Student resources and financial aid

Grants and Other Aid

Graduate students have numerous opportunities to receive internal and external funding for their research, including grants, research assistantships, fellowships, scholarships and other aid.

Department-based financial aid

• Grant-based research assistantship (RA) positions
• Teaching assistantship (TA) positions
• Fellowships
  ESP offers a limited number of fellowships are available annually through the department. Applications are available in August. For additional information contact the Graduate Coordinator at 703-993-3187 or e-mail.
• Financial Aid within the College of Science
• Office of Student Financial Aid
• Other Sources of Funding at Mason
• Graduate Student Travel Fund
• Grants
  Graduate students are encouraged to consider applying for external funding for their research. While internal funding is available, it is limited. Receiving external research grant can offer greater flexibility for students to pursue their research interests, and is considered an honor that may help future employment.

• Funding Opportunities

There are numerous other funding opportunities available to students who engage in research. The following are examples of grant “clearing houses” that search multiple funding agencies, private funders, and foundations:

Grant Search Engines

GrantsNet

In addition to grant clearing houses, graduate students who are interested in applying for external funding should investigate the following funders:

• American Chemical Society, Funding & Awards
• NOAA Coastal Management Fellowship
• Hudson River Foundation
• IBM Center for the Business of Government
• Lincoln Institute of Land Policy Dissertation Fellowship
• National Science Foundation
• National Institutes of Health
• NOAA Acquisitions and Grants Office
• NOAA National Sea Grant, Dean John A. Knauss Marine Policy Fellowships
• NOAA National Sea Grant
• Oikos International Ph.D. Fellowship
• Resources for the Future
• The Foundation Center
• US Department of Agriculture
• US Environmental Protection Agency, National Center for Environmental Research Grants
• US Environmental Protection Agency, National Center for Environmental Research Graduate Fellowships
• US Environmental Protection Agency
• US Geological Survey, Water Research Institute Program
• US National Park Service
• Virginia Water Resources Center

Students wishing to apply for external funding should contact George Mason University's Office of Sponsored Programs, which oversees the administration of all external grant funds and may be able to assist in completing your proposal.

• Grant writing assistance

Introduction to Grant Writing
The Center for Teaching Excellence (CTE) offers help via their informal faculty-mentoring program.

Office of Sponsored Programs
The Office of Sponsored Programs (OSP) is the pre- and post-award administration office for all externally sponsored projects for George Mason University. OSP provides assistance in proposal budget development and proposal submission. The office also reviews and signs off on all proposals to external sponsors. All contracts with the University which involve sponsored projects are reviewed, negotiated, and executed by OSP.