. 

In order to be eligible to apply, students must be:

  • A resident of Tennessee
  • Must be fully admitted into the graduate program by March 7, 2024
  • First immediate family member to complete a doctoral or Master of Fine Arts degree program

Fellowship recipients must agree to the following:

  • To enroll in at least 9 semester hours of graduate course work for the full-time option or 6 hours for the part-time option
  • Maintain a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.00 in order to be eligible to continue the fellowship.

Award Information:

  • Full-Time Option (minimum of 9 hours per semester): Tuition scholarship plus a $6,000 stipend ($750 per month for four months each semester)
  • Part-Time Option (6 hours per semester): Tuition scholarship plus a $1,000 stipend ($500 per semester)
  • Award Period: The fellowship is awarded for one academic year contingent upon the student maintaining each semester a 3.00 or higher grade point average.
  • Summer Support: Summer support is contingent upon availability of funds and is not guaranteed.

Application Information:

Applicants must complete the 1st Generation PhD/MFA Application along with required documentation and the Graduate School Competitive Award Self-Application.

In addition to the application, applicants must submit two letters of recommendation, one of which should be academic. Letters of Recommendation must be sent by the person recommending an applicant directly to the following email address: lsherrng@memphis.edu.

Deadline: All completed applications with supporting documents (see Documentation Required for Graduate Awards chart) must be submitted to lsherrng@memphis.edu at the Graduate School, by March 21, 2024.