# Fellowship Competitions
**Source**: https://grad.illinois.edu/faculty-staff/toolkits-guides/funding-business-operations/fellowship-competitions
**Parent**: https://catalog.illinois.edu/graduate/las/anthropology-phd/
[Graduate College](https://grad.illinois.edu/)
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Fellowship Competitions
# Fellowship Competitions
The Graduate College offers several fellowship and grant programs to support University of Illinois graduate students. Students do not apply directly for these awards. Instead, departments submit nominations according to the competition schedule shown below. Students wishing to be nominated should contact their department’s Director of Graduate Studies for details.
## Major Awards:
### [Illinois Distinguished Fellowships](https://fellowship-finder.grad.illinois.edu/SearchResult/Fellowship/4683)
Doctoral recruitment fellowships for the University’s top incoming students.
### [Equity Doctoral Fellowships](https://fellowship-finder.grad.illinois.edu/SearchResult/Fellowship/5065)
Doctoral recruitment fellowships to promote equity and inclusion by supporting students who represent a broad array of life experiences and perspectives.
### [Equity Master's Fellowships](https://fellowship-finder.grad.illinois.edu/SearchResult/Fellowship/5067)
Master's recruitment fellowships to promote equity and inclusion by supporting students who represent a broad array of life experiences and perspectives.
### [Distinguished Graduate Fellowships in the Humanities & Arts](https://fellowship-finder.grad.illinois.edu/SearchResult/Fellowship/4806)
Doctoral recruitment fellowships for the University's top incoming students in select humanities and fine arts programs.
### [Aspire Doctoral Fellowships](https://fellowship-finder.grad.illinois.edu/SearchResult/Fellowship/4825)
Doctoral recruitment fellowships for participants in the Graduate College's Aspire Campus Visit program.
### [Aspire Master's Fellowships](https://fellowship-finder.grad.illinois.edu/SearchResult/Fellowship/5035)
Master's recruitment fellowships for participants in the Graduate College's Aspire Campus Visit program.
### Travel Grants for [Master’s Projects](https://fellowship-finder.grad.illinois.edu/SearchResult/Fellowship/3300) and [Dissertation Research](https://fellowship-finder.grad.illinois.edu/SearchResult/Fellowship/2901)
Grants for students who need to travel off-campus to complete a master’s project or conduct dissertation research.
### [Dissertation Completion Fellowships](https://fellowship-finder.grad.illinois.edu/SearchResult/Fellowship/2807)
Fellowships supporting doctoral students as they finalize their dissertations.
## Specialized Awards:
### [Conference Presentation Awards](https://grad.illinois.edu/general/travelaward)
Small grants supporting students traveling to a professional conference (or participating in an online conference) to present a paper, poster, or other creative work.
### [Diffenbaugh Fellowships](https://fellowship-finder.grad.illinois.edu/SearchResult/Fellowship/2727)
Fellowships supporting students from Missouri.
### [Marion Morse Wood Fellowships](https://fellowship-finder.grad.illinois.edu/SearchResult/Fellowship/3299)
Fellowships supporting research in interpersonal communication.
### [Emergency Grants](https://grad.illinois.edu/general/emergencygrant)
Small grants for students facing acute and unexpected financial distress.
## Competition Schedule for 2025-2026
| Name of Competition | Nomination Deadline | Anticipated Notification of Results |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Travel Grants (Fall) - [Dissertation](https://fellowship-finder.grad.illinois.edu/SearchResult/Fellowship/2901) / [Master's](https://fellowship-finder.grad.illinois.edu/SearchResult/Fellowship/3300) | Nov. 13, 2025 | Dec. 22, 2025 |
| [Illinois Distinguished Fellowships](https://fellowship-finder.grad.illinois.edu/SearchResult/Fellowship/4683) (Rd 1) | Jan. 8, 2026 | Feb. 13, 2026 |
| [Equity Doctoral](https://fellowship-finder.grad.illinois.edu/SearchResult/Fellowship/5065) and [Equity Master's Fellowships](https://fellowship-finder.grad.illinois.edu/SearchResult/Fellowship/5067) (Rd 1) | Jan. 8, 2026 | Feb. 13, 2026 |
| [Distinguished Graduate Fellowships in Humanities & Arts](https://fellowship-finder.grad.illinois.edu/SearchResult/Fellowship/4806) (Rd 1) | Jan. 8, 2026 | Feb. 13, 2026 |
| [Aspire Doctoral](https://fellowship-finder.grad.illinois.edu/SearchResult/Fellowship/4825) and [Aspire Master's Fellowships](https://fellowship-finder.grad.illinois.edu/SearchResult/Fellowship/5035) | Jan. 8, 2026 | Feb. 13, 2026 |
| [Diffenbaugh Fellowships](https://fellowship-finder.grad.illinois.edu/SearchResult/Fellowship/2727) | Jan. 29, 2026 | Feb. 27, 2026 |
| [Marion Morse Wood Fellowships in Interpersonal Communication](https://fellowship-finder.grad.illinois.edu/SearchResult/Fellowship/3299) | Jan. 29, 2026 | Feb. 27, 2026 |
| [Illinois Distinguished Fellowships](https://fellowship-finder.grad.illinois.edu/SearchResult/Fellowship/4685) (Rd 2) | Feb. 19, 2026 | Mar. 30, 2026 |
| [Equity Doctoral](https://fellowship-finder.grad.illinois.edu/SearchResult/Fellowship/5066) and [Equity Master's Fellowships](https://fellowship-finder.grad.illinois.edu/SearchResult/Fellowship/5068) (Rd 2) | Feb. 19, 2026 | Mar. 30, 2026 |
| [Distinguished Graduate Fellowships in Humanities & Arts](https://fellowship-finder.grad.illinois.edu/SearchResult/Fellowship/4812) (Rd 2) | Feb. 19, 2026 | Mar. 30, 2026 |
| Travel Grants (Spring) - [Dissertation](https://fellowship-finder.grad.illinois.edu/SearchResult/Fellowship/3080) / [Master's](https://fellowship-finder.grad.illinois.edu/SearchResult/Fellowship/3301) | Mar. 12, 2026 | May 1, 2026 |
| [Dissertation Completion Fellowships](https://fellowship-finder.grad.illinois.edu/SearchResult/Fellowship/2807) | Apr. 2, 2026 | May 15, 2026 |
## Fellowship Board & the Selection Process
The Fellowship Board selects recipients of the Graduate College’s main grant and fellowship programs. The Board consists of faculty members from across campus. See [details](https://grad.illinois.edu/about/our-committees/fellowship-board "Fellowship Board") on the selection process and the Board’s current membership.
## Contact Information
[GradFellowships@illinois.edu](mailto:gradFellowships@illinois.edu)
217-333-0036