UC Davis awards a select few (approximately 30) prestigious fellowships to prospective students. The fellowship application is a part of the online application for admission. This means that all applicants who complete the online application for admission by the program deadline are considered for fellowships. Please read the 'About Internal Fellowships' information for eligibility and notification information.
Fellowships to Support Campus Diversity
The Vice Provost – Graduate Education and Dean – Graduate Studies at the University of California Davis is committed to supporting the diversity of the graduate student body and promoting equal opportunity in higher education. This commitment furthers the educational mission to serve the increasingly diverse population and educational needs of California and the nation. Both the Dean of Graduate Studies and the University of California community affirms that diversity is critical to promoting lively intellectual exchange and the variety of ideas and perspectives essential to advancing research. Our graduate students form the pool of future scholars and academic leaders, thus high value is placed on achieving a diverse graduate student body to support the University of California’s academic excellence.
Internal Fellowships for Prospective Students
- Cota Robles, Eugene
- This is a 21-month fellowship for entering Ph.D. students in any discipline. Students will be awarded a stipend, fees and tuition, and nonresident supplemental tuition during their first year (if applicable). Students will not be allowed to hold academic appointments during the tenure of their fellowship. Four to six fellowships will be awarded.
Eligibility Criteria for the Eugene Cota-Robles Fellowship:
To be eligible for a fellowship that promotes diversity, applicants must have an interest in an academic career in teaching and research, be a United States Citizen, Permanent Resident, or qualify for California AB 540, and meet one or more of the following criteria:
1. Demonstrate potential to bring to their academic research the perspective that comes from their understanding of the experiences of groups historically underrepresented in higher education or underserved by academic research generally.
2. Provide evidence of academic achievement while overcoming barriers such as economic, social or educational disadvantage.
3. Demonstrate potential to contribute to higher education through the understanding of the barriers facing women, domestic minorities, students with disabilities, and members of other groups underrepresented in higher education careers, as evidenced by life experiences and educational background. Examples include, but are not limited to: a. attendance at a minority serving institution; b. ability to articulate the barriers facing women, racial minorities and other groups in fields where they are underrepresented; c. participation in higher education pipeline programs, such as Puente, MESA, Summer Research Opportunity Programs or McNair Scholars.
4. Exhibit a record of service to advance equitable access to higher education for women, racial minorities, and other groups in fields where they are underrepresented.
5. Exhibit a record of leadership or significant experience teaching and mentoring students from groups that have been historically underrepresented in higher education.
6. Express a commitment to research focusing on historically underserved populations and understanding issues of racial or gender inequalities. For example: a. research that addresses issues such as race, gender, diversity, and inclusion; b. research that addresses topics such as health disparities, educational access and achievement, political engagement, economic justice, social mobility, civil and human rights, and other questions of interest to historically underrepresented groups; c. artistic expression and cultural production that reflects culturally diverse communities or voices not well represented in the arts and humanities.
- IRT (Institute for the Recruitment of Teachers) Undergraduate Preparation Fellowship
- This is a nine-month fellowship for entering graduate students who participated in the Institute for the Recruitment of Teachers programs. Students will be awarded a $25,200 stipend, fees and tuition, and nonresident supplemental tuition during their first year (if applicable). Students will not be allowed to hold academic appointments during the tenure of the fellowship. One fellowship will be awarded.
Eligibility Criteria for the IRT Undergraduate Preparation Fellowship:
To be eligible for a fellowship that promotes diversity, applicants must have an interest in an academic career in teaching and research, be a United States Citizen, Permanent Resident, or qualify for California AB 540, and meet one or more of the following criteria:
1. Demonstrate potential to bring to their academic research the perspective that comes from their understanding of the experiences of groups historically underrepresented in higher education or underserved by academic research generally.
2. Provide evidence of academic achievement while overcoming barriers such as economic, social or educational disadvantage.
3. Demonstrate potential to contribute to higher education through the understanding of the barriers facing women, domestic minorities, students with disabilities, and members of other groups underrepresented in higher education careers, as evidenced by life experiences and educational background. Examples include, but are not limited to: a. attendance at a minority serving institution; b. ability to articulate the barriers facing women, racial minorities and other groups in fields where they are underrepresented; c. participation in higher education pipeline programs, such as Puente, MESA, Summer Research Opportunity Programs or McNair Scholars.
4. Exhibit a record of service to advance equitable access to higher education for women, racial minorities, and other groups in fields where they are underrepresented.
