Graduate Funding

Funding opportunities available include scholarships, fellowships, graduate teaching assistantships, and graduate research assistantships, in addition to several other on-campus funding resources. General information on each type of funding is given here, but please see the Graduate Handbook (either for students enrolled prior to Fall 2022 or students enrolled since Fall 2022) for more information.

While it is not possible to apply for any of these sources of funding prior to matriculation, all graduate students are encouraged to seek both internal and extramural support for their studies as soon as they arrive on campus. Students are notified each semester via email as to the application deadlines for these competitive funding opportunities.

Award and Scholarships

  • Source: Generous contributions from various donors
  • Eligibility: Anthropology students
  • Purpose: To provide funding for Anthropology students who are conducting research or attending professional academic meetings to share their research findings
  • Funding: Number and amount varies according to distribution from endowments

Application Process

Students prepare a proposal and itemized budget for their research or meeting participation and must consult with a faculty advisor or mentor about the scope and feasibility of their proposal. Students will email their application and proposal to a School Box folder. Call for applications and deadlines are announced to the listserv for Anthropology graduates every semester.

  • Source: Generous contributions from A. Richard Diebold, Jr., and the Salus Mundi Foundation
  • Eligibility: Anthropology graduate students who are pursuing a concentration in Applied Anthropology
  • Purpose: To provide funding for anthropology graduate students
  • Funding: Number and amount varies according to distribution from the endowment

Please note: Cacioppo Funding has a special application process, see below for more information.

  • Source: Made possible by the Joseph and Mary Cacioppo Foundation Honoring Charles R. Young
  • Eligibility: All graduate and undergraduate Anthropology majors
  • Purpose: To provide funding for graduate study in Italy
  • Funding: One or more awards, amounts vary. Up to $35,000 has been awarded

Application Process

Students applying for the Joseph and Mary Cacioppo Scholarship for Study in Italy should do the following:

  1. Write a one-page letter of intent including your name and email address, your year of study at the University of Arizona, your major and minor areas of study, a brief statement about why and what you want to study or what you wish to do in Italy including any course or courses you wish to take, and a brief description of any honors or awards you may have.
  2. Provide a copy of your University of Arizona transcript—you must have at least a 3.5 GPA to be eligible for an award.
  3. Provide one letter of recommendation from a university faculty member.

All application materials should be emailed to Dr. David Soren at soren@email.arizona.edu with the subject line Orvieto Travel Grant Application. For questions please also contact Dr. Soren.

Deadline: Your application materials should be received by January 17th for summer programs.

Scholarships are made possible by the JOSEPH AND MARY CACIOPPO FOUNDATION HONORING CHARLES R. YOUNG.

Fellowships

Fellowships provide stipends to support living expenses, as well as tuition waivers and other employment benefits. Fellowships are available only to students who are currently enrolled in the PhD-track graduate program. Graduate students admitted to terminal MA programs are ineligible for these fellowships.

  • Source: Gifts to honor the contributions of two eminent scholars; archaeologist, Lewis R. Binford and paleoanthropologist, F. Clark Howell
  • Eligibility: Graduate students in the Ph.D. program of the School of Anthropology
  • Purpose: Support for those who intend to conduct research on Paleolithic archaeology or paleoanthropology, preferably but not exclusively, in Europe, Africa or the Near East
  • Funding: The Fellowship includes a stipend of $25,000. Fellows are eligible for up to three years of support

  • Source: Emil W. Haury and Agnese Nelms Haury
  • Eligibility: Graduate students in the School of Anthropology
  • Purpose: Awards are split between recruitment of new students and support of dissertation-writers
  • Funding: One or more fellowships awarded annually, including a $20,000 stipend

  • Source: A gift from Agnese Nelms Haury
  • Eligibility: Graduate students in the Ph.D. program in the School of Anthropology
  • Purpose: To provide multi-year support for a Ph.D. student who is interested in using dendrochronological samples from archaeological or historical contexts to address archaeological dendrochronology and past human/environment interactions
  • Funding: One fellowship awarded for multiple years, including a $20,000 stipend

  • Source: Keith A. Dixon
  • Eligibility: Graduate students studying Archaeology in the School of Anthropology
  • Purpose: Awards may be split between recruitment of new students and support of dissertation-writers
  • Funding: One or more fellowships awarded annually, including a $20,000 stipend

Graduate Teaching Assistantships

The availability of Graduate Teaching Assistantships is limited by the availability of funding. Graduate teaching assistantships are available only to students who are currently enrolled in the PhD-track graduate program. Graduate students admitted to terminal MA programs are ineligible for Graduate Teaching Assistantships.

Graduate Research Assistantships

All graduate students in the School of Anthropology are eligible to participate in Graduate Research Assistantship (GRA) opportunities in the School of Anthropology. GRA’s are generally selected and funded by individual faculty who have obtained external grants and contracts. It is the right of faculty to choose individuals according to their project needs.

Other On-Campus Funding Sources

A small number of these fellowships is made available to the School of Anthropology annually and are usually used for recruitment purposes. The fellowships carry a stipend for the academic year plus an out-of-state tuition waiver. Students must be enrolled for at least nine units during each semester in which they hold this award. The award duration is one year. Only students enrolled in the PhD-track graduate program will be considered for Graduate College Fellowships. Graduate students admitted to terminal MA programs are ineligible for these fellowships.

The School of Anthropology nominates one incoming student from each of our subdisciplines for these fellowships, which are awarded by the Confluence Center and the Graduate College. Recipients are awarded $25,000 for one year plus coverage of in-state and out-of-state tuition (fees and student health insurance not included). Only students enrolled in the PhD-track graduate program will be considered for UA Excellence Fellowships. Graduate students admitted to terminal MA programs are ineligible for these fellowships.

The Graduate College offers various funding sources for students with regular graduate standing. Some of these funds are allocated to the School; others are available directly to the student from the Graduate College. Information on all available resources can be located on the Graduate College website.

A limited number of Graduate Tuition Scholarships are allocated to the School of Anthropology once annually, and they can be used to cover either out-of-state or in-state tuition. Enrolled graduate students may request to be considered for one of these scholarships by writing a letter to the Director of Graduate Studies; this letter must disclose all other sources of funding for the requested GTS award period. Preference is given to students in good standing who are not receiving significant amounts of financial support from other sources. Note that students who hold TA positions and RA positions automatically receive out-of-state tuition scholarships for each semester of employment, as well as partial rebates on in-state tuition as part of their position packages. Graduate Tuition Scholarships are only available to students enrolled in the PhD-track graduate program. Graduate students admitted to terminal MA programs are ineligible for these scholarships.

Students working towards their degrees but not resident in Tucson can reduce their tuition costs by applying for so-called “900 Waivers,” which cover non-resident tuition for one to six thesis/dissertation credits. In-state registration must still be paid by the student.

This fund is available for graduate students who have been invited to present papers at conferences. You must apply for the funds before you leave and, if your application is approved, submit receipts detailing expenses when you return. The Graduate College website posts information on deadlines and forms for applying for this funding.

Additional Funding Opportunities

The University of Arizona’s Social and Behavioral Sciences Research Institute (SBSRI) offers seed funding to graduate students. Visit the Institute’s website for complete current information.

The Graduate College maintains a great deal of relevant information on their Funding webpage.