Scholarships, Research Grants, and Dissertation Fellowships for Current Students
College of Education Graduate Student Scholarships
Several scholarships have been created through the generous support of alumni and friends of the College of Education. Awards range from $1,000 to $2,500. Each scholarship has specific criteria. Faculty in the program areas select the recipients from a list of eligible students. Please see your program chair for eligibility and application information.
Program area scholarships at the graduate level have been created through generous donors. Each scholarship has specific criteria. Faculty in the program areas select the recipients from eligible students.
| Graduate Scholarship Name | Program Area |
| Frank B. DeBruicker | Learning Design and Technology |
| Feldhusen Doctoral Fellowship | Gifted Education |
| Harbridge Scholarship | Literacy and Language |
| Mike Keedy Award | Mathematics Education |
| General Wei-chin & Madame Phoebe Lee Award | Social Studies Education |
| Bruce Shertzer Award | Counseling Psychology |
| Mary Kay Sommers Graduate Scholarship | Literacy and Langauge |
Dissertation Fellowships and Scholarships
Note: The Bilsland Dissertation Fellowship and the Dean’s Dissertation Scholarship Applications have been consolidated into a single Application Form. You can indicate on the form if you wish to be considered for one or both awards.
Applicants who apply for both will first be considered for the Bilsland. The application form will be completed and submitted through InfoReady (https://edupu.infoready4.com/). The nomination form will be available when the call is active, usually beginning in mid to late November. Additional details, guidelines, and evaluation rubrics will be posted on InfoReady.
Bilsland Dissertation Fellowship
The Bilsland Dissertation Fellowship is an Office of Graduate Students and Postdoctoral Scholars (OGSPS) fellowship which includes a stipend/salary and tuition coverage. It is awarded to outstanding College of Education PhD students who will enter their final year of their program. Recipients are expected to devote full-time effort to the completion of all requirements necessary to receive their doctoral degree at the conclusion of the year of funding. Exceptions are allowed for Counseling Psychology students who are eligible to apply for a Bilsland before their internship year.
Applicants must have completed their coursework and passed their qualifying examinations. There are no assistantship expectations for Bilsland Fellows. The review and the awarding of fellowships are handled at the department level. Applications are due via InfoReady (https://edupu.infoready4.com/) by 5:00 pm on the 3rd Friday in January. The number of awards available for each department varies based on OGSPS allocations.
Dean’s Dissertation Scholarship
This award is given to an outstanding doctoral student in the College of Education who is currently completing dissertation research. Scholarships are $2,500. The number of scholarships available varies each year.
Reviews and the awarding of these scholarships are handled at the department level. Applications are due via InfoReady (https://edupu.infoready4.com/) by 5:00 pm on the 3rd Friday in January. The number of awards available for each department varies based on available funds.
College Of Education Graduate Student Awards
The Call for Nominations for College of Education Graduate Student Awards is typically sent out in November. Nominations first reviewed at the Department level are due the last Friday of January. All other award nominations are due the 2nd Friday of February. All award nominations will be completed and submitted via InfoReady (https://edupu.InfoReady4.com/). Nomination forms will be available during the open call. Additional details, guidelines, and rubrics will be available on InfoReady.
Dean’s Graduate Student Outstanding Scholarship Award
Description – This award recognizes a graduate student in the College of Education who demonstrates exceptional scholarly contributions. Preference is given to work completed since enrolled at Purdue and the College of Education. Graduate students at all levels are encouraged to apply. The winner receives $500.
- Deadline: 5:00 p.m. on the second Friday in February.
Diversity, Equity, and Social Justice (DESJ) Graduate Student Award
Description – This award recognizes a graduate student in the College of Education who demonstrates a commitment to the advancement of diversity, equity, and social justice (DESJ) issues in the areas of discovery, learning, and/or engagement. The awardee recognizes the collective benefit of building more inclusive and supportive communities. One of the signature areas of the COE is focused on addressing issues of diversity, equity, and social justice. In addition, Purdue University, as a public, state-supported land-grant institution with global impact, is committed to furthering the goals of diversity and inclusion. In an effort to promote and support a better understanding of DESJ issues, this award seeks to recognize those who have contributed to this important work, as well as inspire others to join. The winner receives $500.
- Deadline: 5:00 pm on the second Friday in February.
Outstanding Graduate Student Teaching Award
Description – This award recognizes graduate teaching assistants for their current teaching efforts at the graduate and undergraduate levels. Nominations are handled at the department level. Each department forwards one nominee to the Dean’s Office and the College of Education Awards Committee selects the winner. The winner receives $500.
- Deadline: 5:00 pm on the Last Friday in January
Mary Kay Sommers Dissertation Award
Description – This award recognizes a completed outstanding doctoral dissertation. Nominations are first reviewed at the department level. Each department forwards one nominee to the Dean’s Office and the College of Education Awards Committee selects the winner. The amount of award may vary but is typically $2,600.
- Deadline: 5:00 pm on the Last Friday in January.
Marcia Gentry Dissertation Award
Description – This award recognizes doctoral dissertation work that moves the field of Gifted, Talented, and Creative (GTC) education forward by addressing the constructs of equity and excellence for underserved GTC populations (poverty, race, language, disability) from a strength-based perspective. Students with dissertations completed within two calendar years of the award date are eligible to apply. The amount of the award may vary, but is typically $2,600.
- Deadline: 5:00 pm on the second Friday in February.
Maryann Santos Doctoral Fellowship
Description: This is a scholarship supported by the Maryann Santos Doctoral Fellowship Fund, an endowment named in honor of a former Dean of the College of Education. Dean Santos was a passionate advocate for diversity and social justice, which became one of the signature areas for our college under her leadership. Dean Santos was also a strong supporter of graduate students and programs. This award is only made in years when sufficient funds are available. Prior awards were $5,000, but amount of future awards may vary.
- Deadline: 5:00 pm on the second Friday in February
Dean’s Graduate Student Support Program
This program is designed to assist COE doctoral students in defraying the expenses of student-initiated research projects, including dissertation research. Awards will be in the form of an S&E account of up to $500. Funds may be used to purchase instruments, acquire or duplicate research materials, travel to research sites, or for other legitimate research-related expenses. Funds may not be used for salaries or to travel to conferences.
Application form is available on InfoReady (https://edupu.InfoReady4.com/). Applications may be submitted anytime, pending the availability of funding.
Dean’s Graduate Student Travel Support
Partial support, up to $750, is available for College of Education graduate students who will be attending a regional, national, or international conference. College of Education funds are available to students who have authored or co-authored an accepted paper that will be presented at the conference; donor funds are available to any graduate students who wishes to attend a conference. This award is on a first-come, first-served basis, and the maximum award amount that students can receive per academic year is $750. Each fall, the Office of Graduate Studies will send an email to College of Education graduate students who are subscribed to the COE Grad Mailing List with an announcement that applications are open. Applications will be accepted and reviewed until the funds are depleted. Funds must be used by May 31.
OGSPS Summer Research Grants
OGSPS Summer Research Grants provide up to two months of dissertation research support for doctoral students. Priority is given to students who have been exclusively teaching as a 0.50 FTE Teaching Assistant for both preceding semesters. The doctoral student must be in good academic standing with a GPA of 3.0 or higher.
When funding is available, nominations are handled through the departments each spring semester. Departments may also offer their own Summer Research Grants when funding allows.