Western Michigan University provides fellowships, associateships, and assistantships for students planning to pursue graduate study. Collectively, these awards are known as graduate appointments. Graduate appointees are first and foremost students. As such, their most important task is to complete their degree requirements in a timely fashion; this is the primary expectation of the university. Graduate appointments are funded through state appropriations and federal, state, local and private grants for at least three principal reasons. First, employment of graduate students in teaching, research, and non-teaching positions during their graduate education encourages and supports their participation in these major functions of university life and thereby strengthens the quality of the students' educational experience. Second, appointments provide direct financial support to outstanding students who are essential to the development of quality graduate programs. Third, graduate students provide valuable and necessary services to the university in their roles as appointees. Applications are due by February 15, and appointments are usually made by April 1 for students planning to enroll in the fall semester. Appointments are often renewable, except for the Graduate College Dissertation Completion Fellowships. For more information, and to obtain application forms, visit or call The Graduate College (269) 387-8212, or visit the Graduate College's forms page: www.wmich.edu/grad/forms

The following appointments are available:

ASSISTANTSHIPS and ASSOCIATESHIPS

*New and Updated * Information about Assistantships
Teaching Assistants may be eligible to join the Teaching Assistants Union (TAU)
GA Training Information

FELLOWSHIPS

GRANTS

AWARDS AND SCHOLARSHIPS

Financial Aid programs offered by other WMU offices

Western Michigan University's Office of Student Financial Aid can provide information and links to additional sources of financial support for students.
Western Michigan University's Career and Student Employment Services maintains a list of part-time jobs both on and off campus; work-study employment; temporary employment; seasonal/summer jobs; and internship/pre/professional/cooperative education employment opportunities.

External Funding Opportunities
(Funding sources outside of WMU)

The Jack Kent Cooke Foundation Scholarship - Until further notice, these graduate scholarships have been discontinued.
National Research Council Research Associateship Program - The National Research Council of the National Academies sponsors a number of awards for graduate, postdoctoral and senior researchers at federal laboratories and affiliated institutions. These awards include generous stipends ranging from $42,000 - $75,000 per year for recent Ph.D. recipients, and higher for additional experience and graduate entry level stipends beginning at $30,000 and higher for additional experience. The awards provide the opportunity for recipients to do independent research in some of the best-equipped and staffed laboratories in the U.S. Research opportunities are open to U.S. citizens, permanent residents, and for some of the laboratories, foreign nationals. Detailed program information, including instructions on how to apply online and a list of participating laboratories, is available on the NRC Research Associateship Programs Web site at:www.nationalacademies.org/rap
Questions should be directed to the NRC at 202-334-2760 (phone) or rap@nas.edu.
Applicants should contact prospective Adviser(s) at the lab(s) prior to the application deadline to discuss their research interests and funding opportunities.
National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP)
The NSF GRFP supports graduate students early-on in their studies through fellowships in areas ranging from Interdisciplinary (science) Studies to Social Sciences, Chemistry, and Engineering. Due dates range from November 3 - November 12.
National Research Council Research Associateship Program
The National Research Council of the National Academies sponsors a number of awards for graduate, postdoctoral and senior researchers at federal laboratories and affiliated institutions. These awards include generous stipends ranging from $42,000 - $75,000 per year for recent Ph.D. recipients, and higher for additional experience and graduate entry level stipends beginning at $30,000 and higher for additional experience. Detailed program information, including instructions on how to apply online and a list of participating laboratories, is available on the NRC Research Associateship Programs Web site at: www.nationalacademies.org/rap
Questions should be directed to the NRC at 202-334-2760 (phone) or rap@nas.edu.
There are four review cycles annually. Upcoming deadlines are:
May 1, 2011 / Aug 1, 2011 / Nov 1 2011, / Feb 1, 2012

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