Graduate Dean's fellowships, merit scholarships, and parent success grants
The Graduate School will award a combination of fellowships and merit scholarships each academic year to an elite selection of master's and doctoral students who show the potential to make substantive contributions to their discipline. The Graduate School also offers targeted funding to support graduate students with childcare and dependent care responsibilities. Review the nomination procedures and eligibility requirements for each type of award below.
Graduate Dean's fellowships
The Graduate Dean's fellowships are limited to incoming domestic and international doctoral students in any approved University of Nevada, Reno doctoral program (Ph.D. or doctorate). There are typically eight (8) one-year fellowships in the amount of $50,000 per academic year ($25,000 per semester, paid out in two installments of $12,500). The fellowship also qualifies non-Nevada residents for a waiver of out-of-state tuition.
- For the first nomination period, we will accept nominations between Wednesday, January 28, and Tuesday, February 17, 2026. We hope to begin announcing awards in late February. (incoming students only)
- For the second nomination period, we will accept nominations between Monday, February 23, 2026, and Monday, March 16, 2026. We hope to begin announcing awards in late March. (incoming students only)
We anticipate funding approximately eight Dean's Fellows.
- The applicant must be a fully admitted, incoming domestic or international student who has been offered admission to a degree-granting doctoral program (Ph.D. or doctorate) at the University of Nevada, Reno at the time of nomination.
- The applicant must meet the minimum requirements for admission to a doctoral degree-granting program at the University of Nevada, Reno Graduate School, either as a domestic or international student.
- Fellows must maintain satisfactory academic progress for financial aid throughout the period of the fellowship and must enroll in nine or more units per semester.
- Fellows must remain enrolled in a degree-granting doctoral program at the University of Nevada, Reno throughout the period of the fellowship.
- During the period of the Graduate Dean's Fellowship award, the student cannot hold other fellowships or a Graduate Dean's Merit Scholarship.
- Fellows also cannot hold a position of employment with the University or elsewhere during the fall and spring semesters of the fellowship award. Summer employment during the months of June and July at the end of the fellowship is permitted.
- Each graduate program is allowed to submit a maximum of two nominations.
- Nominations must be submitted by the graduate program's director, as currently recognized by the Graduate School.
- Nomination decisions should be based on a holistic review or the consideration of a broad range of applicant qualities. Criteria used in the holistic review include GPA, letters of recommendation, personal/research statements, research/work experience, standardized test scores, fit with program faculty, contributions of the applicant to diversity and inclusion and potential of the applicant to make substantive contributions to their discipline.
- Nominations will be made via submission of a 1 to 2-page (800 words or less) nomination statement submitted using the link below. The nomination statement should provide a summary of the student's educational background, academic performance, accomplishments and potential for success in graduate school and beyond. The statement must also include a plan to support the fellow for a minimum of two additional years on a full-time graduate teaching assistantship and/or graduate research assistantship.
Selections will be made based on the following required fields on the nomination form:
- Academic achievements: Provide a summary of academic performance, accomplishments and potential for success at the University. Include a discussion of the nominee’s undergraduate and graduate (if applicable) GPA, quality of undergraduate and graduate (if applicable) institution, standardized test scores, fit with program faculty, and potential for success in the graduate program.
- Research/work experience and scholarly activities: Outline any previous research, scholarship or relevant work activities undertaken by the student. If formal research has not been carried out, please describe any activities believed to have prepared the nominee to be successful in research (e.g., coursework research, an internship or summer research program). Mention any publications and presentations for the last five years (references not needed). Discuss the role of the student in these scholarly activities (if known).
- Broader impacts: Discuss the nominee’s capacity to broaden participation of underrepresented groups, broaden the dissemination of scientific, technological and scholarly understanding, and provide benefits to society and the campus community.
The graduate program director will also be asked to:
- Confirm that a plan has been developed to support the Graduate Dean's Fellow for at least two additional years on a graduate assistantship; and that this plan has been developed in consultation with the department chair and/or college dean.
- Outline their plan of support.
Graduate Dean's merit scholarships
Graduate Dean's merit scholarships are open to both domestic and international master's and doctoral students in any approved University of Nevada, Reno graduate program (Ph.D., doctorate, MFA or master's). For spring nomination deadlines, only incoming graduate students are eligible. For the fall nomination deadline, both incoming and currently enrolled graduate students are eligible, but preference will be given to incoming students in doctoral programs. The amount of the one-year scholarship is $10,000 ($5,000 per semester) for new admits or $5,000 ($2,500 per semester) for continuing grad students per academic year.
- For the first nomination period, we will accept nominations between Wednesday, January 28, 2026, and Tuesday, February 17, 2026. We hope to begin announcing awards in late February. (incoming students only)
- For the second nomination period, we will accept nominations between Monday, February 23, 2026, and Monday, March 16, 2026. We hope to begin announcing awards in mid-April. (incoming students only)
- Fall nominations will be due Monday, August 10, 2026.
We anticipate funding approximately 50 merit scholarships.
