Funding Opportunities

The College of Fine Arts Graduate Student Research (GSR) Grant is awarded on a competitive basis with the intent to support significant research (both scholarly and creative projects) across the CFA. This program will provide graduate students with individual grants up to $2,000 to support research projects. Proposals are evaluated on their significance, soundness, and merits. Proposals will also be considered in light of the student’s standing in their home department/school and the project’s impact on the student’s success in their graduate studies. Click here to be taken to the CFA Graduate Research Grant Application. 

Description

The College of Fine Arts Finale Fellowship is designed to provide crucial financial support to graduate students in their final year of study within the College of Fine Arts. This fellowship aims to alleviate financial hardships, enabling students to focus on successfully completing their terminal degrees and transitioning into the professional world. This fellowship provides a stipend of $20,800 per fellowship with financial support that covers tuition and fees, and other institutional expenses with $1000 research fund that can be used for projects and travel.

Purpose and Goals:

• To support graduate candidates who have made significant investments in their education by providing the financial resources necessary to overcome financial challenges in their final year.
• To ensure that students can complete their studies without the burden of financial stress, allowing them to fully dedicate themselves to their academic and creative endeavors.
• To facilitate a smooth transition from graduate education to professional careers, equipping students with the financial stability needed to embark on their professional journeys.

Eligibility:

• Graduate students in all graduate degree programs in the College of Fine Arts who are in their final year of study. However, preference will be given to terminal degree applicants (MFA, PhD, and DMA). 
• Candidates must submit a personal statement about how this fund will help them complete their studies and provide a clear plan for the completion of their degree.

Impact on the College of Fine Arts:

• By offering the Finale Fellowship, the College of Fine Arts can attract and retain top-tier talent, maintaining its competitive edge among peer institutions.
• The fellowship underscores the College’s commitment to supporting its students' academic and professional success, enhancing the overall caliber of graduate education.

Review Criteria 

• Academic Merit: Applicants must demonstrate strong academic performance, reflected in their GPA and academic records. In addition, any academic honors, awards, or recognitions received during their graduate studies will be considered.
• Progress Toward Degree Completion: Applications show strong progress made towards completing their graduate degree, including coursework, research, and creative projects. A detailed timeline for the final year of study, including key milestones and expected graduation date should be included in the application. 
• Impact on Professional Development: Priority will be given to the applications that provide strong connection between the applicant’s career objectives and how the fellowship will facilitate their transition to the professional world.
• Quality of the Application: The overall quality of the application, including the clarity, coherence, and persuasiveness of the statements provided.
• Financial Need: Preference will be given to applicants with extenuating circumstances that contribute to financial hardship.

The Finale Fellowship is more than just financial aid; it is a commitment to the future success of our graduate students and the continued excellence of the College of Fine Arts. Through this fellowship, we aim to empower our students to achieve their highest potential and to make significant contributions to the arts and their respective fields.

Application Process

• Completed application form
• Academic transcripts
• Degree completion plan and timeline
• Statement of career goals and professional preparation
• One letter of recommendation from faculty members or professional mentors
• Portfolio of work (if applicable)
• Your application will be ranked and reviewed by your Chair/Director or his/her designee, such as your Director of Graduate Programs before sending to the CFA Grant Committee.

For more information, click here to be taken to the CFA Finale Fellowship application. 

This travel fund is to support Individual Undergraduate or Graduate Students' travel to present or perform their scholarly or creative research at national or international venues. There is a limit of $750 International/$500 National per academic year for each applicant, and funds will be disbursed on a first-come basis.

All international travel fund requests must be received by the Dean’s office 4 weeks prior to the trip departure date

Please e-mail a completed application form to Associate Dean Lien Shen and be sure to include a copy of the formal invitation to present or a link to the conference/presenting organization's website listing you as a presenter/performer or be sure to include a paragraph from your department chair, school director, or faculty advisor explaining why this presentation/performance is important to your graduate career and/or education. Please direct any questions about the Individual Student Travel Grants to CFA Dean's Office Administrative Assistant at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Please send all communications through your uMail and check it regularly for responses -- e-mails sent from/to private e-mail addresses (gmail.com/hotmail.com/yahoo.com/etc) are not being successfully sent/received.

Please note that the Dean's Office Graduate Student Travel Fund is not available for opportunities that could be funded by the CFA FAF Grants.

Individual Student Travel Application 2024-25.pdf

The Dean will provide Fund for Excellence Awards on a first-come-first-served basis for projects that illustrate work of particularly high quality, as measured by the criteria listed below. Although the funds are primarily intended for student projects, in certain circumstances particularly worthy faculty projects that benefit students may also be considered. All proposed projects should illustrate extraordinary learning and/or research activities. The Fund for Excellence is supported entirely by contributions from generous donors to the College of Fine Arts.

criteria

Financial Matters

• In order to receive a Fund for Excellence Award, other College monies must not be available for the project (e.g., FAF, grad travel)
• Fund for Excellence Awards are not meant to replace what should be covered in the department's/school's base budget
• The relevant department/school must provide some funding for the project

The High Caliber of Fund For Excellence Projects

• A Fund for Excellence Award is an indicator of the high caliber of the CFA, as measured by our disciplines. Evidence of high caliber includes, but is not limited to:
  • - National/international dissemination and impact
  • - Top-tier location/venue
  • -  A Fund for Excellence Award will be an activity we can report to campus and our disciplines to illustrate the excellence of CFA students

APPLICATION PROCESS

Applications will be accepted at any time, but please keep in mind that:

• A Fund for Excellence application must be made well in advance of the event
• A truly excellent opportunity generally will not be "last minute"
• The Dean will review Fund for Excellence applications approximately once a month

A Fund for Excellence application must include a clear, detailed, and complete budget and a statement of support from your Chair/Director.

Click here to access the application form.

The Endowed Beverley Taylor Sorenson Arts Learning Program (BTSALP) Teaching Assistant (TA) is a fully funded assistantship granted to one outstanding graduate student in the CFA who is passionate about furthering the field of arts education both in research and in practice. Applicants do not need to be pursuing an arts teaching graduate degree in the CFA to be considered, but they must provide strong evidence of school or community-based pedagogical experience working with young people in grades K-12. 

Apply here: BTSALP TA Application

Any College of Fine Arts' student group that is registered with ASUU may apply for funding from the Fine Arts Fees Grants Funding Committee for noncredit activities that 1) enhance student learning and/or 2) enhance the student experience for the larger University community and/or 3) create or host fine arts events on campus and in the greater Salt Lake City area. Projects must originate in the College of Fine Arts, be advised by a College of Fine Arts faculty member and the department chair or director, and may involve students from other colleges.

Visit the FAF Grant page here. 

The university offers several fellowship opportunities. Click here to access the Graduate School website for additional information.