An award given to support full-time coursework and/or research without expectations of specific work responsibilities. For the purposes of consideration for an out-of-state tuition waiver, a fellowship must meet the minimum stipend requirements established by the Graduate School, the Vice President for Research and Graduate Studies, and the Office of the Provost.
That level will be reviewed prior to the fall semester of each academic year and approved by the provost. The status of multi-year awards will be determined by the stipend in place at the outset of the initial period of the award.
Fellowships eligible for out-of-state tuition waivers fall into two categories:
University recruitment fellowships: University-level recruitment fellowships (e.g., University Distinguished and Enrichment Fellowships) that are coordinated by the Graduate School and follow established criteria for nomination and selection. Students qualify for the in-state tuition rate only during the semesters in which the fellowship is their primary form of support; eligibility for in-state tuition when supported by the department or other unit depends on the form of support (e.g., graduate assistantship).
External fellowships applied for by the student: Externally funded fellowships that may qualify a student for an out-of-state tuition waiver must:
- be received by the student for support of her/his own research (either directly or through money allocated to MSU)
- exceed a set minimum stipend level (currently $24,000).
- Students must have written their own proposals and be selected through a competitive process by a U.S. or international institution/agency/foundation.
- After a fellowship award is made by the external party, the department and the college associate dean must nominate the student following the procedures in the External Nomination Procedures tab.