UW–Madison and the Department of Educational Policy Studies (EPS) offers fellowships, assistantships, and awards to help offset the cost of our programs.
Fellowships
Upon admission, the department nominates some students for fellowships offered by UW–Madison. Students are eligible to compete for UW–Madison fellowships. The department also has a small number of teaching and project assistantships that are offered to graduate students as part of four-year funding packages. In addition, EPS students are frequently successful in competing for assistantships on professors’ research grants through the Wisconsin Center for Education Research and other research organizations on campus, as well as for administrative assistantships and teaching assistantships in related departments. EPS students are also extremely successful at competing for external grants (e.g., Fulbright, Fulbright-Hays, Spencer Foundation, etc.)
External fellowships and university assistantships of at least one third time routinely provide tuition remission (except for segregated fees), medical insurance, and a stipend.
Several kinds of special awards are also available. These include Vilas Fellowships limited to holders of University of Wisconsin–Madison degrees, international doctoral student travel grants, and Educational Graduate Research Scholars EdGRS for minority students. For more complete information on financial aid and check the EPS bulletin board or the Graduate School Fellowship Office.
For more information on fellowships, please see the Graduate School Fellowships Office website.
Teaching Assistantships
Teaching assistantships constitute the typical form of departmental assistance. Assistantships of one-third time or more provide a stipend, tuition remission, and carry health benefits. Students must be in good standing. Teaching assistantships for pre-dissertators are awarded on the assumption that the student will take at least 6 credits during the semester in which an assistantship is awarded. Exceptions may be made by vote of the Executive Committee.
When available, teaching assistantships are advertised on the EPS website and the EPS-Link Listserv. Fall positions are typically posted in April and spring appointments in early November. Appointments of TAs need confirmation by the Departmental Executive Committee.
Joint Japan/World Bank Graduate Scholarship Program
Eligible developing country nationals can apply to the Joint Japan/World Bank Graduate Scholarship Program (JJWBGSP) to fund studies in the EPS MA program. For more information about eligibility and the scholarship application process, please visit the JJWBGSP website. Note, the deadline to apply to the EPS MA program is December 1.
Awards and Scholarships
EPS students may receive departmental awards, undergraduate awards, and School of Education awards. Graduate students in EPS also regularly receive University awards (such as the IRIS Graduate Student Summer Fieldwork Award and the Scott Kloeck-Jensen Award) and national/international awards (such as the Boren, FLAS, Fulbright, Fulbright-Hays, Mellon, Social Science Research Council International Dissertation Research Fellowship, Spencer Dissertation Award, and Wenner-Gren Award). Information about these awards, and examples of willing proposals, are made available to EPS students.
Departmental Awards
Read about the different awards available to EPS graduate students.
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Sterling Fishman Memorial Award
The Department of Educational Policy Studies is pleased to announce the Sterling Fishman Memorial Award. Sterling Fishman was a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison who taught here for many years in the departments of Educational Policy Studies and History. Sterling was dedicated to historical and humanistic scholarship. The award honors the memory of a colleague of great distinction in the history of education. The award is given every spring to an EPS graduate student who exemplifies outstanding scholarship in the history of education. The following procedures govern the award:
- A faculty committee of three from the Department of Educational Policy Studies recommends the name of the recipient of the Fishman award for approval by the department. The department Chair appoints this committee, which includes two faculty members whose primary teaching responsibilities lie in the History of Education, and one other departmental colleague.
- Brief letters of nomination and the curriculum vitae of nominees should be submitted to the selection committee by faculty nominators. Student self-nominations will also be accepted. A letter of support from a faculty member should follow. Letters from students and faculty should be addressed to “The Sterling Fishman Memorial Award Committee,” and include information that the Selection Committee might consider. Examples of this are specified in Item 5 below.
- The Selection Committee will make its recommendation to the faculty at the April department meeting.
- The Selection Committee will take into account various criteria in making its selection of the award recipient. These include evidence of academic excellence as a student in the classroom, papers presented at professional meetings, published articles, academic honors and similar examples of scholarly achievement. These materials do not have to be submitted to the Selection Committee, but may be requested of students.
A student may receive the Fishman Award only once.
Mary Metz Award
Mary Metz, is Professor Emerita of Educational Policy Studies, with academic areas of interest in Sociology of Education, School Organization, Teaching as an Occupation, Ethnographic Research, Effects of Social Class Context on Schooling.
