Fellowships and Awards

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PhD Funding

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PhD Funding Opportunities

  • Academic year stipends of $23,000 for all full-time, funded PhD students on 10-month academic teaching assistant, research assistant or graduate assistant appointments.
    • UB’s stipend levels are competitive among public Association of American Universities (AAU) member institutions.
  • Additional Fellowship Opportunities:
    • Arthur A. Schomburg Fellowship Program: Candidates are required to be U.S. citizens or permanent residents and must demonstrate how they have overcome a disadvantage or other impediment to success in higher education. Candidates must also demonstrate a commitment to contributing to the diversity of the student body by facilitating and enhancing diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts in their academic programs and campus activities. Even though financial need is not a requirement for program eligibility, applicants may utilize economic disadvantage as a basis for eligibility. This scholarship program is open to any and all prospective candidates regardless of race, color, national origin, or sex, and is consistent with all current governing federal and state nondiscrimination law. All application submissions will be assessed and evaluated in accordance with the required eligibility criteria. Students may apply for the Schomburg Fellowship on the UB graduate application for their program.
    • Presidential Fellowships: To be eligible for Presidential Fellowships, candidates must meet the criteria listed on the Presidential Fellowship page. Both domestic and international students are eligible, if they meet these criteria. For any questions regarding funding for academic year 2025–2026, contact the director of graduate studies or department chair.

Full-year Fellowships for Dissertation Writing

Department Fellowships

Opler-Doubrava Fifth-Year Fellowships*

These fellowships are available to PhD candidates in the English Department entering their fifth year who continue to hold a TAship.

The Marilyn Doubrava Endowment was established by Sterling M. and Kathryn L. Doubrava as a memorial to their daughter. The Opler Scholarship Fund is generously supported by Morris E. Opler and Lucille R. Opler.

The fellowship offers continuing support (that is, this is not a dissertation completion fellowship). All TAs in year four are eligible to apply.

Application Deadline:  Late March. For application material, click here.

University Fellowships

Gender Institute Dissertation Fellowships

The Gender Institute at UB has established PhD dissertation fellowships for those working in the area of gender and sexuality studies.

Each year, fellowship information will be posted at http://genderin.buffalo.edu/grants&fellowships. You may also contact the Institute Director with questions.

Ruth and Isadore Bob Young Dissertation Fellowship

Awarded to PhD students by the Institute of Jewish Heritage and Thought. For information about applying, including deadlines, contact the Institute at jewish-studies@buffalo.edu.

UB Humanities Institute Dissertation Fellowships

The HI makes available dissertation fellowships to PhD candidates who have exhausted TA support from their home departments and will reside in Western New York during the fellowship year.

http://humanitiesinstitute.buffalo.edu/

Application is made directly through the English Graduate Office, as the department committee nominates students to the HI.

Research Fellowships

Mark Diamond Research Fund (MDRF)

gives grants to graduate students for research expenses related to their MA thesis or PhD dissertation. PhD students may apply for up to $2,000 and Master’s students for up to $1000. The MDRF grant is only for University at Buffalo graduate students who have not waived the student activity fee. Applicants should be in the latter stages of research for the project for which they are applying. For Application Instructions, Application and Deadlines:  http://gsa.buffalo.edu/mdrf/

Funding for Conference Travel

Graduate Student Association (GSA) Conference Fund

There is a limited availability of funds to assist graduate students in presenting and attending research work at conferences. As of Fall 2015, Ph. D. students, remaining at the university longer than Masters students, will receive up to $550 towards conferences and Masters students will receive up to $350. Students who are attending a conference, but not presenting, are eligible for $200. This amount will come out of the total $350/$550 each student is eligible for throughout their graduate career.

For Application Instructions, Application and Deadlines:  

http://gsa.buffalo.edu/conference-funding/

English Department Travel Fund

At present, the English Department is able to provide up to $500 for graduate student use to travel to conferences, attend limited-term academic or professional development programs, or visit archival repositories. The Director of Graduate Studies will put out calls for applications in the fall (for upcoming spring and early summer travel) and spring (for upcoming late summer and fall travel) of each academic year. Funding awards will be made by the Director of Graduate Studies (and, as need be, in consultation with a selection committee of two additional tenure-line faculty) on the bases of quality and need.  

Folger Institute

Folger Institute Grants-In-Aid

UB graduate students are eligible for Folger grants-in-aid financial stipends that enable students to take Folger Institute seminars (full seminars qualify for graduate credit by petition to the DGS) and other programs, including intensive weekend workshops and seminars, and conferences. Applications, which are submitted electronically, consist of a brief CV, a Statement of Research Plans focused on the particular program, a budget, and two academic letters of recommendation, and are reviewed by the SUNY at Buffalo representative before being judged by the Institute Applications Committee.   For more information, including this year’s programs, see www.folger.edu or contact English Department Professor Barbara Bono (bbono@buffalo.edu), UB's  representative to the Institute.

External Dissertation Fellowships

Short and long term (as well as postdoctoral) research fellowships are available from a number of research institutions and granting agencies. In addition to browsing fellowship information in the Chronicle of Higher Education, the MLA “Professional Resources” (online), and the PMLA, explore the following options:  http://guides.library.jhu.edu/c.php?g=202619.

Teaching Awards and Opportunities

One-Semester Literature Teaching Opportunity

Fellowships for teaching literature and creative writing courses awarded to PhD students with TAships who are going into year 5 of teaching. Unfunded international students without TAships are also eligible for these courses if they have completed their oral exams, passed the SPEAK test with a score of 55+, and fulfilled other requirements described in the Graduate Studies Handbook. Applications should be submitted to the Director of Undergraduate Studies, Steven Miller (slm26@buffalo.edu). Deadline: early October.

Riverrun Teaching Award*

Awarded to the best syllabus for a literature course submitted to the Literature/Summer Course Committee, made possibly through the generosity of the Riverrun Foundation.

Graduate Student Teaching Excellence Awards

Information on this award is available through the Graduate School website. With questions, contact Doug Basford, Assistant Director of Composition (dbasford@buffalo.edu).

Annual Composition Syllabus Prize

Information on this award is available through the Composition Website.