We are committed to making your graduate education affordable, and we offer generous scholarships, fellowships, and assistantships to many of our students. Read below to find out more detailed information on the ways Penn GSE provides various forms of funding to our master's and doctoral students.

Master's Students

Full-time, traditional master's students may be eligible to receive financial assistance from Penn GSE in a variety of ways. Review the details of the funding opportunities below.

Penn GSE Merit-Based Scholarships

Penn GSE merit scholarships provide partial tuition support to full-time students in their first year of study at the master's level. The School seeks to provide assistance to as many eligible candidates as possible, currently awarding scholarships to approximately 75% of incoming master’s students enrolled full-time, in-person, non-executive programs.* These Penn GSE scholarships are awarded to both domestic and international students, and there is no application to be considered for these.  

All scholarships are based on merit as shown by the strength of your application. The awards are made at the time of application review by the academic divisions and are based on the academic merit of the application for admission. Awards are communicated at the time of admission in the acceptance letter. Scholarships are not taxable and require no service components. Scholarships are disbursed evenly in the fall and spring semesters only. 

 

 *Executive and online programs may offer scholarships on a limited basis to qualified students.

Need-Based Assistance

Penn GSE offers U.S. Citizens and Permanent Residents the opportunity to apply for a need-based scholarship by completing a survey in the application for admission. To be considered for this scholarship, students must be applying for full-time study to an eligible master’s program*. Need-based scholarships are assessed independently from merit-based scholarships and can be combined with other awards up to the cost of tuition. Need-based scholarships will provide partial tuition support. Applicants will be reviewed for need-based scholarships at the time of application and will be notified of their eligibility at the time of admission in their decision letter.

*Executive-Style Programs are not eligible for need-based aid except for the School and Mental Health Counseling program. 

Dean’s Fellowship: Power of Possibility

Penn GSE has a deep commitment to fostering a diverse community of scholars and expanding educational access to all students. Towards this end, Penn GSE offers the Dean’s Fellowship: Power of Possibility to a number of our incoming master’s students, with special consideration given to students from disadvantaged or under-resourced backgrounds, or to students who have worked with and will continue to serve communities in need. Students will be automatically considered for these prestigious half-tuition awards at the time of application review; there is no additional application process. Both domestic and international full-time master’s applicants to our traditional (i.e., non-executive) programs will be considered for this fellowship. Applicants must apply by a program's priority deadline to be considered for this award.

Fellowship recipients will be notified of their award at the time of admission notification. Note that consideration for this fellowship is independent of other merit-based and need-based awards and can be combined with other awards up to the cost of tuition.

Graduate Assistantships

Graduate Assistants (GAs) are student workers providing academically relevant services such as supervised participation in faculty research projects, teaching support, outreach activities, admissions recruiting, student affairs, and other activities at Penn GSE. GAs are offered a position with a fixed number of hours and hourly wage. These positions are available to both domestic and international students. Students admitted to a program that offers GAs will receive an invitation to apply in their admission letter. Participating programs conduct the GA hiring process independently of admission and scholarship decisions, and students hired as GAs will be notified by their program. 

*Please note that for students in the Higher Education M.S.Ed. program, the Graduate Assistantship process is conducted separately.

Dean's Scholarship

Penn GSE offers the Dean’s Scholarship in the amount of $10,000 to a select group of incoming master’s applicants. Awards will be made based on merit assessed during the faculty review of the admissions application. These scholarships are available to both domestic and international students. Applicants must apply by their program's priority deadline to be considered. The Dean’s Scholarship may be combined with other Penn GSE scholarship offers. Decisions for the Dean’s Scholarships will be awarded at the time of admission. Please note: the Dean's Scholarship is not available to applicants in the Executive-Format programs. 

Program-Specific Funding Opportunities

International Educational Development Program (IEDP) Applicants:

  • Penn-UNESCO Fellowships for Developing Country Scholars

When completing the GSE Application, eligible students applying to the International Educational Development Program (IEDP) will be asked if they would like to be considered for one of two full-tuition international fellowships under the Penn GSE–UNESCO Chair, founded in 2012. This fellowship, under the auspices of the International Educational Development Program, is the first of its kind in the U.S. and is designed to support promising professionals devoted to international education in the developing world. In order to be considered for this scholarship you must submit your application to the International Educational Development, M.S.Ed. program and complete the section for the Penn GSE-UNESCO Fellowship by the priority deadline, February 1st 11:59 P.M. ET.

All applicants selected for the Fellowship program will be notified in their acceptance letter. Acceptance letters are typically sent by mid-March.

  • Coverdell Fellowship

Returned Peace Corps Volunteers (RPCVs) are encouraged to apply for the Paul D. Coverdell Fellows Program, offered by Penn GSE’s International Educational Development Program. This graduate fellowship program recognizes RPCVs and is a way to extend one’s relationship with the Peace Corps while a student at Penn. In order to be considered for this scholarship, you must submit your application to the International Educational Development, M.S.Ed. program by the priority deadline, February 1. Be sure to complete the question “Have you served in Peace Corps” in your application.

