Application Instructions & Information

GUIDELINES FOR DISSERTATION YEAR AWARDS

Dissertation Year awards are intended to provide support to graduate students who are nearing completion of their dissertation research and expect to complete their dissertation within the academic year in which the award is granted. 

For all Dissertation Fellowships, the dissertation advisor and the Graduate Advisor will be required to acknowledge the student's thesis timeline and the plan to graduate within the period of award.

Dissertation Completion Fellowship Awards (DCFAs)
DCFAs provide up to 2 quarters of stipend and tuition ($10,000/quarter) to students to support the completion of their PhD in the current academic year. Thus, a DCFA awarded in Winter 2024 can be used in Spring and, if necessary, Summer of 2024.
 

Eligibility Criteria

1. Must be a Ph.D. student who has advanced to candidacy by January 16, 2024. 
2. Must have a GPA > 3.5
3. Must not have more than 7 units of incomplete grades.
4. Must be making acceptable progress toward the degree. (For these purposes, acceptable progress for a Ph.D. student means advanced to candidacy within 15 quarters after entry and must complete the degree by the normative time to degree for the particular program plus 1 year at time of degree.)
5. Can be on leave to apply but must be enrolled as a full-time student (12 units) during tenure of fellowship. 
6. International and domestic students are eligible to apply.

Application Procedure

The applicant must follow the graduate program’s instructions for deadlines to complete the application form. Applications require a 1 page max research statement and a letter of recommendation from their thesis mentor which requires acknowledgement of the candidate’s plans to graduate within the award period. Programs will submit final application from their chosen DCFA nominee no later than January 16, 2024.

Support Summary

Employment supplementation is not allowable during the quarters of the award.

Some awards are funded through UCOP monies available only to domestic students who meet diversity criteria. All students need to complete the diversity form so Graduate Division can determine an appropriate funding source for each awardee. A diversity statement is required to be considered for all awards.

Link to website for frequently asked questions on HSI and DYFA/DCFA awards:
Frequently Asked Questions