Financial Information

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Through the generosity of many donors, HDFS is able to provide funds to support graduate students’ education, research, travel, and other needs. Applicants must be current students enrolled in a graduate program at Michigan State University in the department of Human Development and Family Studies; all HDFS graduate students are eligible, including those of any of the on-campus or online programs.  Each scholarship ranges from $500 to $4,000, and students only need complete one application to be considered for all scholarships for which they are eligible. Applications are due by Feb. 15 each year; a link to the application portal is distributed by the Graduate Director to all eligible students. Decisions are made and students notified by the end of Spring Semester.

For any questions, please contact Dr. Claire Vallotton at: vallotto@msu.edu.
 

$500 - $1,000

Eligibility:

  1. must be an HDFS graduate student (If there are no qualified graduate students the award may be made to a senior within the Department); 
  2. have demonstrated financial need, to be determined by the MSU Office of Financial Aid; 
  3. have demonstrated high academic achievement; and 
  4. have the capacity and motivation to achieve educational professional goals.

$1,500 - $2,500

Eligibility:

  1. must be admitted to an HDFS graduate program.
  2. Must have demonstrated: professional service, public service, or volunteer activity;
  3. professional organization membership and activity;
  4. research and publication potential;
  5. high academic achievement with exemplary performance in an HDFS program.

$1,000 each

Eligibility:

  1. must be an HDFS graduate student;
  2. must have an approved research proposal for the doctoral dissertation concentration in study of the family with preference given to the following foci: human values, family decision making, family resource management, or family quality of life.

The amount and number of the awards shall be determined by the HDFS Chairperson. The fellowship shall be for HDFS doctoral students who plan to conduct research and have an approved program plan with a focus on women or minority issues. In addition, with the approval of the HDFS Department Chairperson or the Graduate Program Director, income from the endowed fund may also be allocated for: (1) support of publications based on dissertations completed; (2) support of lectures, symposia, or individual activities concerning issues specific to women and minority populations.

Please visit the HDFS Donations page to view a full list of scholarships available.

Travel Funding

HDFS students often present research and represent our department at national and international conferences. Some travel funding is available to support students to attend conferences or other professional development opportunities. Applications are accepted from early Fall through late February, and must be submitted before the time of travel.

Instructions for applying:

  1. Complete the HDFS Travel Funding Form which includes a) name of conference, dates, location; 2) title and brief abstract of paper or poster presentation (only those who are first author will be sent on to the Graduate School, though they are still eligible for departmental funding); 3) notification of acceptance of the presentation;  4) a budget with itemization of cost. 
  2. Complete the Graduate School Student Travel Funding application, which must be signed by your adviser in two places. 
  3. Submit a travel request in the Concur system. (Do not submit a budget as part of the request, simply the travel dates, location, and purpose of travel.) 
  4. Submit your forms to the HDFS Administrative Assistant for Graduate Studies (Phil Reid: reidphil@msu.edu) by the deadline; eligible students receive notification of deadlines from the Director of Graduate Studies.

Research Funding

HDFS students often lead their own research projects, for their theses or dissertations, or other projects to build their own lines of independent research. Funds are available to support students to conduct research, paying for things like participant incentives, software, transcription and coding costs, attending workshops/ trainings for specific research skills. 

Submit applications before Feb. 1 for full consideration (late applications will be considered, but may not be fully funded).  

Instructions for applying:

  1. Complete the Graduate School Research Enhancement Application form (Please contact Phil Reid for a copy of this form: reidphil@msu.edu.)
  2. Prepare a brief letter addressed to that describes:
    • The title of the research project 
    • A description of the student’s research project written in a way that is understandable to scholars/scientists outside the field 
    • A summary of the proposed research activities including travel information if relevant (dates and location) 
    • Description of how this activity enhances the student’s research project 
    • Detailed budget and budget justification 
    • IACUC or Human Research Protection Program approval letter if the research involves human or animal (IACUC) subjects.
  3. Have your adviser sign the form, and commit funding if possible.
  4. Submit your form to the HDFS Administrative Assistant for Graduate Studies (Phil Reid: reidphil@msu.edu), and cc the Director of Graduate Studies (Claire Vallotton: vallotto@msu.edu)
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