External Fellowship Information
Information for CEE GRAs who receive an external or UMD fellowship
Congratulations on receiving an external fellowship! You may have been offered a stipend, tuition remission or health insurance support, and there are things you need to consider before taking next steps.
First, identify the process of how to officially accept your award. Be sure to read the terms of the award carefully and consider how those terms affect you.
Fellowships often require that the recipient have no other employment or appointment in the UMD employment system. Your current GRA appointment is considered employment, so it will need to be terminated for the duration of the fellowship. Termination of your appointment will also terminate your employee health insurance benefits.
Action Steps/Things to Consider:
Have I reported my fellowship to the CEE Payroll/HR Team and the Graduate Studies Office?
Will my current GRA appointment need to end, and when exactly will that be?
How much is my fellowship stipend and how will I receive the payment?
Will I need to find alternate health insurance?
Do I have outstanding paymnet actions that need to be resolved before starting my fellowship?
Will I be changed in-state or out-of-state tuition while on the fellowship? How many credits will my tuition remission cover, and over how many semesters?
Who is the point-of-contact for questions about my fellowship?
Have I confirmed the plan for reappointment once my fellowship ends?
The answers to these questions, and steps you need to take, will vary based on the fellowship you received. For additional information, please read your award letter, or reach out to the fellowship contact. The CEE Payroll Team (ceepayroll@umd.edu) and the Graduate Office (adamm1@umd.edu) can also help.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are potential consequences to my health insurance through accepting this fellowship?
For most fellowships, you will be responsible for obtaining your own health insurance if you wish to have it. If you are unsure, please consult your offer letter, or the contact person for the fellowship.
Common fellowships that will require you to obtain your own health insurance:
Wylie Dissertation Fellowship
Global STEWARDS
Most University of Maryland fellows enroll in the Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP). However, you are free to research different plans and choose what’s best for you.
How is tuition remission processed?
Graduate Assistantship/Clark Doctoral Fellowship: Graduate Assistants do not need to submit the electronic tuition remission form each semester or term in order to receive tuition remission. All GAs that have an active appointment in the university payroll system (PHR) and are registered for classes each semester or term will automatically receive the appropriate tuition remission posted to their student account, based on their full or part time status.
However, graduate assistants should check with their departmental approver to confirm that your appointment is active in PHR. Each subsequent semester or term, graduate assistants will automatically receive an email stating that their tuition remission has been processed. Graduate Assistants must maintain an active appointment in PHR through the last day of their classes or tuition remission will be charged back to their student account. For more information view the Tuition Remission FAQs and General Info for Graduate Assistants. You can also contact tuitionremission@umd.edu with questions.
Dean’s Fellowship: Dean’s Fellowship tuition remission is credited after tuition remission deriving from other funds. For example, if you are receiving 5 credits of tuition remission from a GRA, and 5 from the Dean’s Fellowship, the 5 credits from the GRA will be used first.
Dean’s Fellowship tuition remission can take up several weeks into the semester to be credited, so you might see a balance on your student account. Please contact Anna Damm (adamm1@umd.edu) with any questions if you are waiting for your Dean’s Fellowship tuition remission.
Wylie Dissertation Fellowship:Wylie Dissertation covers the candidacy tuition fee, and mandatory fees for one semester to the students account.
Summer Research Fellowship: This award does not cover tuition remission.
NSF Fellowships: see offer letter
Global STEWARDS: see offer letter
How will I get paid while on a fellowship?
Clark Doctoral Fellowship: Bi-weekly payment
Dean's Fellowship: One payment, directly to the student’s account or by check (international students), once per semester while the fellowship is in place. For example, if your total Dean’s Fellowships is $12,500, you will receive $6,250 per semester.
Wylie Dissertation Fellowship: One payment, directly to the student’s account or by check (international students), once per semester while the fellowship is in place.
Summer Research Fellowship: Recipients are paid either biweekly through a PHR appt or by an award through the Student Award system for a total amount of $5,000.
NSF Fellowship: see offer letter
Global STEWARDS: see offer letter
Can I work outside of the fellowship?
This means - will you still be on CEE payroll and keep your assistantship? Or, are you able to have a job elsewhere (i.e. off-campus) while on this fellowship?
Dean's Fellowship: Yes
Wylie Dissertation Fellowship: No
Summer Research Fellowship: No
NSF Fellowship: see offer letter
Global STEWARDS: No
Will I receive travel funds?
Some fellowships offer a travel stipend. Please check your award letter for applicability and amount.