- The applicant must be either: (1) a fully admitted, incoming domestic or international student who has been offered admission to a degree-granting doctoral or master's program (Ph.D., doctorate, MFA or master's) at the University of Nevada, Reno at the time of nomination, or (2) a fully admitted currently enrolled domestic or international student in a degree-granting doctoral or master's program (Ph.D., doctorate, MFA or master's) at the University of Nevada, Reno.
- For incoming students, the applicant must meet the minimum requirements for admission to a doctoral or master's degree-granting program at the University of Nevada, Reno Graduate School, either as a domestic or international student.
- Scholarship recipients must meet the requirements for satisfactory academic progress for financial aid.
- Scholarship recipients must enroll in 6 or more units during the fall and spring semesters.
- Graduate assistantship status is not a criterion for the scholarship, and both graduate assistants and non-graduate assistants are eligible.
- Full-time University faculty (> 0.50 FTE) are ineligible for the scholarship.
- The budget is in $2,500 increments and represents the 50% of non-need access funds available for the year, less the amount budgeted in the Graduate Dean's Fellowship. Budget estimates for the future year are not available prior to the spring fee distribution which the controller’s office completes in late March annually.
- Current University of Nevada, Reno students must have completed the annual general scholarship application, available in the supplemental forms section of students' MyNEVADA account. Submission must occur between October 1 and February 15 for the subsequent academic year.
- To be eligible, students nominated for a Graduate Dean's Merit Scholarship must have been admitted to their program without an exception-to-policy (e.g., due to low GPA).
- Each graduate program is allowed to submit a maximum of four nominations.
- Nominations must be submitted by the graduate program's director, as currently recognized by the Graduate School.
- Nominations for currently enrolled students should be based on the student's demonstrated ability to perform at the highest level in their discipline and their contribution to the Strategic Plan goals of the University.
- Nomination decisions for incoming students should be based on a holistic review or the consideration of a broad range of applicant qualities. Criteria used in the holistic review include GPA, letters of recommendation, personal/research statements, research/work experience, standardized test scores, fit with program faculty, contributions of the applicant to diversity and inclusion and potential of the applicant to make substantive contributions to their discipline.
- Nominations will be made via an online form (linked below) covering three areas; academic achievement, research experience, and broader impacts. The nomination statements should provide a summary of the student's educational background, academic performance, accomplishments, and the potential for success in graduate school in 800 words or less total.
- Preference will be given to incoming students in doctoral programs, although award decisions will reflect the need to balance the overall Strategic Plan goals of the University.
Selections will be made based on the following required fields on the nomination form:
- Academic achievements: Provide a summary of academic performance, accomplishments and potential for success at the University. Include discussion of nominee’s undergraduate and graduate (if applicable) GPA, quality of undergraduate and graduate (if applicable) institution, standardized test scores, fit with program faculty and potential for success in the graduate program.
- Research/work experience and scholarly activities: Outline any previous research, scholarship or relevant work activities undertaken by the student. If formal research has not been carried out, please describe any activities believed to have prepared the nominee to be successful in research (e.g., coursework research, an internship or summer research program). Mention any publications and presentations for the last five years (references not needed). Discuss the role of the student in these scholarly activities (if known).
- Broader impacts: Discuss the nominee’s capacity to broaden participation of underrepresented groups, broaden the dissemination of scientific, technological and scholarly understanding, and provide benefits to society and the campus community.
Graduate Dean’s Parent Success Grant
The Graduate Dean’s Parent Success Grant provides financial support to graduate students with dependents to help offset expenses related to childcare and dependent care while pursuing a graduate degree at the University of Nevada, Reno. This award is open to all domestic and international graduate students enrolled in at least five graduate credits in an eligible master’s or doctoral program and have a minimum GPA of 3.0 in the semester they apply for the scholarship. Students enrolled in 5 credits are eligible for up to $600; students enrolled in at least 6 credits are eligible for up to $1,200. Scholarship funds are disbursed in the same semester of the application.
For the spring semester, we will accept applications between Monday, February 6, 2026, and Monday, February 23, 2026. Applicants must complete the online application and submit a Statement of Need/Impact describing their childcare or dependent care needs and how this funding would support their progress toward a graduate degree.
Link to application form: Parent Success Grant - Intellistack
Applicants must meet all of the following criteria:
- Be enrolled in at least 5 graduate credits toward a master’s or doctoral degree at the University during the Spring 2026 semester
- Be a domestic or international graduate student
- Have a minimum GPA of 3.0
- Have dependent care or childcare-related financial need
Students enrolled in the following programs are not eligible:
- Accountancy (MAcc) – Online
- Art: Interdisciplinary Arts (MFA, Low-Residency)
- Creative Writing (MFA, Low-Residency)
- Business Analytics (MS, Online)
- Business Administration (Executive Online MBA)
- Cybersecurity (MS, Online)
- Judicial Studies (MJS)
- Judicial Studies (Ph.D.)
- Justice Management (MJM, Online)
- Psychology: Behavior Analysis (MS, Online)
- Psychology: Behavior Analysis (MS, Satellite/Hybrid)
- Public Health: Public Health Practice (MPH, Online)
- Social Work (MSW) – Online
Selections will be made based on the following required fields on the nomination form:
- Student status
- Employment status
- Childcare and dependent care expenses
- Statement of need/impact