Funding Opportunities

2024-2025 SOJC Graduate Student Scholarships and Awards: March 1, 2024 Deadline

Scholarship and awards are distributed in three equal installments during fall, winter, and spring terms of the 2024-2025 academic year.

To be eligible for SOJC scholarships and awards, students must be full-time (taking at least 9 credits each term). See below for eligibility requirements, application instructions, and deadlines.

Please note: The Division of Graduate Studies offers additional funding opportunities.

Anderson Family Fellowship
Anderson Family Fellowships of $3,000 – $5,000 are awarded to one or more SOJC graduate students whose work addresses issues and questions of journalism ethics. Students from any of our graduate programs are welcome to apply.

To apply for the Anderson Family Fellowship, use the online application form to submit a current CV, a one-page statement explaining how your work is concerned with journalism ethics, and the names of 2 to 3 faculty members who could speak to your suitability for this award. For full consideration, current students should submit their application by March 1, 2024.

Civic and Watchdog Journalism
The Civic and Watchdog Journalism Scholarship provides support to SOJC graduate students whose work has demonstrated a commitment to, and outstanding achievement in, civic and watchdog journalism. Criteria: Special consideration is given to applicants whose work demonstrates the importance of explaining the complexities of issues, challenging conventional wisdom, holding institutions and leaders accountable, and listening to the voices of those often ignored in the community. The student’s work should show a commitment to protecting civic values such as fairness, justice, equal access, public and health safety, and the public treasury.

To apply for the Civic and Watchdog Journalism scholarship, use the online application form to submit a current resume/CV, a writing sample, and a one-page statement explaining how your work is concerned with civic and watchdog journalism. For full consideration, admitted applicants and current students should submit their application by  March 1, 2024.

Graduate Student Enhancement Scholarship
The purpose of the Graduate Student Enhancement Scholarship is to provide financial incentives for master’s or PhD students to attend and or complete a SOJC graduate program. Preference given to students whose work is in journalism and news media.

To apply for the Graduate Student Enhancement Scholarship, use the online application form to submit a current resume/CV and a 500-1,000 word essay responding to the following prompt: How would you use the Graduate Student Enhancement Scholarship to attend or complete your graduate program, and how does your work involve journalism and/or news media? For full consideration, admitted applicants and current students should submit their application by March 1, 2024.

Lokey Scholarship 
The Lokey Scholarship provides support to raise the national and international profile of the SOJC, attract the best and the brightest minds to the UO, and be a catalyst for developing outstanding future leaders for the journalism and communication industry. Only PhD students who have approved dissertation proposals and have advanced to candidacy are eligible for consideration.

Graduate student Lokey scholars are selected in recognition of their outstanding scholarly achievements and to provide added support during the dissertation year. Up to two ABD recipients are selected primarily based on their scholarly record and demonstrated potential for research as indicated by their work in classes, conference presentations, and publication.  Teaching and service in the SOJC are additionally weighed, though the primary criterion is research, both accomplishments and potential. Selection of the scholar(s) is made by the PhD Advisory Committee, which may choose not to award in a given year, depending on student eligibility, strength of research, other considerations and contributions, and funds available. For full consideration, ABD doctoral students should submit their application by March 1, 2024.

Warren C. Price Memorial Fund
This scholarship recognizes a student at the University of Oregon for excellence in writing in the field of journalistic history. The Warren C. Price Memorial Fund was established in 1967 in honor of this “one-of-a-kind” SOJC professor. During his time at the University of Oregon, Price was the editor of Journalism Quarterly and twice served as acting dean of the school.

To apply for the Warren C. Price Memorial Fund, use the online application form to submit a current CV and a writing sample that demonstrates excellence in the writing of journalistic history. For full consideration, current students should submit their application by March 1, 2024.

Franco Reis Graduate International Scholarship
The Franco Reis Graduate International Scholarship provides support up to $2,375 for international graduate students enrolled at the SOJC at the University of Oregon. The scholarship(s) may be used to assist students with all standard educational expenses including tuition, fees, books, miscellaneous supplies, room, board, stipends, and research costs.

The selection of the recipient(s) shall be based on the following criteria: International graduate students, enrolled in the SOJC, who have demonstrated academic merit, as determined by the scholarship committee. To apply, current students should use the online application form to submit a statement of 500 words explaining how this award would support your graduate studies. For full consideration, current students should submit their application by March 1, 2024.

