Provost’s Dissertation Completion Fellowship

Schedule

Information for Spring and Summer 2027 funding cycle is coming soon. Please check back for updates. 

Eligibility

To be eligible, the doctoral student must be/have:

  • Enrolled in a PhD program in a participating school at the University of Pittsburgh (Arts and Sciences, Business, Computing and Information, Dental Medicine, Education, Engineering, Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Public Health, Public and International Affairs, Nursing, Pharmacy, Social Work).
  • Documented an approved dissertation proposal/overview by the due date listed above.
  • Exhausted all other sources of funding, including multiyear guaranteed funding offers from their school or department and all possible TA/TF/GSA/GSR/fellow appointments and assignments.
  • On track to submit their approved dissertation during the fellowship term.

Students who have already received a Provost’s Dissertation Completion Fellowship or another dissertation completion fellowship are not eligible.

Required Application Materials

1. InfoReady Application Form [to be added soon]

2. CV (please include all prior fellowships)

3. Personal Statement (600-word maximum*) that includes:

  • Description of dissertation research (focus, research design, and significance to your field and society),
  • Work plan/timeline that provides monthly or bi-weekly milestones, an anticipated dissertation defense date, and anticipated submission of approved dissertation. (Note: we recommend that you discuss this timeline with your advisor as soon as possible since their letter will need to indicate their support for this timeline).
  • Description of prior and future contributions to research in your academic field, and
  • Description of your demonstrated commitment to fostering access, inclusion and opportunities for all to succeed in your academic field through specific actions or experiences.

* Note: Applicants are encouraged to take advantage of the full 600 words available for the personal statement to provide an in-depth and thoughtful response to the above prompts.

4. A letter of recommendation from the doctoral advisor (600-word maximum) that includes:

  • Assurance that the student has exhausted all existing sources of funding, including multiyear guaranteed funding offers from their school or department and all possible TA/TF/GSA/GSR/fellow appointments and assignments.
  • Assurance that the student is on track to defend their dissertation in the term of the fellowship,
  • Description of the student’s progress on their dissertation to date (such as dissertation proposal approval, data collected/analyzed, chapters completed/approved),
  • Description of student’s work plan/timeline that provides monthly or bi-weekly milestones, anticipated dissertation defense date, anticipated submission of approved dissertation, and a description of how you will help the student follow this timeline (such as through weekly meetings),
  • The student's preparation and qualifications for carrying out this research,
  • The value of the research topic to the specific field and to society, and
  • The student’s demonstrated commitment to fostering access, inclusion and opportunities for all to succeed in their academic field through specific actions or experiences.

5. A second letter from the director of your doctoral program or department chair, that includes (250-word maximum):

  • Confirmation that the student has exhausted all available sources of funding from the department and school, including multiyear guaranteed funding offers from the department or school and all possible TA/TF/GSA/GSR/fellow appointments and assignments,
  • Confirmation that the student is on track to defend their dissertation in the term of the fellowship,
  • Acknowledgment that the program or department will not provide funding to the student after the term of the fellowship without Office of the Provost approval,
  • A brief description of the student's preparation and qualifications for carrying out this research, the value of the research topic to the specific field and to society, and the student’s demonstrated commitment to fostering access, inclusion and opportunities for all to succeed in their academic field through specific actions or experiences.

All applications materials will be submitted through InfoReady. [Link to be added soon.]

Review Criteria

  • The likelihood that the student will submit their approved dissertation during the fellowship term.
  • The student's preparation and qualifications for carrying out this research.
  • The quality of the research and value of the research topic to the specific field and to society.
  • The student’s demonstrated commitment to fostering access, inclusion and opportunities for all to succeed in their academic field through specific actions or experiences.
  • Other internal fellowships the student has received (preference will go to students who have received fewer).

Application Deadline: TBA

Please make sure your application contains complete information. Incomplete applications or applications that do not adhere to the directions will not be reviewed.

If you need assistance, please use the following contacts based on the type of help you're seeking:

For help preparing application materials: Graduate Fellowship Advisor Kelly Medley on the Graduate Studies team is available to provide support to those applying for scholarships, fellowships, and other competitive opportunities. If you would like her assistance in preparing your application materials, you can reach her by email at kellyjmedley@pitt.edu We hope you take advantage of her assistance!

For help with the InfoReady application process or questions about eligibility: Contact the Graduate Studies team at graduate@pitt.edu.