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Home School of Urban Affairs and Public Policy PhD in Urban Affairs Fellowships, Scholarship, and Graduate Assistantships

Financial Aid Information

Departmental Graduate Assistantships

The Doctoral Program in Urban Affairs offers Graduate Assistantships for students who assist with faculty research and community projects or who work in placements with nonprofit and local government agencies. Assistantships provide tuition remission in addition to a small monthly stipend. The number of positions available yearly depends on University funding and external grants and contracts. Assistantships are awarded on a competitive basis. On average, we fund approximately 30-40% of students entering the program each year.

Applications received by January 1st will be considered fully for admission and funding for the following fall. It is recommended that students apply for graduate assistantships before the April 1st deadline. The Urban Affairs Ph.D. program offers limited graduate assistantships (generally 2-4, depending on available funding)in any given year. Applications received after this date will be given equal consideration, but support can only be given to the extent departmental funds are available. 

To apply:

  • After completing an application for admission, individuals who would also like to be considered for an assistantship should submit their application for consideration using the Graduate Assistant Application. 
  • Deadline: To receive full consideration for Graduate Assistantships, applications must be received by April 1st.

Critical Urban Research (CUR) Fellowships

CUR Fellowships provide community-embedded research experience with local organizations and municipal entities. The primary aim of the fellowship is to develop actionable research, policy recommendations, and policy solutions. CUR Fellowships 1) contribute to a local knowledge base of data, policies, and innovation in the Memphis metro area; 2) support local organizations in addressing the socioeconomic challenges that face Memphis and other cities like it; and 3) contribute to doctoral students’ training and experience in advanced methods, community engagement, and problem-solving; 4) generate and disseminate locally-focused research for academic and non-academic audiences in Memphis and beyond. 

For the 2024-2025 academic year, up to 4 CUR Fellowships will be awarded. Placements will be made with agencies focused on the following contact areas:

  • Housing, Health, and Eviction  
  • Neighborhood Change and Redevelopment
  • Socio-environmental contributors to crime
  • Law enforcement and community relations

To apply:

  • After completing an application for admission, individuals who would also like to be considered for an assistantship should submit their application for consideration using the CUR Fellowship Application
  • Deadline: To receive full consideration, applications must be received by April 1st.

 

The University of Memphis International Merit Scholarship

The University of Memphis (UofM) selectively awards competitive merit-based scholarships to newly admitted degree-seeking international students on a J-1 or F-1 visa who are taking classes on campus. We value scholarly achievement and academic success and want to attract the best and brightest students to join our cutting-edge programs and learn from our world-renowned faculty.

Graduate Student Eligibility Requirements:

      • 300 GRE or equivalent on other tests, or
      • 3.0 U.S.A. equivalent undergraduate degree GPA determined by a credential evaluation agency (www.naces.org) or relevant master's degree from an accredited and approved institution.
      • To maintain this scholarship award, students must be continuously enrolled in full-time credit hours each fall and spring semester.
      • Students must earn a 3.0 UofM GPA or higher every semester after the award is granted. 
      • Deadline: please check the deadlines on the Tiger Scholarships page.

Award Amount 

Award amounts vary and can potentially cover the difference in the cost of international and domestic non-Tennessee resident tuition rates. This scholarship cannot be combined with other UofM institutional scholarships, but departmental funding (i.e., GA's) exceptions are allowed.

To apply:

      • After completing an application for admission, individuals who would also like to be considered for an assistantship should submit their application for consideration using the Academic Works Opportunities link.

Federal Financial Aid

For information about obtaining Federal Financial Aid, including Stafford and Perkins loans, visit the University of Memphis Student Financial Aid homepage. Please note that international students are not eligible for this type of aid. However, certain scholarship programs may ask for a FASFA to qualify you for other types of aid. 

International Student Financial Aid

Under certain circumstances, non-citizens may be eligible for U.S. federal student aid funding. Students are also encouraged to research additional opportunities in their home countries for other aid opportunities before applying to the Ph.D. program. If you are applying for an international student visa, you may be eligible for the following U.S. government-funded programs:

IIE
Fulbright
EducationUSA