Literacy Studies M.S.Ed. Applicants:

  • Philadelphia Writing Project Fellows Program

All full-time Literacy Studies, M.S.Ed. applicants are encouraged to apply for the Philadelphia Writing Project (PhilWP) Fellows Program.  Each PhilWP Fellow will work as a graduate assistant for the Philadelphia Writing Project, gaining research experience while assisting in nationally-recognized studies and professional development experience activities.  Additionally, fellows will receive: 

  • half-tuition scholarship to be applied toward their graduate coursework
  • Enrollment in PhilWP’s exclusive Summer Invitational Institute.  This 2- week professional development experience will yield students a certificate and status as a Teacher Consultant, making them eligible to facilitate paid professional development activities across the district and region.
  • Opportunities to participate in professional learning experiences and community partnership work across Philadelphia and the U.S.

Students can apply for this fellowship opportunity when completing the GSE Application.  In addition to the general application requirements, students applying for this fellowship will be asked to write a 250-word statement on their interest in becoming a PhilWP Fellow.  There will be two fellowships awarded annually.

Urban Teaching Apprenticeship Program (UTAP) Applicants:

  • Humanities Teaching Fellowship 

The Humanities Teaching Fellowship is intended to support the preparation of teachers in high school English and/or history who are interested in teaching in schools that support students through student-centered approaches and use innovative approaches and tools for learning. Humanities Teaching Fellows must be admitted to the Urban Teaching Apprenticeship Program, M.S.Ed. in the Secondary English or Social Studies program. Fellows will be awarded a scholarship of $32,000. Applicants who apply for the high school English or social studies program are automatically considered for this Fellowship at the time of faculty review for admission. Faculty may reach out to request more information regarding your interest in the Fellowship.  Fellowship recipients must commit to completing the Project-Based Learning Certificate (at no additional cost) after finishing the 10-month UTAP program. This certificate does not require you to remain in the Philadelphia area, as the content is offered in a predominately virtual mode.

  • Penn GSE Empowerment Through Education Scholarship Program

This scholarship supports Penn GSE’s commitment to expanding access and ensuring that the Penn GSE community is inclusive in serving all people. UTAP applicants will be automatically considered for these awards at the time of application review and will be notified of award receipt at the time of admission notification. Note that consideration for this scholarship is independent of other merit-based and need-based awards and can be combined with other awards up to the cost of tuition.

 See External Funding Opportunities for additional scholarships available to students interested in the UTAP program.

Urban Teaching Residency (UTR) Applicants:

  • Franklin Fellowship

The Franklin Fellowship is an exclusive opportunity for undergraduate students from Franklin and Marshall College (F&M) who express an interest in long-term teaching in the Philadelphia area.  The Franklin Fellowship is a $15,000 scholarship that can be combined with other Penn GSE merit and/or need-based scholarships.

Scholarships for Fulbright Fellows

All master’s students admitted to Penn GSE who have been offered a Fulbright Fellowship to be used for their graduate degree will be awarded a $25,000 scholarship. This scholarship can be combined with funding awarded from Fulbright-affiliated organizations. Fulbright awardees should be sure to identify themselves in the graduate application.

Country-Specific Funding Opportunities

  • Applicants from Malawi

Through the generosity of the JBJ Foundation, Penn GSE is able to offer a full scholarship each year to one incoming master's student from Malawi. This award will cover all tuition and fees, and provide a living stipend, roundtrip airfare to and from Philadelphia, and supplemental internship funding. All Malawian master's applications will be automatically considered for this scholarship when reviewed for admission consideration.

 

  • Applicants from the United Kingdom

The Thouron Award is a graduate exchange program between the United Kingdom and the University of Pennsylvania that awards scholarships for postgraduate study abroad.  Applicants must be British citizens who normally reside in the U.K., have attended U.K. secondary schools, and be graduates (by the summer following their applications) of a U.K. university.   Students granted a Thouran Award can use it towards any GSE program, except for the executive-format programs.

Ed.D. Students

Research Assistantships

A limited number of Research Assistantships are awarded to incoming full-time, traditional Ed.D. students who show high academic potential. Packages may include partial tuition support, a living stipend, University health insurance, and a research and teaching apprenticeship.

Penn GSE Empowerment Through Education Scholarship Program

This scholarship supports Penn GSE’s commitment to expanding access and ensuring that the Penn GSE community is inclusive in serving all people. The scholarship will provide financial aid for students in the Mid-Career Doctoral Program in Educational Leadership.

When completing the GSE Application,  students applying to the Mid-Career Doctoral Program in Educational Leadership will be asked if they would like to be considered for this scholarship and, if so, required to complete additional questions.  Students will be notified of the award receipt at the time of admission notification.  Note that consideration for this scholarship is independent of other merit-based awards and can be combined with other awards up to the cost of tuition.

