How do I apply for a Graduate Scholarship?
Make an appointment with the Graduate Coordinator in the department you are entering. See the Graduate Scholarship Information Flyer for details on the complete application process.
What are the awards offered, and what are the requirements?
See the Graduate Scholarship Information Flyer for specific details on the awards offered and the criteria required for each.
Can I get an application online?
No. You must contact your Graduate Coordinator in order to obtain an application. This person may email the application to you so that you may fill it out on a computer.
When is the deadline to apply?
March 15 is the deadline to apply as a new student for the following Fall semester. Please email gradscholarships@uno.edu to ask about the availability of awards for the Fall after the March 15 deadline, or to ask about the availability of awards for students entering in the Spring semester.
Can I get a scholarship for the summer?
No, scholarships are only available for the Fall and Spring semesters. Intersessions, summer sessions, and courses that generate their own fee structure are not covered.
Can I hold both an assistantship and a scholarship?
Yes. In such a situation, your tuition costs will be covered by the scholarship instead of by the department you work in.
I work full-time. Can I take fewer than 9 hours a semester and still receive a scholarship?
No. Scholarships are only available for students taking 9 hours each Fall and Spring.
If I meet the GPA and other minimum eligibility requirements for an award, am I pretty much guaranteed to get one?
No. There is a limited number of awards, and they are given on a competitive basis. Many factors are considered in determining who will receive an offer (see the Graduate Scholarship Information Flyer)
Why do I have to get a letter from the department I'm going in to when I've never been to UNO before and they have no idea who I am?
We request a letter of recommendation from a representative of your department so that we may see the department's impression of you as an incoming student as compared to their other entering and existing students in light of your background, the concentration of the particular program at UNO and the demands of that particular discipline.
How long will it be after I apply until I hear whether or not I have received an award?
If you applied for the March 15 deadline, you should receive a response sometime between April 15 and May 15. If you have not received a response by May 15, you most likely have been placed on a waiting list and should receive a notice regarding your status by approximately June 15.
If you applied at any other time of the year, it may be one month or more before you receive a response. If all awards are filled at the time you apply, but your application receives a favorable review, we may hold your application on a waiting list for a period of time.
I'm a scholarship recipient, and I've decided I want to get my Master's in a different field than I planned when I accepted the award. Does my scholarship transfer over to the new program?
No. You were offered a scholarship in part due to the recommendation of the department concerning your potential for success in that department and in that field.You will need to reapply for a scholarship under the new department, and must do this before you begin taking courses as a new student in that program.
It's going to take me longer than I thought to complete my degree. Can I apply for a different scholarship once my current one runs out?
No. Master's students may receive a maximum total of 4 consecutive semesters of support. Doctoral students may receive a maximum total of 8 consecutive semesters of support.
**NOTE: If you complete your Master's degree on a scholarship and then are accepted to a Doctoral program, you may apply for a Doctoral scholarship as a new student since you are not working on the same degree.
Do any of the scholarships cover the MBA fees?
No, all fees outside of basic Graduate School tuition, including course fees such as those in the MBA program, are the responsibility of the scholarship recipient.
I don't qualify to apply for any of the scholarships listed on the Information Flyer (see link at top of page) or I've been sent a denial letter in response to my application. Are there other scholarships awarded by UNO to Graduate students?
No, the awards listed at Graduate Scholarship Information Flyer constitute all scholarships offered by the Graduate School. Some departments have their own resources for students. Check Departmental Links for information on departmental awards or contact your department directly.
Do you have information on scholarships for Graduate study from sources outside of UNO?
Yes. This should help you get a good start on a search for external funding: External Sources of Funding
