Funding for New Students

All students who apply for admission to Water Resources Science will be considered for graduate assistantships and fellowships. We recommend that applications and all supporting materials be submitted by December 1, since most financial support decisions are made shortly after that date. Selections are based on the quality of academic records, relevant experience, and other factors indicating a potential for research or teaching.  See our Admissions Information page.

Assistantships and Fellowships

A limited number of research assistantships, teaching assistantships, fellowships, and grants are available on a competitive basis. Graduate assistantship salaries vary with the terms of individual appointments. Graduate assistants receive tuition waiver coverage at double their appointment percentage; this means that a 50% research or teaching assistantship results in a 100% waiver of tuition. In addition, graduate assistants receive stipends and subsidized health insurance fees.

Financial Aid

For information about federal student aid, visit the Federal Student Aid website.

University-Wide and Departmental Fellowships

Again, all qualified applicants who have their completed application materials submitted by December 1 will be considered for fellowships. In addition to the Water Resources Science Fellowships, applicants may be eligible for the following, administered through other units at the University of Minnesota:

Diversity of Views and Experiences (DOVE) Fellowship
The DOVE Fellowship is administered by the University of Minnesota's Office for Diversity in Graduate Education. This fellowship is awarded to first-year students (U.S. citizens or permanent residents only) from traditionally under-represented groups and "diverse ethnic, racial, economic, and educational backgrounds and experiences." The fellowship provides a stipend, tuition, and subsidized health insurance for one academic year. Applicants are encouraged to inform us if they are interested in being nominated for this award. We may also nominate applicants on our own, so individuals who feel that they may be competitive for this award are encouraged to submit a strong "diversity statement" (Statement #2 in the online application). Please read more about eligibility and requirements at the DOVE website.

WRS applicants who are awarded the DOVE Fellowship for their first year of study will also receive a full second year fellowship administered by the College of Food, Agricultural, and Natural Resource Sciences (CFANS). 

CFANS Diversity Scholars-Graduate Student Fellowship (CDS-GSF)
The CDS-Graduate Student Fellowship is administered by the College of Food, Agricultural, and Natural Resource Sciences (CFANS). This fellowship is awarded to first-year students  (U.S. citizen or permanent resident only) who self-identify as a student of color as defined as African American/Black, Native American/Alaskan Native, Chicano/Latino/Hispanic, or Asian American/Pacific Islander. The fellowship provides a stipend, tuition, and subsidized health insurance for one academic year. Applicants are encouraged to inform us if they are interested in being nominated for this award. We may also nominate applicants on our own, so individuals who feel that they may be competitive for this award are encouraged to submit a strong "diversity statement" (Statement #2 in the online application).

This Fellowship may be deferred by students who are also selected to be DOVE Fellowship recipients. Students selected to receive both this and the DOVE will be guaranteed three full years of funding. 

Interdisciplinary Center for the Study of Global Change (ICGC) Fellowships
The ICGC at the University of Minnesota offers fellowships for both incoming and current graduate students. Successful nominees for these various awards have backgrounds, experiences, and interests which indicate they are committed to the interdisciplinary study of the global south (particularly Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, Latin America, and the Middle East) in the context of global change. This award requires a program nomination, so please let our office know if you are interested in being nominated. Please read more about eligibility and requirements at the website.

Privately Endowed Fellowships
We also award privately endowed fellowships each year to new students:

• Butler and Jesson Water Resources Science Fellowship
• Smith Partners Sustainability Fellowship