Funding Resources

The Department of English awards a wide variety of financial aid based on academic merit. All eligible program applications complete before the February 1 deadline will be considered for departmental financial aid.

The University Graduate Scholarship (UGS) award grants a full or substantial waiver of tuition, and is awarded competitively to graduate students who demonstrate academic excellence.

The Graduate Assistantship (GA) award provides a stipend in addition to a UGS award. A significant proportion of financial aid offered by the English Department is in the form of the GA. Graduate Assistants teach one section of English Composition per term, with three office hours each week. Teaching, preparation, conferences, grading, and related activities require approximately twenty hours per week. Advanced doctoral students may have the opportunity to teach a sophomore-level literature or creative writing class.

Elliston and Schiff Fellowships are awarded to entering doctoral students of superior academic qualifications who have demonstrated capabilities as poets or fiction writers. The Fellowships typically include a stipend enhancement in addition to a UGS and GA; the assistantship includes one term of teaching Creative Writing.

Application Deadline: April 12, 2013

The Rhetoric and Composition Graduate concentration is pleased to announce the Pat Belanoff Graduate Summer Research Award. The Pat Belanoff award supports graduate student scholarly projects that contribute to the advancement of knowledge in R/C. The award amount is up to $1,000; funding is available for Summer Semester US13.

Current R/C graduate students are eligible to apply for this competitive award. Applicants should submit a two-page proposal that includes a brief abstract, a summary of the project’s goals and methodology, and a discussion of the project’s contribution to the field of R/C. Applicants are also required to include a budget and timeline explaining what will be completed during the award period. Finally, include a CV updated within the last two months.

Completed applications are due April 12, 2013 via e-mail to Professor Russel Durst (russel.durst@uc.edu) as a single PDF file. Direct questions to Professor Durst or Professor Laura Micciche (laura.micciche@uc.edu). There is no limit to the number of times this award may be granted during a student’s graduate career.

As one of ten departments in the College of Arts and Sciences with access to the Charles Phelps Taft Memorial Fund, the Department of English may recommend a number of its advanced graduate students for one-year Taft Fellowships. Granted by the Taft Faculty Committee, the Fellowships carry a full stipend and tuition scholarship for advanced doctoral students, with the top doctoral recipient being awarded the Advanced Fellowship, which includes an additional summer stipend. Each year, every Taft Department receives one Fellowship; another six Fellowships are awarded competitively to advanced students from all Taft departments. In addition, the Taft Fund offers enhancement fellowships that may be added to other awards.

To be nominated by the Department for a Taft Fellowship or a Taft Enhancement Award, a doctoral student should show evidence of academic excellence beyond normal academic progress as well as the ability to profit from a Fellowship year free from teaching responsibilities. Academic excellence is based on GPA, progress to degree, publications, service, teaching, awards and evaluations.