Andrew Mellon Fellowships for doctoral study are customarily awarded to advanced students, while comparable awards, the Provost's Humanities Fellowships, are given to entering graduate students in the arts and sciences. The Carolyn Chambers and Nancy Anderson Memorial Fellowships are awarded to Ph.D. students in English who show potential for an outstanding career in teaching and scholarship. The James Snead Teaching Assistantship and Award is offered to an outstanding minority student. Graduate Teaching Assistantships offer full tuition plus stipend, and serve as the basis for the English Department's highly regarded program in training college teachers. The department also awards several full or partial graduate assistantships each of which includes a stipend and remission of some tuition.
Awards depend upon individual qualifications of students who have been accepted for graduate study.
Graduate assistantships and teaching fellowships are not automatically renewed, but a student whose performance is satisfactory may anticipate renewals in accordance with the regulations printed in the graduate student handbook. Each year at least one TA or TF is chosen to receive the department's Distinguished Teaching Award. The Distinguished Teaching Award recognizes teaching assistants and fellows who have shown sustained excellence. Students applying for financial aid must have their admission files completed by February 1 for admission the following September. All other applications will be accepted through April 1.