University-Administered Graduate Student Fellowships and Traineeships

University-administered fellowships or traineeships are ones for which the funds are administered by the University to the student, regardless of the funding source.  Graduate student fellowships and traineeships are awarded on the basis of academic merit and provide actively enrolled students with the opportunity to pursue study, training and research. Fellowships carry no service obligations. Traineeships may carry service obligations.

I. Eligibility and Selection for Graduate Student Fellowships and Traineeships

1. Students who are admitted to a University of Minnesota graduate program are eligible to hold a University-administered fellowship or traineeship if they are registered for at least the minimum number of credits required by the fellowship or traineeship for a particular term.
2. Recipients of graduate student fellowships and traineeships must meet registration requirements and other terms and conditions of their award for the duration of their fellowship or traineeship.
3. All students who apply for and meet the eligibility criteria for a fellowship or traineeship must be considered for the fellowship or traineeship in accordance with established review and selection processes and criteria.
4. University colleges and departments, or other University units as appropriate, must publicize the fellowships and traineeships the unit offers, including the eligibility and selection criteria. These materials should be provided in multiple accessible formats as requested by the student.

II. Fellowship and Traineeship Stipends and Benefits

1. Ranges for graduate fellowship and traineeship stipends are established each fiscal year by the awarding collegiate unit, department, academic program, and/or external agency. These ranges must follow the rules and guidelines set by the sponsoring entity.
2. The awarding collegiate unit, department, academic program, and/or external agency stipulates the benefits. These benefits must follow the rules and guidelines set by the sponsoring entity.
3. Students who hold University-administered fellowships or traineeships that provide a stipend that is equivalent to at least a 25% graduate assistantship are eligible for resident tuition rates.
4. Students who hold University-administered fellowships or traineeships for at least two academic semesters are eligible for the extended benefit of resident tuition rates once their fellowship or traineeship ends. They may receive this benefit for no more than the number of semesters for which they held their fellowship or traineeship, up to a maximum of four semesters. This benefit will not extend beyond three years from the termination of the qualifying fellowship or traineeship. Members of the student’s immediate family may also be eligible for resident tuition rates. 
5. Fellows and trainees are responsible for payment of charges not covered by the fellowship or traineeship (e.g., lab, late registration, or student services fees).
6. Fellows or trainees who leave their graduate program before the end of a semester in which they hold a fellowship or traineeship may be required to re-pay all or a portion of the stipend for that term.
7. Fellowships and traineeships may be supplemented by other University-administered support (e.g., a graduate assistantship) unless restricted by the terms of the fellowship or traineeship. The level of supplementation may vary according to the terms of the fellowship or traineeship.

Exceptions

This policy does not apply to the J.D., M.D., Pharm.D., D.V.M., D.D.S, L.L.M. and M.B.A. (Twin Cities) degrees.