Graduate Recruitment Fellowships

The University Graduate School’s recruitment fellowships provide financial support that enables exceptional students to focus on their research, deepen their engagement with their academic discipline, and contribute to IU’s vibrant intellectual community. Aligned with the Student Success pillar of the IU’s Strategic Plan 2030, these awards offer a competitive multi-year funding package that allows fellows to fully dedicate themselves to their graduate training without financial barriers.

Departments may nominate 4 students in total for all of the following recruitment fellowships. In nominating a student, the department commits to providing academic and research mentorship, supporting professional development, and facilitating funding to promote academic excellence. Additionally, recruitment funds are available to support prospective fellows’ visits to Bloomington.

We require departments to structure their funding as follows:

M.F.A. students: Three-year packages.
Ph.D. students (entering with a master’s degree): Four-year packages.
Ph.D. students (entering with a bachelor’s degree): Five-year packages.

First Deadline

Friday, January 16, 2026

Second Deadline

Friday, February 20, 2026

Graduate Fellows and Graduate Scholars

Graduate Fellows and Graduate Scholars are Indiana University Bloomington’s signature multi-year funding awards designed to recruit and support exceptional graduate students pursuing advanced degrees through a combination of direct financial support and departmental funding to ensure sustained success throughout the student’s academic journey.

Graduate Fellows receive two years of funding from the University Graduate School Bloomington (UGS), with no service obligations beyond continued academic progress. During these years, Graduate Fellows receive:

A base stipend of $30,000, which the department, college, or school may supplement
Subsidized health insurance provided by UGS
Tuition and fee remission provided by the department, college, or school

Graduate Scholars receive one year of funding by the University Graduate School Bloomington (UGS), with no service obligations beyond continued academic progress. During this year, Graduate Scholars receive:

A base stipend of $23,000, which the department, college, or school may supplement
Subsidized health insurance provided by UGS
Tuition and fee remission provided by the department, college, or school

Both Graduate Fellows and Graduate Scholars receive:

For the remaining 2–4 years, financial support provided by the student’s home department, which may consist of:
- Research or teaching assistantships (AIship, RAship, GAship)
- Departmental awards, scholarships, or external research funding
Tuition remission and subsidized health insurance
Opportunity to participate in mentoring workshops in the Graduate Mentoring Center
Possibility for expenses to be paid to attend the Institute for Teaching and Mentoring, up to 3 years

Departments may nominate up to 4 students who meet the following criteria:

Citizenship Requirement
U.S. citizens or permanent residents.
Potential for Academic Excellence
A minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.5 (on a 4.0 scale) is preferred. However, departments are encouraged to consider a candidate’s overall academic profile—including additional coursework, curricular activities, research experiences, and other scholarly or creative endeavors—to assess their potential for academic excellence.
Advancing Department and Program Goals
In no more than one page, applications should explain how the nominee is an ideal fit for their program or reflects departmental values, how their research objectives can be supported by the faculty, and how the nominee is actively being recruited. The nominee's potential advisor or Director of Graduate Studies should describe their approach to mentoring and advising, including how they will help this particular nominee meet their academic and career goals.
Potential Contributions to Indiana University Bloomington and to the discipline
Nominees should demonstrate strong alignment with IU’s academic community and its commitment to fostering intellectual engagement, innovation, and scholarly impact. This may include a record of collaborative research, interdisciplinary inquiry, leadership in academic or professional settings, contributions to public scholarship, or initiatives that expand knowledge in developing fields.

Adam W. Herbert Ph.D. and Master's Fellowship

The Adam W. Herbert Graduate Fellowship was created through an endowment from the President’s Fund for the purpose of supporting graduate study at Indiana University by graduates of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). This endowment reflects the strong commitment of Indiana University’s 17th President, Adam W. Herbert, to enhance opportunities for students from HCBUs, especially in the fields of science, technology, and mathematics.

The fellowship will be awarded each year to students who demonstrate strong academic excellence, high potential for success, and a commitment to graduate study in the sciences.

