Student Support

Unlocking Your Potential: Discover Diverse Funding Avenues for Your Education Journey!

Welcome to our comprehensive student funding page: your gateway to a plethora of internal and external financial opportunities at the University of Illinois, Springfield. Explore various scholarships, grants, work-study programs, and fellowships tailored to support your academic pursuits and alleviate financial barriers. Whether you're a first-year student or nearing graduation, here you'll find invaluable resources to empower your ambitions and fuel your dreams. Embrace the possibilities and embark on a transformative path with the backing of diverse funding opportunities that await you!"

UIS Student Research Funding Program

This program has no application deadlines; applications will be accepted year-round.

The Student Research Fund was established by the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs & Provost to promote undergraduate and graduate student research endeavors at the University of Illinois Springfield. The Program provides matching funds, up to a maximum of $500 per student, in support of approved research, scholarly, and creative activities that will promote the University of Illinois Springfield as well as the development of students as active learners and scholars.

More information: 24-25 Student Research Funding Guidelines.docx

UIS Floyd Public Policy Research Scholarship

Submission Deadline: October 21, 2024

A generous benefactor established the Floyd Public Policy Research Scholarship Fund to encourage graduate student research projects at the University of Illinois Springfield. The Floyd Public Policy Research Fund annually provides a scholarship of $1,000 to a master’s or doctoral student to assist with tuition and fees.

The donor intends for this scholarship to create an opportunity for dialogue between UIS and members of Illinois communities that could lead to better policy decisions. Proposals for research in any academic department at UIS are eligible for consideration for this scholarship fund.

More information: AY 24-25 Floyd Public Policy Scholarship RFP.docx

Other opportunities 

UIS Outstanding Master's Thesis/Project Award (OMTA)

Each graduate faculty member at UIS can nominate one student for the Outstanding Thesis/Project award program. The faculty member's nomination must be accompanied by a letter explaining the reasons for the nomination. The letter may comment on issues such as the breadth of conceptualization, the depth of the analysis, the significance of the results, and/or the originality of the idea underlying the thesis/project. If the nominated work is a project, the letter should highlight the purpose and nature of the project, as well as its importance to the student's course of study.

The Research Board may recommend that a master’s thesis be entered into the Distinguished Master’s Thesis Award program of the Midwestern Association of Graduate Schools.

More information: 23-24 OMTA - Nomination Guidelines

If you have more questions, please feel free to reach out to us at ora@uis.edu.