Politz Graduate Scholarship
Awarded to new and continuing students pursuing studies in the Eugene-based Journalism master’s program and the Portland-based Multimedia Journalism master’s program. For full consideration, admitted applicants and current students should submit their application by March 1, 2024.

To apply for the scholarship, use the online application form to submit a current CV or resume and two writing samples:

  • A short piece (500-750 words) on current news
  • A feature story (750-2500 words). This can be human interest, profile, seasonal theme, or behind the scenes.

The Rafi And Zoreh Scholarship
Created by Hassan Rafi-Zadeh (MA ’69) and Zohreh Sotoodeh in 2019, this scholarship supports SOJC graduate and undergraduate students who demonstrate financial need, especially international students.

To apply, use the online application form to submit a current CV or resume and a statement of up to 500 words explaining your financial need and detailing how this scholarship would support your graduate studies. For full consideration, current students should submit their application by March 1, 2024.

Glenn Starlin Endowed Fellowship in Telecommunication and Theatre Arts 
The Starlin Fellowship is a $1,000 award given to a “worthy student engaged in graduate study toward a master’s or doctoral degree in telecommunication issues and related research in the School of Journalism and Communication.” Strong consideration is given to scholarship and career potential, with a desire to also support dissertation research when possible.

To apply, use the online application form to submit a current CV or resume, a one-page statement explaining how your work is concerned with telecommunication issues and related research, and the names of 2 to 3 faculty members who could speak to your suitability for this award. For full consideration, current students should be sure to submit their application by March 1, 2024.

Graduate Employee (GE) Appointments

Applicants for admission to the PhD program and the Communication and Media Studies master’s program are automatically considered for GE funding. PhD students are awarded up to four years of consecutive GE funding. Communication and Media Studies master’s students, if offered GE funding, generally receive a maximum of two years of funding. Continued funding from year to year is contingent upon satisfactory academic performance and satisfactory evaluations in previous GE positions. A GE appointment comes with a tuition waiver, a partial student fee waiver, a monthly stipend, and a health insurance plan. GE positions generally are not available to our professional master’s students except under unusual circumstances.

GE positions also exist outside the SOJC and are listed on the Division of Graduate Studies website.

Students who have a GE award during the academic year are eligible for a summer tuition waiver for the following summer session.

SOJC Travel Funding Policy

The SOJC has limited funding for graduate research and travel expenses. This money is awarded competitively for thesis/dissertation-related travel, travel to conferences to present papers, and assorted research-related expenses. Both Travel and Research Fund Request Forms  are available online and must be submitted before travel or research begins.

Please contact Amy Boutell, Associate Director of Graduate Affairs, if you have questions about travel and research funding.

Distribution of graduate travel and research funds will be made based on the following priorities:

  1. Type of presentation

Priority #1:  Individually authored refereed full paper (not panel or refereed abstract)
Priority #2:  Joint-authored refereed paper
Priority #3:  Other types of participation (plenary presentation, discussant, panel presenter, paper based on abstract submitted, etc.)

  1. Type of organization/meeting 

Priority #1:  ICA, AEJMC, IAMCR, NCA; American Academy of Advertising, Association for Consumer Research
Priority #2:  Other national/international organizations
Priority #3:  Regional meetings, ad hoc conferences
Priority #4:  Other

  1. Seniority of students 

Priority #1:  First to fourth year PhD students in residence
Priority #2:  First to second year master’s students in residence

  1. Number of requests
    First requests will be favored over previously funded students’ requests. Students may submit more than one travel request during a one-year period. However, each student is only eligible for up to $900 of travel funding per fiscal year. This amount is available on a first come, first served basis and is not guaranteed to each student, each year. For PhD students beyond their fourth year and Communication and Media Studies master’s students beyond their second year, travel/research funds are generally not available but will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Research and Project Funds Requests for research funds must be made before the money is spent.  Students may not complete their thesis or projects, and then seek funding afterward to pay for their expenses. Students should not apply for more than $300 per fiscal year. This amount is available on a first come, first served basis and is not guaranteed to each student, each year. Thesis and project research is given priority consideration.

Other Funding Opportunities

Funding opportunities elsewhere on campus include thesis/dissertation grants from the Center for the Study of Women in Society, the Division of Graduate Studies nd the Humanities Center. These opportunities are competitive; you should contact those centers for more information. The Division of Graduate Studies also maintains a funding webpage that can be helpful to students looking for grants and fellowships in their field. Students should begin their funding search early to allow time to complete the application process and meet application deadlines.