The purpose of the Mary Metz Fund is to provide modest financial support to graduate students in the Department of Educational Policy Studies for expenses that will help them develop as scholars and enable them to do research. These funds may be used for traditional professional expenses related to students’ development as scholars – such as computer software, transcribers or translators, and attending professional conferences. In recognition of Professor Metz’s encouragement for students to work out their interrelated lives as scholars, researchers, and as family members, funds may also be used for expenses necessary to free students’ time from family responsibilities for study and scholarship, such as child/elder care expenses.
- A 1-2 page application is required, sent to Mary Jo Gessler in the EPS office.
- The application should specify the amount of the request (up to $500), itemized to the extent possible. Requests can be made for funds used for professional and/or family expenses during the 2019-20 academic year.
- To the extent that both scholarly promise and financial need are the main criteria to be used by the faculty committee which will be making decisions with regard to the allocation of funds, all applications must state if you have received any type of university, government, or bank loan during your matriculation as a graduate student at UW-Madison. If yes, what type of loan.
- For students who receive an award, receipts must be provided for all purchases, travel, or family expenses specified in the request. Please note that within the award criteria mentioned above, students with need support for family responsibilities in order to free them for study and scholarship will receive first consideration.
Herbert Kliebard Award
This award was created to honor the distinguished career and contributions of Dr. Herbert Kliebard, Emeritus Professor in the School of Education, Department of Educational Policy Studies. The award will be given to an EPS graduate student who exemplifies outstanding scholarly achievement in the field of Educational Policy Studies.
The following procedures govern the award:
- Candidates must submit a current Curriculum Vita and a writing sample. The writing sample may be one of the following:
- Two chapters of the candidate’s dissertation
- A conference paper from a national convention
- Other examples of exemplary service in teaching and research.
- A brief letter of nomination shall be submitted to the selection committee by a faculty nominator. The letter should be addressed to the “Herb Kliebard Award Selection Committee” and include explanation of why the nominee is deserving.
- The Selection Committee will make its recommendation to the faculty at the March department meeting.
A student may receive the Kliebard Award only once.
John Palmer Award
This graduate fellowship was established by colleagues and former students of John Palmer, dean of the School of Education from 1975-1991. John Palmer joined the faculty at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1966 where he held appointments with the Departments of History, Curriculum and Instruction and Educational Policy Studies. The fellowship is given each spring to a student in Educational Policy Studies who has demonstrated academic excellence and extraordinary professional promise. The amount of the award will be determined by the committee based on availability of funds in a given year.
The following procedures govern the award:
- Candidates must submit a current Curriculum Vita and a writing sample. The writing sample may be one of the following:
- Two chapters of the candidate’s dissertation
- A conference paper from a national convention
- Other examples of exemplary service in teaching and research
- A brief letter of nomination shall be submitted to the selection committee by a faculty nominator. The letter should include an explanation of why the nominee is deserving.
- The Selection Committee will make its recommendation to the faculty at the April department meeting.
A student may receive the John Palmer Fellowship only once.
Posny Award
Dr. Alexa Posny has spent her career as a public servant and leader in the fields of Special Education and Educational Policy. In recognition of the importance of practical experience in the field, as well as the value of networking and building collegial relationships for early career success, she has created this award to increase opportunity and affordability for graduate students taking advantage of internships that will serve their career goals.
The award is available to graduate students in the School of Education whose work involves the study of special education or educational policy and who are pursuing an internship opportunity in the Washington D.C. area.
Undergraduate Awards
Some awards are offered specifically to EPS undergraduate students.
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Flanagan Community-Engaged Scholarship Award
Eric Flanagan established the Eric Flanagan Award to recognize and support students who excel both in the classroom and in volunteerism and community service. Community service has always played a central role in Eric’s life; the students who receive this award will have demonstrated a similar dedication to serving those in need during their time as a student.
Outstanding Paper in Education Studies Award
This award recognizes excellence in a course paper written by a declared Education Studies major. This is an annual award given for a paper written for an Education Studies course in the last two years. Students may self-nominate or be nominated by a faculty member or instructor of an Educational Studies course. The award comes with recognition, a certificate, and a small monetary award.
Outstanding Research in Education Studies Award
This award recognizes excellence in original education research by a declared Education Studies major. Students may self-nominate or be nominated by a faculty member in the School of Education. Your submission may stem from an individual research project or substantial contributions to a faculty member’s research project. The award comes with recognition, a certificate, and a small monetary award.