UMN Graduate School: Bridging Funds Grant

UMN Graduate School: Bridging Funds Grant

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: University of Minnesota
Amount: More than US $25,000
Last Updated: October 02, 2025

Summary

The UMN Graduate School's Bridging Funds Grant aims to support graduate students in securing prestigious external fellowships by providing funding for health insurance and tuition. The program offers two funding tracks: automatic funding for recipients of specific fellowships and a request funding option for other prestigious fellowships. Eligible fellowships must be administered through the University and meet specific criteria, ensuring students can pursue their academic goals without financial barriers.

Overview

Note: The request window will open July 15 and will remain open through March 31, 2026 or until available funding is exhausted, whichever comes first. Bridging Funds Program The purpose of the Graduate School’s Bridging Funds Program is to encourage graduate students to pursue prestigious, external fellowships by providing funding to support a fellowship recipient’s health insurance and/or tuition. The Graduate School has a finite amount of funding to support this program. There are two tracks for funding from Bridging Funds: Track 1 - Automatic Funding The Graduate School is obligated to provide funding support to graduate student recipients of the NSF GRFP and NSF CSGRAD4US, Ford Fellowship (predoctoral and dissertation), Smithsonian Big Ten Academic Alliance Fellowship, and the Newcombe Doctoral Dissertation Fellowship. Fellows do not need to submit additional documentation to receive this automatic funding. Track 2 - Request Funding Programs can request Bridging Funds for graduate students who receive other prestigious, external fellowships to help cover any shortfall in a fellowship recipient’s health insurance and/or tuition. More information, including eligibility requirements and how to apply, are listed below. How Much is the Award? Programs can request Bridging Funds to cover any shortfall in an external fellowship recipient’s health insurance and/or tuition.

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. What external fellowships are eligible to apply?External Fellowship is from a selective competition that is external to the University of MinnesotaThe recipient applied directly to the external fellowship and is the named recipient, therefore, those appointed on a Training Grant are ineligible for Bridging FundsExternal Fellowship tenure is for at least one academic year (two semesters)External Fellowship stipend amount is equivalent to or greater than $25,000External Fellowship is administered through the University systemGraduate student recipient will be registered for graduate credit at the University of Minnesota during both semesters of fellowship tenureProgram Nomination required. Please reach out to your Director of Graduate Studies or Graduate Program Coordinator.

Ineligibility

Is a student eligible if the external fellowship is paid directly to them?No. The external fellowship must be paid through the University system in order for the graduate student recipient to be eligible for the GAHP.