Saint Louis University’s Office of Graduate Education has multiple scholarship, fellowship and assistantship opportunities for new and returning graduate education students.
You can also find external funding opportunities via Handshake, SLU's career and job database.
Scholarship and Awards
Graduate students in educational studies, communication sciences and disorders, physical therapy (Doctor of Physical Therapy program) or social work (applied behavioral analysis) are eligible to apply for the 2025 Cathy Golden Scholarship.
The award was established by Mary Pat Golden (Law ’88) in memory of and in honor of her sister, Cathy, who was severely mentally disabled. The fund provides a financial stipend each academic year to a promising graduate student at Saint Louis University whose vocation is to work with children or adults with mental and physical disabilities, individuals with autism or the elderly.
This year’s scholarship award is for $1,000 and six hours of tuition scholarship. Students applying for the award must meet the following criteria:
- Enrollment status: Graduate student who expresses a vocation and is training to work with mentally or physically disabled children or adults, individuals with autism or elderly adults.
- Area of study: Those listed in the first paragraph above.
- Overall GPA: 3.0 cumulative undergraduate GPA or equivalent for an incoming graduate student or 3.25 cumulative GPA or equivalent for a returning graduate student.
- Financial need: Recipient must demonstrate financial need
- Renewable: Student may receive the award more than once
- Two letters of recommendation
- Statement regarding career plans that relate to the interests of the Golden family as outlined above
- Proof of financial need (Information obtained from the Office of Financial Aid)
- 3.0 GPA (Information obtained from university transcript from the Office of the Registrar)
To apply for this award, click "Scholarship Application" in your mySLU tools and fill out the general application. The award should then be posted in your recommended list with an "Apply" button.
Applications open Monday, Jan. 27, 2025, and will close Friday, Feb. 21, 2025. Late applications will not be accepted.
The Morgan Book Fund Award provides a book scholarship to graduate students at SLU for one academic year.
The fund benefits full-time master’s degree students studying American studies; biological sciences; communication; speech, language and hearing sciences; community health; English; health management and policy; mathematics; philosophy; physiological sciences; psychology; public health studies; or theological studies.
Students will not be eligible if they have received the Morgan Book Fund Award in the past.
To apply for this award, click "Scholarship Application" in your mySLU tools and fill out the general application. The award should then be posted in your recommendation list with an "Apply" button.
Applications open Monday, March 3, 2025, and close Monday, March 31, 2025. Late applications will not be accepted.
If there are any issues submitting the application, please email Felicia C. Echols, academic affairs coordinator, at felicia.echols@slu.edu.
The Three Minute Thesis (3MT®) competition celebrates the exciting research conducted by Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) and master’s students. Developed by The University of Queensland (UQ), 3MT cultivates students’ academic, presentation, and research communication skills. In addition, the competition supports their capacity to effectively explain their research in three minutes, in a language appropriate to a non-specialist audience. This year's competition will be in person.
History
The first 3MT competition was held at UQ in 2008, with 160 Research Higher Degree students competing. In 2009 and 2010, the 3MT competition was promoted in Australian and New Zealand universities, and a multinational event was developed, with an inaugural Trans-Tasman 3MT competition being held at UQ in 2010. Since 2011, the concept of cultivating students’ academic, presentation, and research communication skills has increased, and 3MT competitions are now held in more than 900 universities across more than 85 countries worldwide.
Eligibility
Currently enrolled Ph.D., Professional Doctorate (Research), and master’s candidates who have successfully passed their confirmation milestone (including candidates whose thesis is under submission) by the presentation date are eligible to participate in the 3MT competition.
Rules
- One single static PowerPoint slide is permitted. Slide transitions, animations, or ‘movement’ of any description of the slide content are prohibited.
- The slide is to be presented from the beginning of the oration.
- No additional electronic media (e.g., sound and video files) are permitted.
- No additional props (e.g., notecards, scripts, pointers, costumes, musical instruments, laboratory equipment) are permitted.
