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Overview
Most doctoral students receive a tuition waiver and a stipend. Students work for the school as either research assistants (assisting a faculty member or research project) or teaching fellows (teaching introductory classes). Competitive fellowships are also available from SILS, the Graduate School, and external organizations. These awards provide larger stipends, require less service, or both.
Prospective doctoral students must apply by January 1st to receive full consideration for financial aid.
Fellowships
SILS awards
SILS nominates students for these awards; no separate application is required. They normally are awarded for one year only. Award recipients are responsible for applicable tuition and fees.
- Lester Asheim Fellowship
- L. R. Wilson Fellowship
- Margaret Ellen Kalp Fellowship
Project Athena Fellowships
The Project Athena fellowships support two SILS doctoral students. The project focuses on recruiting and educating doctoral students who will be the next generation of library and information studies faculty.
Triangle Research Libraries Network Fellows Program
The TRLN Fellowship supports doctoral candidates interested in teaching and research in academic librarianship. Fellows will be given a research assignment in one of the TRLN libraries, a stipend of $25,000 per year for two years, full tuition and health coverage and mentorship by senior academic library administrators.
Graduate School awards
SILS nominates students for these awards; no separate application is required.
Royster Society of Fellows
In addition to a very competitive financial award, a Royster Fellowship in the Society of Fellows supports and nurtures members through the mentoring of senior faculty, interdisciplinary learning, and leadership development opportunities.
University Fellowships
The Graduate School offers privately funded named fellowships to exceptional new graduate doctoral students. In addition to a very competitive financial award, a University Fellowship within the Society of Fellows supports and nurtures members through the mentoring of senior faculty, interdisciplinary learning and leadership development opportunities.
Minority Doctoral Fellowships
Black American and Native American residents of North Carolina who are selected to participate receive a stipend of $15,000 for one academic year. Recipients must be full-time students pursuing doctoral degrees at UNC at Chapel Hill.
External awards
External funding organizations have their own procedures and require a separate application.
National Science Foundation Predoctoral Fellowship
Highly competitive and prestigious fellowships granted by NSF to support young scientists.
Research Education Support for Minority Doctoral Students
SILS participates in the NSF-funded Minority Graduate Education Program at the University. Through this program, SILS is able to offer a newly entering doctoral student a research assistantship and tuition support. Funds are also available to support the student during a pre-enrollment research experience.
Other nationally competitive fellowships are also available.
Other Work Opportunities
Numerous student assistant positions are available in on-campus and off-campus information agencies and libraries for students in SILS programs. Students must apply directly to the individual departments or organizations for these positions. The School receives notices of part-time job and internship opportunities and makes this information available to students via the SILS listservs.
Health Insurance
All registered students of the University of North Carolina who have paid the student health fee are eligible to enroll in the University's medical insurance plan.
In most cases, teaching assistants, research assistants, and fellows/trainees are eligible to have their coverage paid by their funding source.