Funding Available
A degree from the Graduate School of Education represents more than a world-class education. It’s also an exceptional value.
The ABCs of Funding
UB's tuition and fees rank among the lowest and most competitive in the nation. This means you can receive a world-class education without the burden of excessive debt—making your degree an even more valuable investment. A range of financial opportunities, including fellowships, scholarships and other forms of assistance are available. These awards are primarily based on academic achievement, leadership qualities and other merit-based criteria. Financial awards do not require you to demonstrate need, allowing you to qualify based solely on your accomplishments and potential. This ensures that a high-quality education remains accessible, so you can focus on reaching your goals without worrying about overwhelming expenses.
Assistantships and Fellowships
Assistantships and fellowships provide tuition scholarships and stipends for teaching, conducting research or doing administrative work. These positions require about 20 hours of work weekly.
Who’s Eligible?
Students who apply to the following PhD programs are eligible for assistantships and fellowships:
- Counseling Psychology and School Psychology, PhD
- Curriculum, Instruction and Science of Learning, PhD
- Educational Administration, PhD
- Educational Culture, Policy and Society, PhD
- Educational Psychology and Quantitative Methods, PhD
- Higher Education, PhD
- Information Science, PhD
- Language Education and Multilingualism, PhD
Graduate assistant positions in the Graduate School of Education are offered annually to academically admissible students in PhD programs. All students who apply to the select programs listed above are considered for these positions.
- Students apply to an eligible program by the application deadline. Most programs have December 1 or January 1 deadlines. Please check the program page for specific information.
- Around 6-8 weeks following the deadline, students who are academically admissible receive admission letters. This is typically around early February.
- 1-2 weeks later, first round funding offers are communicated to students. This is around mid-February. If you do not receive a funding offer, and were admitted academically, you are in consideration for any funding offer that becomes available.
- In most cases, students are given until April 15 to accept or decline their funding offer. As these decisions are made, subsequent students are communicated with regarding any new funding that may become available.
- Throughout this process, any program-specific or faculty-grant specific funding offers may be communicated to students as well. These are typically awarded outside of this process, in consultation with program faculty. If additional information is needed from a student, they will be contacted directly.
Assistantships
2025–26 Available Graduate Assistantships for PhD Students
The Graduate School of Education will offer 18 graduate assistantships for students applying to PhD programs for the 2025–26 academic year. A tuition scholarship for 9 credits at the standard graduate tuition rate and applicable fees are included.
There are two funding levels:
- Three assistantships available at $23,000 each
- Twelve assistantships (that include fellowship support) available at $38,000 each
These positions, when awarded, are guaranteed for 4 years.
- Assist faculty with their research projects, gaining hands-on, real-time research experience.
- Teach in the classroom.
- Perform service and work in the community.
- A tuition scholarship for 9 credits at the standard graduate tuition rate.
- A 10-month stipend. Stipend amounts vary by assistant type.
- Enrollment in the Student Employee Health Insurance Plan.
- Comprehensive Fee
- Academic Excellence and Success fee (ACES)
- Student Activity Fee
- International Student Fee (matriculated international students only)
Fellowships
UB offers three campus-wide fellowship programs for graduate students. All incoming PhD applicants are considered for Schomburg and Presidential Fellowships; students must apply to receive a Graduate School Fellowship.
Underrepresented students pursuing full-time graduate study at UB may be eligible for the Arthur A. Schomburg Fellowship. The award is aimed at U.S. citizens or permanent residents who will contribute to the diversity of the student body of the university, especially if they have overcome a disadvantage or other impediment to success in higher education. Academic units may give consideration to students who are of a race or ethnicity that is underrepresented in its graduate or professional programs but may not make awards solely on that basis.
In addition to their diversity background, nominees must meet the following eligibility criteria:
- Undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher (on a 4-point scale).
- Planned full-time enrollment during the award period.
The best graduate students are in demand. UB’s Presidential Scholarship Program is meant to attract outstanding candidates to Buffalo. Nominees must be new PhD applicants and appointed as full teaching, graduate or research assistants. Nominees must also meet at least one of the following academic criteria upon admission:
- A cumulative undergraduate grade point average of 3.40 or higher; OR
- A combined score of 1,270 or higher on the Verbal and Quantitative sections of the “old” GRE General Test (the version offered prior to August 1, 2011) and a score of 4.5 or higher on the Analytical Writing component of that test; OR
- A combined score of 313 or higher on the Verbal and Quantitative sections of the revised/new version of the GRE General Test (that was introduced world-wide on August 1, 2011) and a score of 4.5 or higher on the Analytical Writing component of that test; OR
- A score on the relevant GRE Subject Test that is at, or above, 75th percentile for that test’s administration
At least 20 outstanding graduate students are selected annually for this program.