Ph.D. Students

Dean's Fellowship and Research Apprenticeship

The Dean's Fellowship and Research Apprenticeship provides full funding to Ph.D. students. Support includes tuition and fees, health insurance, and a living stipend. All incoming Ph.D. students receive a fellowship and research apprenticeship package, which covers four years of study and requires that students maintain full-time enrollment. Additional funding is available on a case-by-case basis for those students who wish to continue their research and teaching apprenticeship in the summer months. There is no application for Dean’s Fellowships and Research Apprenticeships; award decisions are made by the academic division based on the application and communicated at the time of the admissions decision.

IES Predoctoral Training Program

The University of Pennsylvania offers the IES Predoctoral Training Program, a collaborative initiative among the Graduate School of Education, the School of Arts and Sciences, the School of Social Policy and Practice, and the Annenberg School for Communication.  This multi-year training program is designed to prepare Penn Ph.D. students committed to learning rigorous methods for conducting actionable, equitable field-based research to inform policy and practice. 

This program offers financial and skill-building support for selected fellows for two to three years.   Students are eligible to apply for this program after completing their first year of doctoral studies.


 

Additional Funding Opportunities through Penn

Penn Grad Center and Family Center Fellowships

The Graduate Student Center at the University of Penn offers several fellowship opportunities for current graduate students interested in work at the Grad Center or the Family Center. Responsibilities include staffing the centers, overseeing events, and/or supporting programs. Any student who is currently and will be registered as a University of Pennsylvania graduate or professional student during the next academic year is eligible to apply for a Fellow position

Graduate Resident Advisors

Each year, the University hires graduate students to serve as Graduate Associates in the College House system. Duties include counseling undergraduates or graduate students on personal, social, and academic matters and helping to plan activities for residents. Support includes a furnished room and a modest meal plan. Completed applications may be filed at any time, but those arriving before January 31 will be given preference. Please visit the College Houses and Academic Services website for further information and to apply. 

Foreign Language Area Studies (FLAS) Fellowship 

The Foreign Language and Area Studies (FLAS) Fellowship is a tuition scholarship and a living stipend awarded to meritorious undergraduate students and graduate students undergoing training in modern foreign languages and related area or international studies, or with the international aspects of professional or fields of study. FLAS fellowships are funded by the U.S. Department of Education and administered by the University of Pennsylvania’s Title VI National Resource Centers. FLAS awards are available only for specific languages, and are contingent on federal funding. Applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents of the United States. Students receiving FLAS Fellowships must be enrolled in full-time study for the duration of the FLAS award and must take one language course and one related area or international studies course each semester. Awards are made for the Academic Year or Summer. Academic Year Fellows must be admitted to or enrolled in undergraduate, graduate, or professional programs at the University of Pennsylvania. FLAS awards may be used in some cases for students participating in official overseas language programs and in very limited cases for dissertators. Please see the FLAS website for more information and to apply online.

Dolores Zohrab Liebmann Fund Fellowship

Students who have matriculated and are enrolled at Penn GSE may apply to this fellowship that pays tuition plus a stipend of $18,000 for three years. U.S. citizens in any field of study are eligible. The terms require that the Fellow conduct studies entirely within the U.S. and prove financial need. Typically 3 candidates are nominated by the University annually. 


 

Scholarships for Service

Yellow Ribbon Program 

Penn GSE participates in the Yellow Ribbon program established by the Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008. Penn GSE provides up to 10 matching awards at $10,000 each for eligible students on a first-come-first-serve basis. Eligible students should review the Veterans at Penn site to learn about the procedures required for receiving your benefits, the benefits you are eligible to receive, a frequently asked questions page, and a list of links and other resources to help you get started and find additional information.

Active-Duty Service Members

Penn GSE also welcomes active-duty service members, including service academy members, to apply their tuition benefits towards earning a graduate degree. Many of our programs offer flexible study formats designed for working professionals and distance learners. We strive to accommodate all service branches and are able to execute custom MOUs on a case-by-case basis. Please contact us for more details.

City Year

City Year is an education-focused nonprofit that unites young people of all backgrounds for a year of full-time service to keep students in school and on track to succeed. Partnership with City Year highlights the visions and values of both organizations, integrating the power of knowledge and service in addressing social problems. In recognition of this partnership, Penn GSE will award two annual merit scholarships toward any full-time master’s degree program to selected City Year corps members or alumni who have completed at least one year of service or City Year staff members employed by City Year for at least two years.

Those eligible for the scholarship must identify their City Year affiliation in the designated space on the online application and submit a verification letter from the City Year/America Corp to admissions@gse.upenn.edu. In order to be considered for the scholarship, applicants must have a fully complete admissions application and submit the Certification of Service by the appropriate program priority deadline. Applicants will be notified if they have been awarded upon admission. For more information, please click here.

Coverdell Fellowship

Returned Peace Corps Volunteers (RPCVs) are encouraged to apply for the Paul D. Coverdell Fellows Program, offered by Penn GSE’s International Educational Development Program. This graduate fellowship program recognizes RPCVs and is a way to extend one’s relationship with the Peace Corps while a student at Penn. In order to be considered for this scholarship, you must submit your application to the International Educational Development, M.S.Ed. program by the priority deadline, February 1. Be sure to complete the question “Have you served in Peace Corps” in your application.