NSF reviews proposals by sending them to two or three sociologists working in the area, and normally makes a funding decision within three months. Each semester the Graduate College provides small awards for graduate students to travel to professional meetings to give papers and for certain research expenses associated with a doctoral dissertation. After screening and ranking applications, the department can submit up to six applications for conference travel and three for thesis support each semester. For more information, contact the Graduate College. Application information is available on their website.
Funds are limited, so apply early.
NDSL Loans and College Work-Study are based on financial need, and applications may require documentation of need. Applications for loans and work-study are separate from applications for fellowships, assistantships, or tuition and fee waivers. Graduate students may also apply for guaranteed loans through lenders in their home towns who participate in guaranteed loan programs. Submit applications in the spring term for the following academic year, but you may wish to delay processing the application until you have received a response to applications for fellowships, assistantships, tuition and fee waivers, NDSL loans, and College Work-Study. Both must be repaid within sixty days or by the end of the semester, whichever is earlier.