- Presentations are limited to three minutes (3:00) maximum, and competitors exceeding three minutes are disqualified.
- Presentations are to be spoken word (e.g., no poems, raps, or songs).
- Presentations should be executed from a stage.
- Presentations are considered to have commenced when a presenter begins through movement or speech.
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Submissions will be judged on comprehension, content, engagement, and communication. The decision of the judging panel is final.
Award
The following awards will be given for the doctorate and master’s categories:
- 1st Place: $750*
- 2nd Place: $500
- 3rd Place: $250
*The first-place doctoral winner will be able to compete in the regional competition representing Saint Louis University in March 2025.
The registration to present will open on Monday, Dec. 2, 2024, and close on Monday, Feb. 3, 2025. The in-person competition will be held Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025.
Late registrations will not be accepted.
If you have questions, contact Felicia C. Echols, academic affairs coordinator, graduate education, at felicia.echols@slu.edu.
Fellowships
The Saint Louis University Dissertation Fellowship is competitively awarded to Saint Louis University Ph.D. candidates whose work during their time at SLU demonstrates outstanding academic achievement and whose dissertation will significantly extend the body of knowledge within their discipline. Students interested in being nominated should contact their department or Ph.D. mentor.
Each 11-month fellowship award carries a stipend of $31,500, 12 hours of tuition scholarship depending on the number of dissertation hours needed to reach the required 12, and health insurance. Summer attendance is mandatory. No other fellowship, traineeship, assistantship, similar appointment, or employment at the University or outside may be held concurrently with this fellowship.
To be eligible for this award, you must:
- Have passed your doctoral oral exams and advanced to candidacy.
- Be nominated by the department.
- Demonstrate outstanding academic achievement and a proposed dissertation that will significantly extend the body of knowledge within your discipline.
- Preference will be given to those applicants who have completed their prospectus the prior spring, summer or fall.
Submissions will only be accepted from the department. Contact your department to complete the Dissertation Fellowship Application Packet. Department nominations are due by Monday, Dec. 16, 2024. Late submissions will not be accepted.
The Saint Louis University Diversity Fellowships are awarded to newly accepted master’s or doctoral students, or to students in the first year of a program who have a history of outstanding academic achievement, who espouse a commitment to diversity in their discipline, and whose research trajectory and professional goals have the potential for impact in their field.
Each 11-month fellowship award carries a $31,500 stipend, 18 hours of tuition scholarship during the regular academic year and three hours during the summer session, and continuous health insurance coverage. Summer attendance is mandatory. No other fellowship, traineeship, assistantship, similar appointment, or employment at the University or outside may be held concurrently with this fellowship. For more information regarding expectations and responsibilities, please read the Diversity Fellowship Expectations and Responsibilities for Recipients and Programs (PDF).
The award is for a maximum of two years for a master's degree recipient and four years for a doctoral degree recipient.
To be eligible for this award, you must:
- Be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident, or DACA recipient.
- Be accepted as a classified (degree-seeking) graduate student at Saint Louis University.
- Be a new masters or doctoral student (an applicant may have been enrolled for no more than one semester previously in the degree program).
Applications will be evaluated on the following criteria:
- Outstanding scholastic achievement to date, as evidenced in success in previous degrees and current programs (if applicable) as well as faculty observations about student work
- Commitment to promoting diversity in the discipline, as evidenced in diversity-related work in the discipline, potential to provide leadership for diversity in the discipline, or other factors identified by the department that contribute to the discipline’s goal of diversity
- Future scholarly impact for the field, as evidenced in clear and specialized goals that suggest a promising research trajectory that will have a potential impact on the field
Any student who wishes to be considered for Saint Louis University’s Diversity or Presidential graduate fellowships must submit an essay with their application for the fellowship. Instructions for the content of this essay are outlined in the application link.
Applications will open Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024, and close Friday, Jan. 17, 2025. Late submissions will not be accepted.
Apply for the Diversity Fellowship
If you have questions, please contact Felicia C. Echols, academic affairs coordinator – graduate education at felicia.echols@slu.edu .
