Scholarships, Financial Aid, and Grants

Links to Grants and Scholarships

The Department of Occupational Therapy at Western Michigan University provides student assistance in the form of scholarships and grants. You  should apply for these monies during the spring semester, and awards are announced during the summer. Please note that students in the third year of the OT program are ineligible to apply for departmental scholarships.

When applying, please note the eligibility criteria of each scholarship, as they do vary.  Also, scholarships are often designated to either undergraduate or graduate students. Please only apply to those scholarships for which you qualify.

The College of Health and Human Services offers scholarships for undergraduate and graduate students. At the graduate level, fellowships, assistantships and associateships may also be available through the department or the WMU Graduate College. The Office of Diversity and Inclusion also offers a variety of scholarships. Some funding is also available through professional organizations such as the Michigan Occupational Therapy Association and the American Occupational Therapy Association

For occupational therapy scholarship information and application, contact Melissa Bibler

Scholarships & Donor Stories

AMBUCS Scholarships for Therapists

To be considered for a scholarship from National AMBUCS, you must submit an online application before May 1. Applying online is free of charge. Awards are announced in late June.

APPLY ONLINE

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

  • U.S. citizen
  • Junior in college or above
  • Enrolled in an accredited program by the appropriate health therapy profession authority in physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech-language pathology or audiology
  • Demonstrate financial need

DEADLINE

  • May 1

APPLICATION INFORMATION AND INTERVIEW PROCESS

APPLY ONLINE

Go to the AMBUCS website at ambucs.org/therapists/scholarship-program

At the top of the page, click on "Scholarship Application."

Read through application and complete the form online.

Under "Local Chapter Support" enter the following:

  • Chapter Contact - Richard Blincoe
  • Chapter City - Kalamazoo
  • Chapter State - Michigan

After you complete the application, and before you hit "Apply Now," print out a copy of your complete application, as it suggests on the last page.

Local AMBUCS will come here to the College of Health and Human Services, third floor OT and PA reception area to interview all those who apply for scholarship. That will occur in early April. You must come to room 3425 to sign up for an interview. Grand Rapids OT Students will interview and sign up in the GR OT office.

You will need to bring all supporting materials with you to your interview:

  • Printed application and personal statement. 
  • Enrollment Certificate completed at time of interview.
  • Club Sponsorship Form completed at the time of interview.

Apply! We would like to help you get an AMBUC Scholarship.

Grants

Health Careers and Opportunity Program

Drs. Maureen Mickus and Nancy Hock have been awarded a $3.2 million, five-year grant from the Health Resources and Services Administration, a branch of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The project, Health Careers Opportunity Program: The National HCOP Academies, will provide training opportunities and financial support for educationally and economically disadvantaged students interested or enrolled in the WMU OT program. Participating students also receive mentoring from a national network of OT practitioners. This initiative involves key partnerships with the Kalamazoo Promise, Seita Scholars, Trio Student Success, the College Assistance Migrant Program and organizations that serve historically disadvantaged communities.

Youth Mental Health Interprofessional Networking and Workforce Development

The Y-MIND Training Program is a 9-month interdisciplinary training opportunity from January 2024 to September 2024 for both WMU and WMed students.  This program will allow students to expand their knowledge and experience on mental and behavioral health within youth populations.  The Resiliency Center for Families and Children at WMU is partnering with WMU’s College of Health and Human Services, School of Medicine, and the College of Arts and Sciences to expand the mental health workforce and improve access to care for children and families in Michigan.  This program will provide students with comprehensive training through both asynchronous and synchronous learning modules, real-world experience through discipline-specific internships, engagement with caregivers, networking opportunities, a capstone project, receival of a stipend, and receival of a certification upon successful completion of the program.   

Other

CHHS Scholarships

Prospective students can apply for a Thurgood Marshall Fellowship before they know they are accepted to the OT program. Please visit the College of Health and Human Services Scholarships page to learn more about department and college-wide scholarships available.

Other Financial Resources

The Graduate Student Association (GSA) provides additional funding for students pursuing a certification, attending a conference, collecting data, or funding an event.