Navigating UCF Graduate Fellowships: A Comprehensive Guide to Requirements and Opportunities

The University of Central Florida (UCF) recognizes and celebrates graduate students' achievements in research, scholarship, and innovation. To support these scholars, UCF offers a variety of graduate fellowships, providing financial assistance and recognition to help them advance their work and contribute to the university community. The College of Graduate Studies at UCF awards over $2 million annually in fellowship funding. These fellowships are awarded to students in acknowledgment of their impressive past achievements and anticipation of their future successes at UCF and beyond. This article provides a detailed overview of UCF graduate fellowships, including eligibility requirements, application procedures, and available funding opportunities.

Types of Graduate Fellowships at UCF

UCF offers a range of fellowships to support graduate students at various stages of their academic journey. These fellowships can be broadly categorized based on their funding source and eligibility criteria:

University Fellowships: These fellowships are primarily reserved for incoming degree-seeking graduate students starting in the summer or fall semester of the award year and require full-time enrollment. Most university fellowships are reserved for incoming degree-seeking graduate students who plan to enroll full-time. Students admitted to a spring term are not eligible for most university fellowships. Graduate students enrolled in fully online programs that exempt them from paying campus-based fees are not eligible for university fellowships offered through the College of Graduate Studies.
College or Department Fellowships: Additional fellowships may be available in your academic college or department. These fellowships are specific to individual colleges or departments within UCF and may have unique eligibility requirements and application procedures.
External Fellowships: Current graduate students may look for fellowship (or scholarship) funding from external agencies or organizations. Students are encouraged to explore external fellowship programs that support graduate students.

General Eligibility Requirements

To be considered for a UCF fellowship, students must meet certain general eligibility requirements:

Academic Standing: Only enrolled graduate students (master’s, specialist, doctoral) in good academic standing are eligible. Fellowship students must make acceptable academic progress during each term of the award, or the fellowship will be canceled.
Enrollment Status: Students must be enrolled during the term of the award and at the time of the presentation to qualify for the payment. All fellowships require full-time enrollment. All university fellowship students must maintain full-time enrollment during any term that they are receiving fellowship support or tuition remission.
Degree-Seeking Status: Students must be degree-seeking to be eligible for fellowships.
Application for Admission: To be considered for a UCF fellowship, students must submit a complete application for admission, including all supporting documentation (e.g., test scores, letters of recommendation, transcripts) by the Fall Priority Deadline for the program. Visit www.graduate.ucf.edu for admission requirements and guidance, as well as the online graduate application.
Program Restrictions: M.D. students are not eligible for university fellowships offered through the College of Graduate Studies. Graduate students enrolled in non-standard tuition programs or fully online programs that exempt them from paying campus-based fees are not eligible for university fellowships offered through the College of Graduate Studies.
Citizenship Restrictions: Students who are classified as DACA, TPS, or undocumented, are not eligible for UCF scholarship funds.

Specific Fellowship Opportunities

UCF offers a variety of specific fellowship opportunities, each with its own unique eligibility requirements and benefits. Here are some notable examples:

Program or College Nomination Required

The fellowships listed directly below require students to be nominated by their graduate program or college to be considered for the award. Speak with your Graduate Program Director if you have questions about being nominated for one of the following fellowships. If you are a Graduate Program Director, visit our Fellowships Guide for the nomination processes and forms.