The Saint Louis University Presidential Fellowships are awarded to newly accepted master’s or doctoral students, or to students in the first year of a program who have a history of outstanding academic achievement, who demonstrate potential to contribute to the University mission, and whose research trajectory and professional goals have the potential for impact in their field.
Each 11-month fellowship award carries a $31,500 stipend, 18 hours of tuition scholarship during the regular academic year and three hours during the summer session, and continuous health insurance coverage. Summer attendance is mandatory. No other fellowship, traineeship, assistantship, similar appointment, or employment at the University or outside may be held concurrently with this fellowship. For more information regarding expectations and responsibilities, please read the Presidential Fellowship Expectations and Responsibilities for Recipients and Programs (PDF).
The award is for a maximum of two years for a master's degree recipient and four years for a doctoral degree recipient.
To be eligible for this award, you must:
- Be accepted as a classified (degree-seeking) graduate student at Saint Louis University.
- Be a new masters or doctoral student (an applicant may have been enrolled for no more than one semester previously in the degree program).
Applications will be evaluated on the following criteria:
- Outstanding scholastic achievement to date, as evidenced in success in previous degrees and current programs (if applicable) as well as faculty observations about student work
- Potential to contribute to the University mission, as evidenced in the candidate's articulation of a connection to the mission, mission-related work, and/or work congruent with the mission
- Future scholarly impact for the field, as evidenced in clear and specialized goals that suggest a promising research trajectory that will have a potential impact in the field
Any student who wishes to be considered for Saint Louis University’s Diversity or Presidential graduate fellowships must submit an essay with their application for the fellowship. Instructions for the content of this essay are outlined in the application link.
Applications will open on Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024, and close on Friday, Jan. 17, 2025. Late submissions will not be accepted.
Apply for the Presidential Fellowship
If you have questions, please contact Felicia C. Echols, academic affairs coordinator – graduate education at felicia.echols@slu.edu .
For more information about any of the fellowships offered through the Office of Graduate Education, contact Felicia C. Echols, academic affairs coordinator, at felicia.echols@slu.edu.
Graduate Assistantships
Saint Louis University offers three categories of graduate assistantships. They may depend upon the degree level, the field of study and the length of the appointment.
These awards typically include tuition scholarships during the nine-month academic year. Recipients also receive a stipend, health insurance, and extended library privileges. Assistants spend no more than 20 hours per week performing assistantship duties.
The majority of graduate assistantships are awarded by the department or program to which you have been admitted. If you checked the appropriate box on your application and have been accepted as a classified degree-seeking student, contact your department to inquire if an additional application and/or interview is needed.
February 1 is the recommended deadline for most departmental assistantship applications. Additional assistantships are available across the Saint Louis University campus. Interested students should apply directly to the administrative office or center.
The types of assistantships available include:
Graduate Assistant
Performs duties that are not primarily teaching or research. These may include clinical or administrative responsibilities that are inherently related to your educational and career objectives.
Graduate Teaching Assistant
May work with students in small groups, lead group discussions, monitor examinations and grade papers, help prepare lectures, conduct laboratory sessions, or even be responsible for a course as the primary instructor. Under the close supervision of the faculty, the teaching assistant concurrently develops teaching skills and a deeper understanding of the discipline.
Graduate Research Assistant
May be appointed in a department with funding from within the school or by the principal investigator of an externally funded research project. In either case, the student is assigned a range of duties such as library searches, fieldwork, laboratory experiences, and preparation of research proposals and grants, gaining professional skills in research that complement their graduate education.
Funding Opportunities
| Funder | Opportunity | Deadline |
|---|---|---|
| SLU | University Honors Graduate Assistantship | March 1, 2024 |
| SLU |
Reinert Center Graduate Assistantship |
March 25, 2024 |
| AAUW | American Fellowships | Ongoing |
| NAGAP | Graduate Student Enrollment Management Research Grant | Ongoing |
| WATER | Water Institute Graduate Research Fellowship | February 1, 2023 |