External Funding for Master’s Students

About External Funding

External fellowships and grants are awarded by an organization or agency outside of Georgetown University. If you are looking for information about scholarships and fellowships offered by Georgetown University, please visit Merit-Based Financial Aid. If you are an applicant to Georgetown University, please review our advice to applicants searching for external funding.


When to Apply

Many external fellowship competitions have deadlines six to twelve months before funds are awarded, so plan ahead and be proactive! Applicants should search for external fellowships to fund the first year of a master’s program while simultaneously applying to graduate school. During the fall semester of their first year, current master’s students should begin looking for external funding for their second year. 


Most external fellowships are open to graduate students at universities nationwide, but some funding organizations restrict eligibility to specific partner universities. Georgetown University is a participating institution for the following funding opportunities for master’s students.


Finding External Funding Opportunities

There is not one master database of all available external fellowships, so students should explore many avenues when searching for funding. Students should review the links below and also consult with faculty and classmates for advice about awards specific to their field of study. Each fellowship will have its own eligibility requirements and selection criteria, so students are encouraged to review the resources below to identify possible options to discuss before scheduling an appointment with the Office of Graduate Fellowships & Awards.


Fellowship Advising

The Office of Graduate Fellowships & Awards is available to support current Georgetown University graduate students on the Main and Medical Campuses. The office is able to work with graduate students enrolled at the Law Center or School of Continuing Studies for select funding opportunities. Unfortunately, assistance is not available to individuals currently applying to Georgetown graduate programs.

We are also available to provide individual feedback on essay or proposal drafts for external fellowships. Before submitting a draft, students should first have it reviewed by their advisor or another faculty member.

If you are a current Georgetown graduate student and would like to schedule an appointment, email Elizabeth George at elizabeth.george@georgetown.edu.