Dissertation Research Grant
Fall 25 Application Period: July 1, 2025- October 16, 2025
The Graduate Council Fellowship Subcommittee invites applications for the Dissertation Research Grant Program.
Award Details:
Maximum award: $2,000 for expenses directly related to dissertation research
One-time award: Once awarded any amount, students are not eligible for further funding from this program
Duration: Funds must be used within 12 months of award notification
Extensions: Requests must be submitted in writing
Termination: Grant ends if the student goes on leave of absence or filing fee status
Administration: The award will be administered by the student's home department in accordance with UCR accounting procedures
Eligibility:
Must be a registered graduate student
Must have advanced to candidacy for the PhD
Requires letter of recommendation from the Dissertation Chair or Thesis Advisor
An automated email will be sent to your Dissertation Chair/Thesis Advisor requesting a letter of recommendation.
Application Requirements:
Research Proposal
Written entirely by the applicant (faculty mentor may provide feedback)
Reviewed by a cross-campus faculty review panel
Must be understandable to a broad academic audience
Budget
Must be itemized with justification for each expense
Requests exceeding $2,000 will not be considered
Approvals (if applicable)
Required for research using Recombinant DNA, humans, or animals
Approval forms available at http://or.ucr.edu/
Allowable Expenses:
Research supplies
Travel to research sites (with limited per diem)
Travel within 100 miles of UCR approved only in unusual cases
Note: Reusable supplies, books, and equipment remain property of UCR.
Expenses Not Funded:
Attendance at meetings, conferences, or workshops
Research assistants (if applicant can complete work independently)
Computers
Salary or dissertation preparation costs
Travel Guidelines:
All travel expenses processed through the student’s department
Foreign travel: Must include documentation from host institution, facility, or individual confirming access to research resources
All travel must comply with UC Travel Policy G-28 (link)
Applications will be reviewed by the Graduate Council Fellowship Sub-Committee, and applicants will be notified of funding decision about one month after the deadline.
Master's Thesis Research Grant
The Graduate Council Fellowship Subcommittee invites applications for the Master’s Thesis Research Grant program. This program provides up to $2,000 in support for expenses directly related to thesis research, including:
Conference registration
Research travel
Equipment and supplies
Open to all non-STEM Master’s students.
Research proposals must be written entirely by the applicant (faculty mentors may provide feedback).
Maximum award: $2,000 for expenses directly related to thesis research
Attendance at workshops or meetings unrelated to research
Assistants (when the applicant can perform the work)
Compliance & Required Approvals:
Research involving recombinant DNA, human, or animals must receive prior approval from the appropriate campus committees.
Applicants must provide copies of approval notices or indicate if approval is pending. (Please note: funds will not be released until approvals are finalized.)
Research conducted in K-12 schools requires written authorization from the relevant school authorities.
As part of your professional development, you need to learn to justify and explain your research to an educated lay audience. This application will be reviewed and ranked by faculty in the humanities, social sciences and natural sciences. If any of these reviewers cannot understand the significance and intellectual merit of your research, you will likely receive a low ranking. You are encouraged to seek writing assistance from the Graduate Writing Center (http://gwrc.ucr.edu) in the Graduate Success office.
Describe your thesis project, stating the research questions to be addressed, the methods to be used and the data or materials to be analyzed, or your creative activities, as relevant to your project. Place your work within the context of your field, cite references, and explain how your work will contribute to your field.
As part of your professional development, you need to learn to justify and explain your research to an educated lay audience. This application will be reviewed and ranked by faculty in the humanities, social sciences and natural sciences. If any of these reviewers cannot understand the significance and intellectual or creative merit of your project, you will likely receive a low ranking. You are encouraged to seek writing assistance from the Graduate Writing Center (http://gwrc.ucr.edu) in the Graduate Success office.