Before you begin your search for financial support, you should be familiar with the financial aid options available to you as a graduate student. Grad school is a major investment and almost all graduate students need some form of financial aid during their academic career. Naturally, this type of aid is the most sought after type of funding - and the most difficult to receive. Scholarships and graduate fellowships may be awarded on the basis of need, merit, or both.
Fellowships are highly competitive and designed to attract students with excellent academic records.
Most fellowships provide for tuition and stipend. Institutional fellowships are awarded through specific university programs. School financial aid offices can give you information on any available institutional fellowships. Guides to portable fellowships can be found in your financial aid office or public library. Many private grant and scholarship programs exist through community groups, businesses, and non-profit agencies.