Graduate
Graduate Funding
Apply for Department of Religious Studies Graduate Teaching Assistantships
*The Department of Religious Studies is not currently accepting new applications for GTAs.*
Each academic year, the Department of Religious Studies awards Graduate Teaching Assistantships to around 5 qualified graduated students. GTAs will be required to assist the instructor with one Religious Studies principal course each semester. The Religious Studies faculty decides the assignment of GTAs to specific courses. GTAs receive a living stipend and all tuition costs and up to 50% of course fees are covered. The Department will review each application carefully and make a recommendation based on the quality of the applicant. Interviews may be conducted if deemed necessary. A GTA appointment is for a one-year term and typically renewable only once. GTA responsibilities may include:
- Grading of examinations and papers
- Interaction with students regarding grading and course concerns
- Occasionally lecture under supervision of faculty
- Maintaining course records: roster, grades, etc.
- Regular attendance in class
- Leading discussion class sections, if required by the structure of the course
The prospective GTA needs to meet all employment eligibility requirements as set by the University of Kansas and the Kansas Board of Regents. Please see additional resources regarding GTA appointments:
Apply for the Mabel Jensen Travel Award
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.
The department's Mabel Jensen Fund provides funding to support graduate students who: (a) plan to present a research paper at a professional conference, workshop, etc., or (b) plan to attend an annual meeting of the American Academy of Religion or a comparable professional meeting for the specific purpose of consulting with faculty in prospective Ph.D. programs. Students must submit a Mabel Jensen Travel Award Application to be considered. Funding will be determined on the basis of seniority of applicants, funding available, and the projected number of applicants, and is normally capped at $500 per conference. The funds will be disbursed after the event. APPLICATIONS MUST BE SUBMITTED BEFORE YOU TRAVEL.
If you are applying for travel money from the Department of Religious Studies, you should also apply for financial support through the KU Office of Graduate Studies. Additional financial support for conference presentations is available to graduate students through the Graduate Scholarly Presentation Travel Fund administered by that office.
Apply for the Graduate Student Research/Academic Development Award
Academic year funding applications are accepted on a rolling basis. Summer funding applications are due by March 31.
Contingent upon available funds, the Department of Religious Studies is able to support activities directly related to a graduate student’s academic program that are not otherwise funded by scholarships, grants, or other university or departmental funds. Eligible activities may include: intensive language study, field/archival research, short-term workshops, internships, or skill development opportunities.
* Please note that this award is not intended to support travel to conferences; the Mabel Jensen fund provides conference support. Funds are awarded based upon the relevance of the proposed activity to the student’s academic program, as well as upon the availability of funds, which may vary from year to year. Students may receive research/academic development funding only one time during the course of their MA program.
If you are applying for travel money from the Department of Religious Studies, you should also apply for financial support through the KU Office of Graduate Studies. Additional financial support for conference presentations is available to graduate students through the Graduate Scholarly Presentation Travel Fund administered by that office.
Apply for Department of Religious Studies Scholarships
Deadline to apply: March 15
**Deadline extended to April 1, 2022!*
Students making excellent progress in their program and coursework wishing to be considered for scholarships should complete an application.
Friends of the Department of Religious Studies (FODORS) Scholarships
Awards: number and size of awards may vary; generally not less than $1,000 per year or more than $15,000 per year for out-of-state students and $7,000 per year for in-state students.
Eligibility: Students already enrolled and students newly admitted into the M.A. program are eligible to apply. Graduate students are required to enroll for a minimum of nine academic hours each semester, while GTAs must enroll for a minimum of six hours.
Zelma McIlvain Scholarships
Awards: Two or more scholarships of $1,000 to $5,000 each
Eligibility: Preference is given to undergraduate religious studies majors of all levels; graduate students in religious studies are also eligible.
St. John’s Episcopal Church Scholarships
Awards: Two or more scholarships of $500 to $1,000 each
Eligibility: Religious studies majors planning to attend divinity school or pursue careers in social work; seniors and graduate students.
Starrett-Clark Scholarships
Awards: Two or more scholarships of $400 to $800 each
Eligibility: Preference will be given to religious studies graduate students currently engaged in writing theses; undergraduate majors also eligible.
