The Graduate Division has a pool of funds available to help Mason graduate students earn their degrees and conduct research.
Funding comes from such sources as the Office of the Provost, academic departments, and faculty grants.
- Dissertation Completion Grants (Closed): These competitive awards go to doctoral students in the final semester of completing their dissertations. They enable students to focus full-time on research and writing, improve the quality of their work, and shorten the time needed to complete their degrees. For the TOC template, please click here. Click here to download an information sheet about this award. Email us for more information about Dissertation Completion Grants. Click here to APPLY!
- High Impact Grants (Closed): These competitive grants are a new funding opportunity for master’s and doctoral students. They provide tuition support for graduate students’ courses that significantly enhance training and education and/or satisfy credit-bearing requirements towards completion of the graduate degree. Click here to download an information sheet about this award. Email us for more information about High Impact Grants. Click here to review a list of courses that are eligible to apply for this award. Click here to APPLY!
- Doctoral Research Scholars (Opened - deadline 2/24/2025): These competitive assistantships are a new funding opportunity for full-time or part-time doctoral students, who have completed a minimum of 48 credits of coursework. They provide support for graduate students to advance their research to progress in 998 or 999 requirements towards completion of their degree. The deadline for application submission is February 24, 2025, at 5:00 PM. Click here to download an information sheet about this award. Email us for more information about the Doctoral Research assistantship. Click here to APPLY!
- Summer Research Assistantship (Open): These assistantships provide financial support to graduate students during the summer term, allowing them to devote significant time to their dissertation or thesis research. The award fosters greater professional productivity and assists in timely degree completion. Click here to download an information sheet about this award. Email us for more information about the Summer Research Assistantship. Click here to APPLY!
- Graduate Student Travel Fund (open year round): This fund helps cover the costs of doctoral and master’s students attendance at and participation in professional conferences. Proof of payment and attendance is required. Details are available at this link.
- Graduate Inclusion & Access Scholarship (Closed): Open to new, doctoral program applicants for Fall 2025. This scholarship supports the growth and development of an inclusive graduate community at George Mason University. An inclusive graduate student community is an essential strength of George Mason University. This scholarship, awarded on a competitive basis, is available to doctoral students from disadvantaged and/or underrepresented groups in their respective fields of graduate study. After submission of a fall doctoral program application, more information about this scholarship application process, including an application link, will be sent if additional eligibility criteria are met. For eligibility and selection criteria, as well as information on current scholars, please see the Graduate Inclusion and Access Scholarship page.
- Mentoring for Anti-Racism and Inclusive Excellence (Closed): This program will provide financial support to part-time and full-time graduate students in the completion of projects that will further Mason’s ARIE mission and goals. Along with the monetary award, students will receive mentoring support for the duration of their projects. Email Dr. Candace Lacayo for more information about this program.
- Mason provides tuition assistance and subsidized health insurance for graduate students who are recipients of certain prestigious scholarships and fellowships.
- Mason Foundation Scholarship opportunities are available for graduate students and administered through the Office of Financial Aid.
Note: The Office of Student Financial Aid may direct the non-need-based awards toward lowering your loans, reducing the amount of money you will borrow. For more information about how a non-need-based award may affect your financial aid package, contact the Financial Aid office at 703-993-2000.