5. Exhibit a record of leadership or significant experience teaching and mentoring students from groups that have been historically underrepresented in higher education.
6. Express a commitment to research focusing on historically underserved populations and understanding issues of racial or gender inequalities. For example: a. research that addresses issues such as race, gender, diversity, and inclusion; b. research that addresses topics such as health disparities, educational access and achievement, political engagement, economic justice, social mobility, civil and human rights, and other questions of interest to historically underrepresented groups; c. artistic expression and cultural production that reflects culturally diverse communities or voices not well represented in the arts and humanities.
- McNair
- This is a nine-month fellowship open to entering Ph.D. graduate students who participated in an undergraduate McNair Scholars Program. This fellowship provides a $25,200 stipend, fees and tuition, and nonresident supplemental tuition (if applicable). Students will not be allowed to hold academic appointments during the tenure of the fellowship. One fellowship will be awarded.
Eligibility Criteria for the McNair Fellowship:
To be eligible for a fellowship that promotes diversity, applicants must have an interest in an academic career in teaching and research, be a United States Citizen, Permanent Resident, or qualify for California AB 540, and meet one or more of the following criteria:
1. Demonstrate potential to bring to their academic research the perspective that comes from their understanding of the experiences of groups historically underrepresented in higher education or underserved by academic research generally.
2. Provide evidence of academic achievement while overcoming barriers such as economic, social or educational disadvantage.
3. Demonstrate potential to contribute to higher education through the understanding of the barriers facing women, domestic minorities, students with disabilities, and members of other groups underrepresented in higher education careers, as evidenced by life experiences and educational background. Examples include, but are not limited to: a. attendance at a minority serving institution; b. ability to articulate the barriers facing women, racial minorities and other groups in fields where they are underrepresented; c. participation in higher education pipeline programs, such as Puente, MESA, Summer Research Opportunity Programs or McNair Scholars.
4. Exhibit a record of service to advance equitable access to higher education for women, racial minorities, and other groups in fields where they are underrepresented.
5. Exhibit a record of leadership or significant experience teaching and mentoring students from groups that have been historically underrepresented in higher education.
6. Express a commitment to research focusing on historically underserved populations and understanding issues of racial or gender inequalities. For example: a. research that addresses issues such as race, gender, diversity, and inclusion; b. research that addresses topics such as health disparities, educational access and achievement, political engagement, economic justice, social mobility, civil and human rights, and other questions of interest to historically underrepresented groups; c. artistic expression and cultural production that reflects culturally diverse communities or voices not well represented in the arts and humanities.
- NIH Undergraduate Preparation Fellowship
- This is a nine-month fellowship for entering students who participated in RISE (Research Initiative for Scientific Enhancement), Bridges to Doctorate (NIGMS), MARC U-STAR (Maximizing Access to Research Careers - Undergraduate Student Training in Academic Research). Students will be awarded a $25,200 stipend, fees and tuition, and nonresident supplemental tuition during their first year (if applicable). Students will not be allowed to hold academic appointments during the tenure of the fellowship. One fellowship will be awarded.
Eligibility Criteria for the NIH Undergraduate Preparation Fellowship:
To be eligible for a fellowship that promotes diversity, applicants must have an interest in an academic career in teaching and research, be a United States Citizen, Permanent Resident, or qualify for California AB 540, and meet one or more of the following criteria:
1. Demonstrate potential to bring to their academic research the perspective that comes from their understanding of the experiences of groups historically underrepresented in higher education or underserved by academic research generally.
2. Provide evidence of academic achievement while overcoming barriers such as economic, social or educational disadvantage.
3. Demonstrate potential to contribute to higher education through the understanding of the barriers facing women, domestic minorities, students with disabilities, and members of other groups underrepresented in higher education careers, as evidenced by life experiences and educational background. Examples include, but are not limited to: a. attendance at a minority serving institution; b. ability to articulate the barriers facing women, racial minorities and other groups in fields where they are underrepresented; c. participation in higher education pipeline programs, such as Puente, MESA, Summer Research Opportunity Programs or McNair Scholars.
4. Exhibit a record of service to advance equitable access to higher education for women, racial minorities, and other groups in fields where they are underrepresented.
5. Exhibit a record of leadership or significant experience teaching and mentoring students from groups that have been historically underrepresented in higher education.