Trustees Doctoral Fellowship: UCF offers the Trustees Doctoral Fellowship to superior graduate students who are newly enrolling at UCF in one of its eligible doctoral programs. These awards provide multi-year support to the most qualified applicants to the institution. All new students entering standard research doctoral degrees as full-time students are eligible to be nominated by their program for this award.
- Tuition Support: UCF College of Graduate Studies pays the standard tuition for your required course hours during each year of the award.
- Requirements: Maintain full-time enrollment in an eligible doctoral program (9 credit hours are required during the fall and spring terms).
Presidential Doctoral Fellowship: UCF offers the Presidential Doctoral Fellowship to superior graduate students who are newly enrolling at UCF in one of its eligible doctoral programs. These awards provide multi-year support to the most qualified applicants to the institution. Citizens or permanent residents entering standard research doctoral degrees as full-time students are eligible to be nominated by their program for this award.
- Tuition Support: UCF College of Graduate Studies pays the standard tuition for your required course hours during each year of the award.
- Requirements: Maintain full-time enrollment in an eligible doctoral program (9 credit hours are required during the fall and spring terms).
ORCGS Doctoral Fellowship: UCF offers the ORCGS Doctoral Fellowship to superior graduate students who are newly enrolling at UCF in one of its eligible doctoral programs. These awards provide multi-year support to the most qualified applicants to the institution. New students entering standard research doctoral degrees as full-time students are eligible to be nominated by their program for this award.
- Tuition Support: UCF College of Graduate Studies pays the standard tuition for your required course hours during the first year of the award. Your nominating program or unit pays the standard tuition for your required course hours in years two through four.
- Requirements: Maintain full-time enrollment in your doctoral program (9 credit hours are required during the fall and spring terms).
Boyd Lyon Memorial Fellowship: UCF offers the Boyd Lyon Memorial Fellowship every other year to a highly qualified doctoral student admitted to the Integrative and Conservation Biology PhD program.
- Tuition Support: UCF College of Graduate Studies pays the standard tuition for your required course hours during each year of the award.
- Requirements: Maintain full-time enrollment in your doctoral program (9 credit hours are required during the fall and spring terms).
Professional Doctoral Fellowship: UCF’s College of Graduate Studies offers the Professional Doctoral Fellowship to outstanding students who are newly enrolling in one of UCF’s Professional Doctoral programs during the Summer or Fall semester. Nominations are encouraged for outstanding students in the discipline and must be submitted by the Graduate Program Director. Qualifying disciplines include Curriculum and Instruction EdD, Educational Leadership EdD, Nursing Practice DNP, and Physical Therapy DPT.
- Tuition Support: UCF College of Graduate Studies pays the standard tuition for your required course hours during each year of the award.
- Requirements: Maintain full-time enrollment in your professional doctoral program (9 credit hours are required during the fall and spring terms).
MFA Provost’s Fellowship: UCF offers the MFA Provost’s Fellowship to superior graduate students who are newly enrolling in one of UCF’s Master of Fine Arts programs.
- Tuition Support: UCF College of Graduate Studies pays the standard tuition for your required course hours during each year of the award. Each MFA program may nominate up to two new applicants in each academic year.
- Requirements: Maintain full-time enrollment in your graduate program (9 credit hours are required during the fall and spring terms).
Graduate Dean’s Fellowship: UCF offers the Graduate Dean’s Fellowship to superior graduate students who are newly enrolling in one of UCF’s eligible graduate programs.
- Tuition Support: UCF College of Graduate Studies pays the standard tuition for your required course hours during each year of the award.
- Requirements: Maintain good academic standing and acceptable progress to degree. Maintain full-time enrollment in your graduate program (9 credit hours are required during the fall and spring terms).
Summer Mentoring Fellowship: The Summer Mentoring Fellowship is one of several UCF graduate awards available to incoming graduate students. Qualified incoming students who are interested in doing research with a faculty mentor are encouraged to reach out to that faculty member or their graduate program director to request a nomination for the Summer Mentoring Fellowship. A nomination from the program is required after the student and faculty member have agreed upon a summer research project.
- Tuition Support: UCF College of Graduate Studies pays the standard tuition for your required research hours (6 credit hours) during the summer term.
- Requirements: Available to incoming graduate students who have been accepted to an eligible graduate degree program for the Summer or Fall 2026 semester. Interested students should reach out to a prospective faculty mentor or their program director to discuss this fellowship opportunity. Faculty submit the nomination to us by completing the 2026 Summer Mentoring Fellowship Nomination Form by the deadline.
Graduate Dean’s Dissertation Completion Fellowship: The Graduate Dean’s Dissertation Completion Fellowship aims to increase dissertation completion among doctoral students. This award is intended for students in their final semester of graduate education who have a realistic expectation of degree completion in the Spring or Summer semester.
- Nomination Deadline: November 14 (Spring award) or April 1 (Summer award).
- Duration of Award: One semester.
- Tuition Support: UCF College of Graduate Studies pays the charges for your required dissertation hours during the term of the award.

