Graduate Scholarships for
College of Humanities Students

 The Steffensen Cannon Scholarship is for graduate and undergraduate students in the Colleges of Education and Humanities, as well as for direct descendants of Ellen Christina Steffensen Cannon. Secondary education students (particularly in mathematics and science) and early childhood education students who will be in the teacher certification program in the School of Education by the beginning of the academic year of the award are welcome to apply.

The College of Education and Humanities will conduct an internal review process and nominate a set number of applicants each year. Colleges may nominate 8 undergraduate applications and 8 graduate applications to be reviewed by the Steffensen Cannon Committee.  Current Fellows seeking renewal will count toward the college's limited nominations.  Please contact your department coordinator for more information on your college's internal review process.

Application: By Department Nomination

Deadline: 1 December 2025 by 5 pm MST

Amount: $28,500

Target: Graduate Students

Type: Merit

Contact Natalie Montoya at natalie.montoya@utah.edu for more information.

The College of Humanities is pleased to announce the availability of a Graduate Research Award in the Humanities. The purpose of the award is to recognize a student whose research has extraordinary merit, as recognized by faculty in their area and/or attention outside the University of Utah. Each department/program may nominate up to two students for this award. Application materials should include the student’s CV, a letter of nomination from the unit’s Director of Graduate Studies, a copy of the student’s research or creative work, and a (optional) brief description of any external recognition (conference award, publication, etc.) the work has received.  Eligible student research or creative works must have been completed in the current or previous academic year. The award is supported by funding from the Dean of the College of Humanities.

How to Apply

Applicants must apply through Academicworks
Application: Graduate Research Award Application

Deadline: 15 January 2026

Amount: $1,000

Target: Graduate students

Type: Need-based

Contact Natalie Montoya at natalie.montoya@utah.edu for more information.

The Kempe Scholarship was established in memory of Johanna Kempe, who returned to school in her sixties and was working on her Ph.D. at the age of 69 when she passed away. Talk with your Graduate Director for nomination information.

How to Apply

Application: This award is by nomination only. Submit nominations to the College of Humanities Office (2100 LNCO).

Deadline for nominations: 15 January 2026

Amount: $1500 for tuition

Target: Graduate students

Type: Need-based

Contact Natalie Montoya at natalie.montoya@utah.edu for more information.

Marriner S. Eccles was one of the most influential architects of American economic policy during one of the most consequential periods of our country’s history. Appointed Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System in 1935 and serving throughout the turbulent years of the Great Depression and World War II, Eccles was the “Father of the modern Federal Reserve”, designing and leading the major restructuring of the nation’s central bank into the form we know today. His innovative advocacy of “compensatory finance” was at the cutting edge of the New Deal, and preceded the theoretical work of John Maynard Keynes by several years. He was also instrumental in setting the direction for the US and global economy after the war, participating in the Bretton Woods Conference that established the post-war international monetary system. A keenly perceptive observer of economic issues on both Wall Street and Main Street, Marriner knew the importance of practical solutions to public policy problems. In 1975, two years before his death, he established the Marriner S. Eccles Graduate Fellowship in Political Economy to further the pursuit of excellent research on political economy that could be applied to public policy.

The University of Utah Graduate School awards the Marriner S. Eccles Graduate Fellowship in Political Economy to advanced PhD and LLM students, enabling Fellows to focus on the completion of their dissertation research projects relating to political economy within the fellowship appointment year. Fellows awarded the Eccles Fellowship will have the benefit of directing their research and writing efforts without the distraction of employment in order to produce quality scholarship in political economy and its impact on public policy.

How to Apply

Applicants must apply using the online application.

Application: Marriner S. Eccles Graduate Research Fellowship Application

Deadline: 6 December 2025

Amount: $28,500

Target: Graduate students

Type: Leadership

Contact Natalie Montoya at natalie.montoya@utah.edu for more information.

The Ramona W. Cannon Award Committee invites departmental nominations for the Ramona W. Cannon Award for Graduate Student Teaching Excellence in the Humanities. Graduate Directors are encouraged to nominate one outstanding graduate student teacher in their department.

All graduate students in the College of Humanities who have completed one year (at least two semesters) of teaching as Teaching Assistants (either as a discussion group leader or in autonomous sections) at the University of Utah are eligible for nomination for the award. Letters of nomination should detail achievements of the student in teaching and should provide a summary of the quantitative data collected from the student's teaching evaluations.  The one-to-two page letter should also include a list of all courses the student has taught or TAed, and may include one or two proposed syllabic of their own design.

How to Apply

Application: This award is by nomination only. Departments please submit your nomination to the Ramona Cannon Committee, c/o Natalie Montoya at the College of Humanities Office (2100 LNCO).

Deadline for nominations: 19 December 2025

Amount: $1,500

Target: Graduate students

Type: Leadership

Contact  Natalie Montoya at natalie.montoya@utah.edu for more information.

The Marie Cornwall Graduate Research Grant supports research on women’s history.  Graduate students in the Humanities are encouraged to apply for up to $3,000 annually to support research activities (e.g. travel expenses, manuscript copies, books, etc.) or travel to academic meetings for the purpose of presenting the results of their work on women’s history.  

