Graduate Funding
Empowering scholarship
The Franco Institute offers funding that enables graduate students to further their research, produce scholarship, and prepare for careers within the academy and beyond. Graduate research grants facilitate critical research related to dissertations and other major projects, enhancing graduate students’ development as independent researchers, published authors, artists, and future professionals.
This funding aids in the timely completion of their degree requirements and can give students a competitive edge when applying for prestigious external grants and fellowships.
Which projects receive funding?
The scholarship made possible by Franco Institute funding is as far-ranging as the many disciplines in the College of Arts & Letters. Awards are made to graduate students across the arts, humanities, and social sciences. Funding decisions are based on a project’s overall intellectual merit, research design, timeliness in relation to the applicant’s year in their program, feasibility, impact, and goals. Common to all award-winning proposals is a concise, well-written, persuasive argument for funding.
Please consult this Graduate Proposal Writing Guide which outlines eight general principles for crafting strong proposals.
Dissertation Fellows Program
Timing: Academic Year
$1,000 stipend
September 18, 2026
This program provides fellows with designated writing time and a small stipend in support of timely completion of their dissertation.
Graduate Working Groups
Timing: Academic Year, Summer
up to $5,000; Funds will be transferred to the sponsoring unit in January 2026. All sponsored activities must take place by May 1, 2027.
October 2, 2026
Franco Graduate Working Groups (GWGs) provide doctoral students with additional resources and support to explore questions best addressed through interdisciplinary perspectives.
Graduate Student Research Award (GSRA)
Up to $5,000
October 2, 2026 & March 5, 2027
GSRA awards assist graduate students with expenses related to research or creative projects that their departments are unable to meet
Graduate Creative and Performing Arts Grants
Timing: Academic Year, Summer
Up to $1500
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis until March 12, 2027
Graduate Creative and Performing Arts Grants support projects by Arts & Letters students in the creative and performing arts.
Diana M. Sciola Grant
Timing: Academic Year, Summer
Up to $5,000
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis until March 5, 2027; Seniors must apply by January 31.
The Diana M. Sciola Endowment for Excellence supports projects that study the various ways in which the Catholic tradition has influenced art throughout the ages
American Dream Grant
Timing: Summer
Up to $5,000
March 19, 2027
The American Dream Summer Grant Program, sponsored by the Prochaska Family, supports research or creative projects on topics exploring the American Dream.
Student Annual Research Theme Grant
Timing: Academic Year, Summer
$5,000
The new theme grant will open on September 1, 2026 and continue until funds are exhausted
In 2020, the institute began to offer an annual research theme grant to support scholarship “of timely importance to society.” This year's theme is "Attention."