Fellowships Requiring a Separate Application

The following fellowships require a separate fellowship application submitted by the student or the use of the graduate admission application fee waiver to be considered for funding. Students admitted to a spring term are not eligible for these fellowships. Fellowships that require an application must be submitted by the fellowship application deadline and a complete admissions application must be on file by the deadline. Not all applicants will receive a fellowship as these awards are competitive and there is limited funding. McNair and RAMP Scholars, FAMU Feeder students, and GEM Fellowship applicants are eligible for a UCF graduate admission application fee waiver.

Graduate McNair Fellowships: UCF offers Graduate McNair Fellowships to provide financial support to the most outstanding undergraduate McNair scholars who enroll in UCF graduate programs. In addition to tuition and health insurance coverage, this fellowship pays a yearly stipend of $10,000 for master’s students and $25,000 for doctoral students.
- Tuition Support: UCF College of Graduate Studies pays the standard tuition for your required course hours during each year of the award.
- Requirements: Submission of a completed admission application and all test scores (including TOEFL for international students) by January 15 or earlier if required by your prospective program. Admission to a UCF graduate program that requires independent research or scholarly work. Maintain full-time enrollment in an eligible graduate program (9 credit hours are required during the fall and spring terms).
Graduate RAMP Fellowships: UCF offers Graduate RAMP Fellowships to provide financial support to the most outstanding undergraduate RAMP scholars who enroll in UCF graduate programs. In addition to tuition and health insurance coverage, this fellowship pays a yearly stipend of $10,000 for master’s students and $12,000 for doctoral students.
- Tuition Support: UCF College of Graduate Studies pays the standard tuition for your required course hours during each year of the award.
- Requirements: Submission of a completed admission application and all test scores (including TOEFL for international students) by January 15 or earlier if required by your prospective program. Admission to a UCF graduate program that requires independent research or scholarly work. Maintain full-time enrollment in an eligible graduate program (9 credit hours are required during the fall and spring terms).
Graduate FAMU Feeder Fellowships: UCF offers Graduate FAMU Feeder Fellowships to provide financial support to the most outstanding undergraduate FAMU Feeder scholars who enroll in UCF graduate programs. In addition to tuition and health insurance coverage, this fellowship pays a yearly stipend of $10,000 for master’s students and $12,000 for doctoral students.
- Tuition Support: UCF College of Graduate Studies pays the standard tuition for your required course hours during each year of the award.
- Requirements: Submission of a completed admission application and all test scores (including TOEFL for international students) by March 1 or earlier if required by your prospective program. Admission to a UCF graduate program that requires independent research or scholarly work. Maintain full-time enrollment in an eligible graduate program (9 credit hours are required during the fall and spring terms). citizens or permanent residents. Maintain full-time enrollment in an eligible graduate program (9 credit hours are required during the fall and spring terms).

Presentation Fellowship

The Presentation Fellowship is a great opportunity for students who plan to present a research paper or comparable creative activity at a professional conference. This fellowship provides funding for enrolled master’s, specialist, and doctoral students to share their research at a professional meeting.

Eligibility: Only enrolled graduate students (master’s, specialist, doctoral) in good academic standing are eligible. Students must be enrolled during the term of the award and at the time of the presentation to qualify for the payment. Only one application per student may be funded for an academic year. The student must be delivering a research presentation or comparable creative activity at a professional meeting, with preference being given to those presenting at national and international meetings. M.D. students are not eligible for university fellowships offered through the College of Graduate Studies.
Application Process: Prepare your presentation abstract (60-75 words) and conference acceptance indicating that you have been accepted to present. Submit the application. The Graduate College reviews and makes decisions on fellowship applications weekly. If you are awarded the Presentation Fellowship, you will see it in your myUCF Student Center, Graduate Funding page. An awarded fellowship shows as Off/Accept status; later, when the funds have been paid to you, the award status will change to Paid. If you are an international student, your fellowship must go through a tax review by UCF Global before it will disburse.
Post-Presentation Requirements: If you received a Graduate Presentation Fellowship, you are required to complete the Presentation Fellowship Report in the myUCF Student Center within 5 days after completing your travel. Scan your proof of presentation and save as a PDF file. If you will be using your conference agenda as proof of presentation, please limit the file to only the pages pertaining to your presentation. Submit the report. The Graduate College reviews and makes decisions on Presentation Fellowship Reports weekly. If your report was not approved, the Graduate College will send you instructions regarding resubmission.

