Funding
Undergraduate students at the University of Montana are encouraged to apply for funding to support their research and creative scholarship. Many different research scholarships are available to UM students from a variety of sources, both on and off campus. Students should investigate possible funding opportunities and consult with their faculty mentors for advice concerning the best potential sources of support for their research and creative projects.
The pages linked below contain information on internal and external sources of undergraduate research funding for UM students. This is by no means a complete listing of all funding opportunities, and students should actively investigate additional funding opportunities.
Scholarships
EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING SCHOLARSHIP FUND
Undergraduate and graduate students can apply for scholarships up to $2,000 to subsidize the costs of research, travel, creative works, low-paid or unpaid internships, and service. The Experiential Learning Scholarship Fund accepts applications three times a year (early fall semester, early spring semester, and mid-spring semester). Learn more about the Fund and how to apply.
WATKINS SCHOLARSHIP
The Watkins Scholarship Program generally awards $2,000 to ten seniors per year and is open to all UM-Missoula students. All applicants must anticipate attaining senior status (at least 90 credits) by autumn semester of the scholarship award period; have earned a cumulative GPA of 3.4 or higher at the time of application; and plan on working on a senior research project or creative activity that will be directed by a faculty member in the College of Humanities and Sciences.
The annual application deadline is usually in April for scholarships to be awarded in the next academic year. UM Scholarship Portal.
Many of UM's academic departments award scholarships directly to exceptionally talented students, and some have scholarships specifically for students engaging in research. Application for most, but not all, academic department scholarships is made using the UM Scholarship Portal. You can find scholarships for students engaging in research by using the keyword “research” in the Opportunities tab in the Scholarship Portal. Additionally, many academic departments have pages that detail their scholarship offerings - you can find more information on the Academic Department Scholarship page.
OFFICE OF EXTERNAL SCHOLARSHIPS AND FELLOWSHIPS
Prestigious scholarships are highly competitive, merit-based awards that are nationally and internationally recognized. While they are very competitive, applying to prestigious scholarships comes with big rewards. There are a number of awards open to undergraduate researchers; funds can be used for tuition, study abroad, or research/creative projects, and you will often get access to a diverse network of scholars along with professional development opportunities.
The Office of External Scholarships and Fellowships provides free advising for all members of the Griz family and is committed to making the scholarship process welcoming, fair, and open to all.