Graduate Opportunity Fellowship (D, R)

The Graduate Opportunity Fellowship (GOF) is a one year fellowship for first year MFA and doctoral students that is designed to release recipients from employment or loan obligations that might delay progress in graduate study. It is designed to facilitate the academic career development of students who have experienced significant disadvantage in their prior educational experiences.

First Nomination Deadline: February 17, 2022 12:00 PM

Second Nomination Deadline : March 17, 2022 12:00 PM

For more information contact: Mariela Menendez at fellowships@exchange.uci.edu 

Funding Package
  • In the first year, the Graduate Division will award fellowship support of a $23,000 stipend, distributed during the academic year, plus payment of fees/tuition and document fee.
  • The department will supplement the award by:
    • 20% supplement ($4,600). 
    • Non resident tuition (if needed).
  • The department will guarantee the student’s funding for five years for a PhD and two to three years for a MFA, from TA/GSR funding etc.
Eligibility 
  • Nominee must be admitted to a doctoral or MFA program at UCI.
  • Nominee must demonstrate high potential and promise. 
  • Nominee must be a United States citizen, permanent resident, or AB540 eligible
  • Nominee needs to be interviewed by the admission committee.
  • Nominee must have a minimum 3.0 cumulative undergraduate and master’s (if applicable) GPA. 
  • Nominee must have a pending SIR. 
  • Nominee must meet the UC definition of diversity.
Nomination Process
  • Each program can only submit one nomination for the GOF fellowship via Slate. 
  • Interested students should contact the program they are applying to and discuss interest in the fellowship.
  • The statement of purpose or personal history statement on the UC Irvine Online Application for Graduate Admissions will be used to help determine eligibility for nomination and selection of final awardees.

Review Criteria

  • Nominees will be reviewed on the following criteria in order:
    • Meeting the UC definition of diversity. 
    • Interest in diversifying the program. 
    • Proven resilience in the face of challenges, while still making exceptional achievements. 
    • Likelihood to finish the degree program to which they were admitted. 

Graduate Division Contact:  Questions can be directed to Mariela Menendez at fellowships@exchange.uci.edu