Application Process

The application process for UCF graduate fellowships varies depending on the specific fellowship. However, some general guidelines apply:

Application Deadlines: To be considered for a UCF fellowship, students must submit a complete application for admission, including all supporting documentation (e.g., test scores, letters of recommendation, transcripts) by the Fall Priority Deadline for the program. Visit www.graduate.ucf.edu for admission requirements and guidance, as well as the online graduate application. Students admitted to a spring term are not eligible for most university fellowships.
Required Materials: Applicants must apply online. All requested materials must be submitted by the established deadline. Admissions Test: If the GRE or GMAT is required, the specific test will be explicitly stated in the “Admissions Requirements” section of the program. Program Prerequisites: Many program may require prerequisites.
Online Application: Applicants must apply online. Instructions are included in the online Delores Auzenne Fellowship Application. For information on general UCF graduate admissions requirements that apply to all prospective students, please visit the Admissions section of the Graduate Catalog.

Maintaining Fellowship Eligibility

Fellowships are awarded based on academic merit to the most highly qualified applicants. As such, there are certain expectations and requirements that fellowship students must meet to maintain the funding. Be sure to review your fellowship offer letter for requirements specific to your award. All university fellowship students must maintain full-time enrollment during any term that they are receiving fellowship support or tuition remission. Fellowship students must make acceptable academic progress during each term of the award, or the fellowship will be canceled.

Financial Aid and Fellowship Disbursement

University fellowships are disbursed through the Office of Student Financial Assistance, based on instructions provided by the UCF College of Graduate Studies. The fastest way to receive your fellowship is through direct deposit. Funds are usually available within 24-48 hours after disbursement, and enrolling for direct deposit only takes about two minutes. To enroll, go to myUCF (my.ucf.edu) and sign in to your myUCF account. If your fellowship includes tuition remission, the standard tuition charges (currently $288.16 per graduate credit hour) for your enrollment will be covered by a tuition waiver from the College of Graduate Studies. The tuition waiver does not cover the payment of local fees. However, during semesters when you are receiving a fellowship stipend, the award will first be applied to your account balance, paying the remaining charges up to your fellowship amount. You must enroll full-time in graduate credit hours by the end of the Drop/Add period to be eligible for your award.

Read also: Funding Your Graduate Education

Please keep in mind that Gross Need is established by the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and cannot be exceeded. Therefore, receiving a graduate fellowship and tuition remission could lower the amount of federal financial aid you are eligible to receive. In addition, if you applied for student loans as a non-Florida resident, but have been awarded a university fellowship and are therefore not being charged out-of-state tuition, your loan package may be reduced since your total cost of attendance is lower than if you were paying out-of-state tuition and fees. Most fellowships pay stipends and tuition remission in Fall and Spring semesters, but provide only tuition support in the Summer. If you do not have anticipated aid in the Summer semester, be sure to pay your term bill by the fee payment deadline. UCF staff cannot give tax advice. The UCF Financial Aid office provides workshops related to financial literacy.

Additional Resources and Support

Graduate Student Association (GSA): All currently enrolled graduate students in good standing are members of the Graduate Student Association (GSA). The GSA plans many exciting events and workshops throughout the year.
Graduate Student Center: The Graduate Student Center, located in Suite 213 Trevor Colbourn Hall, provides a space for graduate students to gather, study, and collaborate.
Office of Student Financial Assistance (SFA): The Office of Student Financial Assistance (SFA) has a listing that provides additional financial assistance information.

Read also: Graduate Fees at CMU

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