The Sinclair School of Nursing, in conjunction with Mizzou Graduate School, and select foundations interested in improving nursing and healthcare, offers fellowships , merit award programs and scholarships for incoming and continuing PhD students.
School of Nursing Funding
Sinclair PhD Fellowship Program
The prestigious Sinclair PhD Fellowship is given primarily to outstanding first-year PhD students at the MU Sinclair School of Nursing. The recipient(s) must be enrolled as a new PhD student on a full-time basis, must not be a benefit-eligible MU employee, and must maintain a 3.5 GPA.
These fellowships are annual awards that may be renewable for up to two more years (i.e., a maximum of three (3) years). Recipients receive a stipend at the beginning of each semester. All MU graduate fellowships are subject to university and departmental funding. Adequate progress toward completing the degree and evidence of satisfactory performance (e.g., meeting the GPA minimum and having no incomplete grades) and conduct are required for renewal, in addition to available funding. Since the award is given primarily to first-year students, additional funding is not guaranteed. To apply for the Sinclair Fellowship, PhD applicants should complete the Sinclair Fellowship Application form (which can be found in the PhD Forms) and submit it to the PhD program director at wipketevisd@missouri.edu.
Graduate Assistantships
Graduate assistantships give students opportunities for professional experience, academic training, and financial support while pursuing advanced degrees. Graduate assistantships are part-time employment opportunities for graduate students who have applied for positions through academic departments or research centers. Assistantships are typically 20 hours per week (.50 full-time equivalent (FTE)) and offer a monthly stipend, tuition waiver and health insurance subsidy. Students can be in a .25 assistantship ONLY if they have a second .25 assistantship or equivalent fellowship. Students with assistantships and/or part-time work on campus cannot hold an appointment above a .74 FTE (28 hours/week). During the academic year, international students on visas are restricted to .50 FTE (20 hours/week). More information about graduate assistantships is available on the MU Graduate School website.
Nurse Faculty Loan Program
The Nurse Faculty Loan Program is a federal program designed to increase the number of nursing graduate students pursuing careers as full-time faculty teaching in nursing schools. MS(N), DNP and PhD students are eligible to apply if they are committed to a faculty role, in good academic standing, are US citizens or permanent residents, and not in default on any prior student loans. Recipients must maintain a GPA of 3.0 or higher, complete at least 4.5-6 credits/semester and maintain enrollment for a minimum of two consecutive semesters.
Recipients receive financial awards to offset a portion of tuition, books, fees and other reasonable educational expenses. Awards may be renewable for a maximum of five years, but this is contingent upon ongoing federal funding and therefore subject to change. Recipients must complete the specified education component(s) before graduating. Nurse Faculty Loan Program applications are due by July 1 each year.
Nurse Faculty Loan Program Details and Application
School of Nursing Scholarships
The Sinclair School of Nursing offers a number of for clinical nursing majors and graduate students. Scholarships numbers and amounts (usually $1,000 or more) vary from year to year. A call for applications and announcement of awards is made each year during the spring semester for the following academic year. Students are encouraged to complete both the FAFSA and the by February 1 each year for best chances at receiving a scholarship. New incoming students must apply by June 15 each year. Additional internal and external opportunities for financial support can be found on the Funding Your Education webpage on the Sinclair School of Nursing website.
Mizzou Graduate School Funding
Legacy Building Fellowships (LBF)
Legacy Building Fellowships are awarded competitively in recognition of a student’s demonstrated scholarship, scholastic and creative promise, and/ or financial need. Departments may nominate new incoming graduate students for merit-based LBF funding. To be eligible for consideration, students must be newly admitted to a graduate program. To remain eligible for renewed funding in subsequent years, students must be enrolled in graduate academic course work full-time and make good progress in their program. Typically, students with fellowships also hold graduate assistantships in their academic home. In rare cases, a qualifying scholarship, fellowship or grant support may be provided by the department/program instead of a graduate assistantship. Competitive fellowships are available for newly admitted doctoral students. In addition to those open to all nominees, some of the LBF awards are designed for first-generation college students, Pell Recipients (in the last 5 years), as well as for those who participated in the Missouri College Advising Corps Program, Teach for America, Americorps and/or VISTA. The Mizzou Graduate Student Legacy Building Fellowship Program requires nomination by Directors of Graduate Studies by the February deadline each year; students are not allowed to apply independently.
Dissertation Year Fellowships
The Gamma Alpha Gamma and Raymond White Dissertation Year Fellowships are intended to help defray dissertation research expenses in the same academic year students defend their dissertation. The award amount is equivalent to the minimum stipend for a .25 FTE assistantship. Doctoral students may self-nominate for these fellowships. Each nomination will be considered for both awards, although a student can only receive one award. Mizzou doctoral students in good standing may apply. To receive a fellowship, students must have passed their comprehensive exams by the last day of the 8-week summer session of the current year’s summer semester. Students must also be committed to completing all requirements for graduation, including the successful defense of a dissertation, in the year of the fellowship. Details regarding the dissertation year fellowships are available on the Graduate Fellowships webpage.
Graduate School Scholarships
Graduate students also can apply for Mizzou Graduate School scholarships, including scholarships that fund dissertation research, travel and professional presentations. For more information, consult the Mizzou Graduate School financial aid guide.
External Training Grants, Awards and Fellowships
If you are interested in applying for external federal or foundation funding, request a consultation with Dr. Elizabeth “Liz” Bent to discuss your funding needs, design searches specific to you, and learn how to write and submit your own grants. Dr. Bent is the Graduate School’s Research and Grant Development Specialist. She develops programming for emerging scholars (graduate students and postdoctoral scholars) to support their research development journey. She is here to assist emerging scholars interested in seeking external funding. Additional information about applying for external funding can be found on the Graduate School website.