6. Express a commitment to research focusing on historically underserved populations and understanding issues of racial or gender inequalities. For example: a. research that addresses issues such as race, gender, diversity, and inclusion; b. research that addresses topics such as health disparities, educational access and achievement, political engagement, economic justice, social mobility, civil and human rights, and other questions of interest to historically underrepresented groups; c. artistic expression and cultural production that reflects culturally diverse communities or voices not well represented in the arts and humanities.
- NSF Undergraduate Preparation Fellowship
- This is a nine-month fellowship for entering students who participated in LSAMP (Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation) or UC CAMP. Students will be awarded a $25,200 stipend, fees and tuition, and nonresident supplemental tuition during their first year (if applicable). Students will not be allowed to hold academic appointments during the tenure of the fellowship. One fellowship will be awarded.
Eligibility Criteria for the NSF Undergraduate Preparation Fellowship:
To be eligible for a fellowship that promotes diversity, applicants must have an interest in an academic career in teaching and research, be a United States Citizen, Permanent Resident, or qualify for California AB 540, and meet one or more of the following criteria:
1. Demonstrate potential to bring to their academic research the perspective that comes from their understanding of the experiences of groups historically underrepresented in higher education or underserved by academic research generally.
2. Provide evidence of academic achievement while overcoming barriers such as economic, social or educational disadvantage.
3. Demonstrate potential to contribute to higher education through the understanding of the barriers facing women, domestic minorities, students with disabilities, and members of other groups underrepresented in higher education careers, as evidenced by life experiences and educational background. Examples include, but are not limited to: a. attendance at a minority serving institution; b. ability to articulate the barriers facing women, racial minorities and other groups in fields where they are underrepresented; c. participation in higher education pipeline programs, such as Puente, MESA, Summer Research Opportunity Programs or McNair Scholars.
4. Exhibit a record of service to advance equitable access to higher education for women, racial minorities, and other groups in fields where they are underrepresented.
5. Exhibit a record of leadership or significant experience teaching and mentoring students from groups that have been historically underrepresented in higher education.
6. Express a commitment to research focusing on historically underserved populations and understanding issues of racial or gender inequalities. For example: a. research that addresses issues such as race, gender, diversity, and inclusion; b. research that addresses topics such as health disparities, educational access and achievement, political engagement, economic justice, social mobility, civil and human rights, and other questions of interest to historically underrepresented groups; c. artistic expression and cultural production that reflects culturally diverse communities or voices not well represented in the arts and humanities.
External Fellowships
External fellowships are those offered by private foundations, government agencies, and corporations. A variety of support is given, from one-time awards to multi-year support. Aside from the obvious financial benefit, receipt of external funding exemplifies excellence in research, writing and scholarship.
The External Fellowships Analysts help facilitate the external fellowship process, from pre-award application review to award closeout. Please contact your analyst anytime you apply for external funding or receive an award notice. We require applicants to submit application at least five business days before the sponsor deadline for review services.
The Ford Foundation Fellowships
The Ford Foundation Fellowships are prestigious multiyear fellowships awarded for different stages during and following doctoral study. Moreover, the fellowship competitions are also very competitive nationally. However, UC Davis graduate students and alumni have been successful in being awarded fellowships in the current and past years.
To support your efforts we are pleased to share the Ford Fellowship information to support applicants and their advisers as they prepare materials for the Ford Predoctoral, Dissertation or PostDoc Fellowship. Please note that Christina Thomas has graciously consented to share a video originally from a workshop held on August 5, 2021 with a small group of students and hosted by Graduate Studies’ Dr. Josephine Moreno. Since, a second gathering of fall students attended, in-person to view the earlier video and to form working groups.
A second workshop, to support applicants and their advisers was held on October 19, 2021 and featured, Dr. Inés Hernández-Ávila, a professor in Native American Studies at UC Davis, Ford Foundation Fellow and member of the Society of Senior Ford Fellows. Dr. Hernández-Ávila has also graciously granted access to both the video of the workshop and her slides. Following the formal presentation a Q & A continues for an additional 15 minutes. If you have questions please direct them to Dr. Moreno at mjmoreno@ucdavis.edu.
See the Document link below to Dr. Inés Hernández-Ávila's presentation.
Contact
For College of Agriculture & Environmental Sciences, College of Engineering, School of Medicine, School of Veterinary Medicine, and the Fulbright U.S. Student Program: Adriane Boykin
For College of Letters & Sciences, College of Biological Sciences, School of Nursing, School of Education, Self-Supporting Degree Programs, and NSF GRFP: Yvette Garcia
All proposal and award documents should be emailed to externalfellowships@ucdavis.edu.