The Herbert PhD Fellowship is a 4-year fellowship designed to guarantee the student receives a full stipend, tuition, and health insurance throughout the time they are working toward their degree. The fellowship includes:

4 years of funding from UGS with health insurance and a stipend of $37,000
Tuition and mandatory fees provided by nominating department/school
Opportunity to participate in mentoring workshops in the Graduate Mentoring Center and the Preparing Future Faculty Program
Possibility for expenses to be paid to attend the Institute for Teaching and Mentoring, up to 3 years
Possibility for paid expenses to participate in one of the semester-long activities sponsored by the National Center for Faculty Development and Diversity

The Herbert Maters Fellowship is a 2-year fellowship designed to guarantee the student receives a stipend and tuition throughout the time they are working toward their degree. The fellowship includes:

2 years of funding from UGS with a stipend of $10,000
Tuition and mandatory fees funded by nominating department/school
Opportunity to participate in mentoring workshops in the Graduate Mentoring Center
Possibility for paid expenses to participate in one of the semester-long activities sponsored by the National Center for Faculty Development and Diversity

To be eligible for the Herbert PhD or Masters Fellowships, nominees must:

- Citizenship Requirement:
  - Be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident (International students are not eligible).
- Educational Background:
  - Be a graduate of a Historically Black College or University (HBCU). This competition is open to all graduates of HBCUs, regardless of background.
  - Be a new student proposing to enter a Ph.D. or master’s degree program in a science, technology, or mathematics (STEM) discipline.
- Potential for Academic Excellence:
  - A minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.5 (on a 4.0 scale) is preferred. However, departments are encouraged to consider a candidate’s overall academic profile—including additional coursework, curricular activities, research experiences, and other scholarly or creative endeavors—to assess their potential for academic excellence.
- Potential Contributions to Indiana University Bloomington:
  - Nominees should demonstrate strong alignment with IU’s academic community and its commitment to fostering intellectual engagement, innovation, and scholarly impact. This may include a record of collaborative research, interdisciplinary inquiry, leadership in academic or professional settings, contributions to public scholarship, or initiatives that expand knowledge in emerging fields.

Each department may nominate up to four students using the online nomination form. The fellowship review committee will evaluate all nominations using a uniform set of criteria to create a ranked list. Fellowships will be awarded to the highest-ranked nominees based on available funds.

Go to the Nomination Form

Nomination Materials

The Chair of Graduate Admissions, Director of Graduate Studies, Department Chair, or Associate Dean of Graduate Studies must complete and upload the following documents using the link above: 

Funding Statement

A Funding Statement (using the provided template) outlining how the department plans to support the student during the years when they are not receiving fellowship funds. This should include anticipated stipend amounts for SAAs, any available funding for subsequent fellowship years, potential funding from the school or college, professional development funds, and any funding available through training or research grants. Please note that any funding the department provides must cover health insurance and fee remission. When considering funding for students in future years, develop three-year packages for incoming M.F.A. students, four-year packages for Ph.D.-seeking students entering with a master’s degree, and five-year packages for Ph.D.-seeking students entering with a bachelor’s degree. You may submit one funding outline for all nominations. Below are funding templates that can be submitted

Funding Template for Other Schools and Colleges not in the College

a. Link to PDF

b. Link to DOCX

Funding Template for Departments in the College of Arts and Sciences

a. Link to PDF

b. Link to DOCX

Supporting Statement

A Supporting Statement (no more than one page) addressing the following points:

Why this candidate is outstanding
How well matched the candidate's interests are to the strengths of the department;
How the department recruited the students (how much contact and by which faculty);
The likelihood the candidate will choose IU over competing offers

Departmental Statement

A Departmental Statement on Graduate Student Recruitment and Support (no more than two pages). You may submit one statement for all nominations. The statement should include:

A description of current and planned initiatives to enhance graduate student recruitment and retention;
The department's successes and challenges in attracting applicants over the past five years without relying on University Graduate School Bloomington fellowships;
A description of mentoring structures, research support, and academic resources available to graduate students within the department.

Student Application

A complete copy of the student application for admission to Indiana University as a single PDF or WORD document in this order:

Application form
CV
Statement of purpose
Recommendation letters
Transcripts

Evaluation Criteria

The fellowships are awarded through a highly competitive selection process that prioritizes research excellence and academic promise. Applicants will be assessed on their scholarly achievements, prior research experience, external funding competitiveness, and potential for high-impact contributions in their field. The selection committee will also review the department’s nomination materials to evaluate its commitment to the student’s success, its ability to provide a strong academic environment, and its demonstrated efforts in recruiting and supporting top graduate scholars. Departments are encouraged to submit only their most outstanding candidates, as these fellowships are intended to recognize and support the highest level of academic excellence.

Graduate Recruitment Fellowships