The UW is one of the world’s preeminent public universities. Our impact on individuals, our region and the world is profound — whether we are launching young people into a boundless future or confronting the grand challenges of our time through undaunted research and scholarship. Ranked No. 7 in the world on the U.S. News & World Report’s Best Global Universities rankings, the UW educates more than 54,000 students annually. We turn ideas into impact and transform lives and our world. For more about our impact, visit our news site, UW News.

Inspiring Public Service, Democratizing Public Policy

As a top-five national program situated within one of the world’s most innovative regions, we are living into our responsibility to strengthen the systems that underpin our democracy. By questioning our democratic systems, innovating new approaches to public policy and administration, and developing what already exists, the Evans School – in partnership with our broader community – is addressing the inequities built in our institutions and sparking a shared belief in the sacred work of public service.

Fellowships are competitive awards that generally do not require work in exchange for the funds. They are intended to fund academic study and research. Fellowships may be offered by departments, the University, the federal government or private agencies.

Every fellowship has different provisions, so take note of what is offered. What is the length of the fellowship? What is the funding level? Does it include insurance or a tuition waiver? Does the funding come to you through the University, or are you paid directly by the funder? Are you permitted to accept other sources of funding simultaneously while receiving the fellowship? We encourage you to communicate with your department and, if applicable, the Office of Student Financial Aid, about any fellowship you receive.

Give yourself plenty of time to write, re-write and gather supplementary materials for the application. Most fellowship competitions have deadlines six to twelve months prior to when recipients receive the funding, and they usually require personal statements and letters of recommendation that may take several months to compile.

After you receive a fellowship, remember it is your responsibility to ensure that the fellowship requirements are met, such as enrollment or reporting to the funding agency. If you have questions, you may contact the graduate advisor in your department or the Graduate School’s Office of Fellowships and Awards.