Applicants for the grant must prepare a proposal and budget.  The proposal must place the project within an area of study and make a strong case for how funding will contribute to greater understanding of women’s lives and experience. Comparative research and projects that pay attention to the distinctive experiences of women across religious, racial, and ethnic groups as well as sexual orientation, socio-economic status and national origin should be considered.

How to Apply

Applicants must apply through Academicworks

Application: Marie Cornwall Graduate Research Grant

Deadline: 15 January 2026

Amount: varies

Target: Graduate Students

Type: Merit

Contact Natalie Montoya at natalie.montoya@utah.edu for more information.

The American West Center at the University of Utah is pleased to offer two graduate student fellowships honoring the late Professor Floyd A. O'Neil (1927-2018), Director Emeritus of the Center and Professor Emeritus of History. 

O'Neil fellowships provide up to $2,000 to pursue research on an aspect of the American West, including the region’s history, politics, environment, society, culture, literature, geography, or peoples. Students from all disciplines are encouraged to submit applications. All applicants must be currently enrolled in a graduate program at the University of Utah and remain so throughout the period of the fellowship.

Students are required to complete a research paper within the academic year. This paper may also be used as a seminar paper, thesis chapter, journal article, etc. A copy of the paper must be given to the American West Center, and the student is required to acknowledge the American West Center’s support in that paper, and all subsequent research and publications that might result. The recipient will also give a presentation on their research. Upon request the recipient may be provided office space at the Center and may receive individual guidance from the Center's faculty and staff.

How to Apply

Application: Floyd O'Neil Fellowship Application (Application link coming soon)

Deadline: 31 May 2026

Amount:  Varies

Target: Graduate Students

Type: Merit

Questions: Please email michelle.judd@utah.edu

The College of Humanities is pleased to announce the availability of a Graduate Community Engagement Award in the Humanities. The purpose of the award is to recognize community-oriented scholarship from graduate students across the College that have demonstrated a commitment to supporting communities through community organizing, service or scholar advocacy. Each department/program may nominate up to two students for this award. Application materials should include the student’s CV, a letter of nomination from the unit’s Director of Graduate Studies, and a statement from the student providing evidence of their efforts relevant to this award. Evidence may include but is not limited to: class projects/papers, conference activity, public education projects, political organizing, community-engaged pedagogy, popular press publications, creative projects, campus/disciplinary involvement/leadership. The award is supported by funding from the Dean of the College of Humanities.

How to Apply

Applicants must apply through Academicworks

Application: Graduate Community Engagement Award Application

Deadline: 15 January 2025

Amount:  $1,000

Target: Graduate Students

Type: Merit

Questions: Contact Natalie Montoya at natalie.montoya@utah.edu for more information.

The College of Humanities (COH) Graduate Student Conference/Research Travel Award supports graduate students attending conferences to present research and/or conducting research that requires travel (e.g., fieldwork, archival visits, etc.). Graduate students in the Humanities are encouraged to apply for the award. The award matches funds secured from other entities, e.g., the student’s department, the Graduate School, ASUU, etc. Successful applicants will receive up to $500 in matching funds. 

 

Award Criteria

1. Must be enrolled in a COH graduate program.
2. Must provide either proof of conference acceptance OR letter from the student’s Director of Graduate Studies supporting research travel.

3. Students may only receive a COH Conference/Research Travel Award once during their degree program. MA students who are accepted to a PhD program in COH may receive a second travel award.

4. Only national/international conferences are eligible for funding.
5. Funds will be issued on a first-come, first-served basis, based on the availability of funds.
6. Students may only access funds for one disbursement; unused funds are not rolled over/preserved for the student.

How to apply:

1. Complete the following form
   1. Required Materials
      1. Cover Letter briefly explaining how funds will contribute to research progress. 
      2. CV/Resume
      3. Proof of Conference Acceptance (can be uploaded when completing the form)

Since 1995, University Teaching Assistantships (UTA) have been available to departments on a competitive basis. The purpose of the University Teaching Assistantship program is to improve graduate education programs and training at the University of Utah in the service of undergraduate education through the creative use of graduate teaching assistants. Mentoring of graduate students to assist them in preparing for teaching careers is an integral part of the program.

Apply to the University Teaching Assistantship

Student Deadline: December 6, 2025

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Questions: Contact Matthew Plooster at fellowships@gradschool.utah.edu for more information.

The University Graduate Research Fellowship (UGRF) is a one-year, non-renewable award. The intent of the GRF is to provide the opportunity for full-time research during the fellow’s academic year. 

APPLY TO THE Graduate Research Fellowship

Student Deadline: December 6, 2025

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Questions: Contact Matthew Plooster at fellowships@gradschool.utah.edu for more information.

Eligibility:

This scholarship is awarded each year to a College of Humanities graduating senior going into their first year of graduate school.

How to Apply

Please complete the application form and upload with your essays, transcript, and letters of recommendation here: https://utah.academicworks.com/opportunities/43634

Application: Marvin J. Ashton Application

Deadline: 1 March 2026

Amount: $1000 to $3000 (amount varies from year to year) for tuition

Target: Graduating seniors or first year graduate students in Humanities

Type: Need-based

Contact Natalie Montoya at natalie.montoya@utah.edu for more information.