Grants for Graduate School

Grants are considered ‘free money’ since they do not have to be paid or returned. Most Grants are awarded in the form of ‘cash’ and, as a result, can be used for an array of educational needs and related expenses of a student. This can considerably reduce the cost of education and present the flexibility to concentrate on or take up other areas of interest and pursuit.

Broadly speaking, grants are either based on complex formulae or plain and simple factors such as ethnicity, community, socio-economic status, gender, academic performance, or a particular subject/field like teaching, music, nursing, or sports. For example, there are specific grants awarded only to disabled students, some that address female students, some that address only African American students, and so on.

Grants for graduate school are also handed out by universities or colleges one is applying to, based on a wide range of criteria. Similarly, the military is another source of graduate school funding, as are corporates, private funders, and the Federal or State Governments. All in all, grant money is available from a host of sources, and it is for this reason students must explore, research, and understand what suits them and their needs the best before applying for one.

Hundreds of grants for graduate school are available, some for a specific school year and others for the taking perpetually. Since grants are, in broad terms, not quite academic-achievement-oriented, they tend to be unlimited by scope and reach. For every student who has a specific need, comes from a particular background, or belongs to a particular race, region, or even religion, a grant may be available for all of these and more! Since it is quite impossible to list all the grants out there, we have categorized them for easy understanding and exploration:

1. Merit-Based Grants – Merit-Based Grants are usually awarded to students with high academic achievement in their studies or a specific subject. Credits, test scores, honors, and awards are commonly considered for these grants.
2. Need-Based Grants – Need-Based Grants cater to ‘deserving’ students who may not necessarily have an impressive academic record. These grants are often based on a single or mixture of several factors such as ethnicity, socio-economic status, dependency status, etc.
3. Academic Departmental Grants – Academic Departmental Grants are limited to a specific subject or domain within the larger scope of academia as a whole. Such grants focus only on department-related study, research, or work and require students to major.
4. Corporate Grants – Corporate Grants are awarded usually to students who are connected with the vision and mission of a company, but sometimes even to students who may not necessarily relate to the company’s field of operation. Large corporations often reserve a fund for grants as a social responsibility initiative.
5. Professional Association Grants – Professional Association Grants are typically related to a particular field of study, research, or work the student is involved in and are therefore restricted to only those within the sphere of that specific field.
6. Federal/Public Grants – Federal or Public Grants are awarded from funds the Federal Government allocates. These grants are not necessarily limited to merit or need and, therefore, cater to a broader audience of students seeking aid.
7. State Grants – State Grants are akin to Federal Grants, with the difference being that the State Government allocates funds for such grants, not the Federal Government.
8. Private Grants – Private Grants are generally those given by individuals or a group of individuals. These grants may be restrictive and often limited to a specific reason, purpose, or cause.
9. Institutional Grants – Institutional Grants are university or college-specific grants awarded to students enrolled in a particular university or college program. These grants are not necessarily merit-based.
10. Demographic Grants – Demographic Grants typically cover certain ethnic or minority groups and communities. They could also be based on gender, marital status, and other factors that different types of grants may not cover.
11. Other Grants – A wide range of other kinds of grants, lesser-known or relatively small, are available. Such grants tend to be highly categorized or specific and are therefore not sought after by graduate students. Some examples of such grants are Project Grants, Categorical Grants, Block Grants, Formula Grants, and Earmark Grants.
    
    A point to note is that grants need not be awarded only to students; they can also be given to departments, institutions, research centers, and, in rare cases, even startups.

Many students worry about how to apply for grants for graduate school. The process is neither cumbersome nor complex; it requires patience, focus, and a keen sense of purpose. With these, one could easily apply for a grant for graduate school.

Steps on How to Apply for Grants for Graduate School

1. Step – 1: Know the Need – At the beginning, the applicant must always know what they require, for what purpose, and how much. Knowing this in advance can save much time and hassle in finding a suitable grant. Also, trying and being specific while searching for a grant – such as grants for a master’s degree or grants for research programs, and so on, would be to one’s advantage.
2. Step – 2: Search for a Funder – The next step is to look for grantors who match the applicant’s needs. This can be easily achieved by speaking to faculty members at the university or searching the internet for a suitable funder.
3. Step – 3: Understand the Funder’s Requirements – If the grant is suitable to the student, they must also check to see whether the grantor’s needs are met or not, what the requirements and eligibility criteria are, and if they can be fulfilled. Keeping an eye on application dates and deadlines that may be mentioned is strongly advised.
4. Step – 4: Draft an Application – In case the Student’s and grantor’s needs are in tune with one another, the student may proceed with applying for the grant, bearing in mind all instructions put forth by the grantor.
5. Step – 5: Review the Application – It is good practice always to review the application and check for anything that may have been overlooked or for errors to fix and changes to be made.
6. Step – 6: Add Supporting Documents – If required and asked for specifically, adding supporting documents to the main application is an obvious thing to do. However, one must not go overboard by attaching irrelevant documents to bulk it up.
7. Step – 7: Submit the Application – Following the instructions as to how, when, where, and to whom the application is to be submitted is important. The submission should preferably be made early, well before the deadline.

Note: Many grants are awarded on a first-come, first-serve basis. Applying early significantly improves the chances of being accepted for funding.

Sections in an Application for Grant

Every grant application is unique, but having said that, specific points or sections are commonly required to be part of an application. These sections are, but not limited to

1. List of Goals/Objectives – A Student applying for a grant for graduate school should begin their application by listing their academic and otherwise goals and objectives.
2. Demonstration of Need – The next step is to show a real need for funding and why it may be beyond the reach of the applicant to fund the program, project, or research by themselves.
3. Proposal Outline  – A brief yet informative proposal with crucial points that summarize the study or project and how it will be executed.
4. Stating the Grant’s Impact – State why and how the grant will impact the proposal and the outcomes.
5. Existing Resource & Capabilities – Outline existing resources, such as own funds, sponsorships, team members, etc., and capabilities of those involved in the whole operation.
6. Budgets, Timelines & Metrics – Consider general budgets and timelines with essential milestones, phases, and metrics where possible.
7. Inclusion of Specific Information – If the grant is specific in its scope and reach, mention relevant information and additional information that the funder may have asked for. In some instances, the applicant may be asked to submit an Essay, in which case they can get some good professional tips on how to write one.

Grants for graduate school vary depending on several factors, including the state of residency of a student and current academic pursuits. Given this fact, listing all the grants available across the country’s length and breadth is nearly impossible. However, here are a few that are popular among students falling under certain categories: