Funding

Missouri State University offers a number of special funding opportunities for graduate students including thesis research, non-thesis research, and student travel funding. This funding specifically supports your research and helps pay costs incurred while initiating or constructing your project. All applications must be submitted electronically as one PDF document.

Thesis Research Funding

The intent of Thesis Funding is to support student research by providing financial assistance to be used toward the costs incurred in thesis research projects.

All graduate student thesis projects that have progressed to the point where there is clarity in the research goals and the student has completed any relevant research compliance approvals are eligible for funding.

Awards average approximately $500 for each thesis project.

The application deadline for Fall is September 1st. The application deadline for Spring is February 1st. The application deadline for Summer is July 1st (starting summer 2025). If a deadline falls on a holiday or weekend, the applications will be accepted the following business day.

For more information on general funding, eligibility, and the application process, please see Thesis Research Funding (Word document). Incomplete applications will not receive funding. Please check to make sure all of your information has been included -- this includes any and all training certifications and research compliance documentation.

Non-Thesis Research Funding

This award was established to provide some degree of financial assistance to be used toward the costs incurred for research projects that are smaller in scope than a thesis.

All graduate student non-thesis projects that have progressed to the point where there is clarity in the research goals and the student has completed any relevant research compliance approvals are eligible for funding.

Awards average approximately $250 for each project.

For more information on general funding, eligibility, and the application process, please see Non-Thesis Research Funding (Word document). Incomplete applications will not receive funding. Please check to make sure all of your information has been included -- this includes any and all training certifications and research compliance documentation.

Graduate student travel funding

Graduate students can apply for funding assistance to present their research at conferences, symposiums and more. The student must be presenting at the conference, as opposed to simply attending. Students may be listed as a single author or co-author.

Students are eligible for this funding if: (a) the research was conducted while a student at MSU (must be registered for courses the semester of application, or if in the summer must be registered for courses for the fall semester), (b) the proposal for presentation occurred and is submitted to the Graduate College prior to graduation, and (c) the conference occurs no more than one year following graduation.

Amount

The maximum award per graduate student is $300, contingent on the Graduate College having the funds available. The maximum of $300 may be awarded for a single conference, or for more than one conference, depending on the amount of funds requested by the student on the application. Once the student has been awarded the maximum, she/he is not eligible for any additional graduate student travel funding.

Application details

Applications must be submitted to the Graduate College at least one month prior to travel. Funding will not be awarded post-travel. Each student should fill out an application and submit the required documentation along with the actual projected costs. However, if students plan to travel together and share expenses, they should submit their forms at the same time.

The Graduate College will send notification regarding travel funding to the student(s) two weeks prior to the conference date. If multiple students are attending the same conference, they will be notified as a group with a single email.

Please read all instructions and provide all required documentation as noted on the link below entitled Graduate Student Travel Funding Application. Applications submitted without the required signatures, budget number, and documentation will not be processed.

Download the Graduate Student Travel Funding Application (Word Doc).

Return to Graduate Incentive

The "Return to Graduate Incentive" provides a one-time $500 tuition fee waiver to students who have not completed their degree program. Selection is based on certain criteria. Students and their Graduate Program Director/Advisor must fill out the eligibility form and submit all required information listed on the form to the Graduate College prior to the semester that the student expects to return to their graduate program of study. The Graduate College will review and notify the GPD/Advisor and Student as to if the student will receive the incentive.

Additional graduate student travel funding

If you are researching or writing thesis projects on any aspect of Latin American, Caribbean and/or Hispanic studies, you are eligible to apply for several grant and travel funding initiatives.

For more information and application materials, contact Dr. John F. Chuchiak IV in the history department.