Nominees must be new PhD applicants and appointed as full teaching, graduate or research assistants.
Scholarships and Awards
Enrolled students have access to UB’s Scholarship Portal, your access point to hundreds of campus awards. Log in and complete one application annually to be considered for a range of scholarships.
Once the General Application is completed, you can return regularly to view new scholarship opportunities the system has matched with your academic and financial records along with your responses to the general application questions. There may be supplemental questions to answer to be considered for certain recommended opportunities listed in your dashboard. The general application should be completed annually after July 15 for the next aid year.
If you are selected for any scholarship opportunities within UB’s Scholarship Portal, you will be notified via email with the next steps you need to take for the funds to be finalized. The awarding process typically begins in the fall term and continues throughout the academic year.
A-Z Listing of Available Scholarships and Awards
Faculty, alumni, friends and other GSE supporters have generously established the following scholarships for students across our four departments. Unless otherwise noted, qualifying students are automatically considered for all scholarships.
* No application is required.
This scholarship provides support to students matriculated in the Graduate School of Education.
QUALIFYING DEPARTMENT:
All departments within GSEPROGRAM LEVEL:
Doctoral and master's students are eligibleThis scholarship supports students pursuing research and/or development activities in the teaching and learning of mathematics at the pre-secondary school level of instruction.
QUALIFYING DEPARTMENT:
Learning and InstructionPROGRAM LEVEL:
Doctoral, master's and combined master's students are eligibleThis award supports students completing, or alumni who have completed, an advanced certificate in gifted education.
QUALIFYING DEPARTMENT:
Learning and InstructionPROGRAM LEVEL:
Gifted Education advanced certificate students onlyThis fund is held by the Community Foundation of Greater Buffalo with final decisions made by their board of directors. Students must be a master's degree candidate in the Department of Information Science at the Graduate School of Education and have a minimum 3.0 GPA. Students must have been born in and be a citizen of the United States with domicile in New York State as well as have financial need.
QUALIFYING DEPARTMENT:
Information SciencePROGRAM LEVEL:
Master's students are eligibleThis scholarship provides support to students in the Department of Learning and Instruction. Preference is given to women to become teachers in the STEM courses (science, technology, engineering and mathematics).
QUALIFYING DEPARTMENT:
Learning and InstructionPROGRAM LEVEL:
Doctoral, master's and combined master's students are eligibleThis award supports an outstanding graduate student upon completion of their graduate studies in Music Education.
QUALIFYING DEPARTMENT:
Learning and InstructionPROGRAM LEVEL:
Advanced certificate or master's students onlyThis award supports students pursuing a doctoral degree in the Department of Learning and Instruction.
QUALIFYING DEPARTMENT:
Learning and InstructionPROGRAM LEVEL:
Doctoral students onlyThis scholarship supports students with financial need pursuing a degree in Educational Psychology.
QUALIFYING DEPARTMENT:
Counseling, School and Educational PsychologyPROGRAM LEVEL:
Master's and doctoral students are eligibleThis award is for a GSE doctoral student who has achieved success in the Higher Education PhD program and is graduating during the current academic year.
QUALIFYING DEPARTMENT:
Educational Leadership and PolicyPROGRAM LEVEL:
Higher Education doctoral students onlyThis scholarship supports a new student entering the Educational Administration PhD program in the Department of Educational Leadership and Policy.
QUALIFYING DEPARTMENT:
Educational Leadership and PolicyPROGRAM LEVEL:
Educational administration doctoral students onlyThis scholarship supports outstanding doctoral students in the Department of Learning and Instruction with preference given to students who intend to pursue, or are pursuing, a program in reading education.
QUALIFYING DEPARTMENT:
Learning and InstructionPROGRAM LEVEL:
Doctoral students onlyThis scholarship supports students in the Higher Education Program in the Department of Educational Leadership and Policy.
QUALIFYING DEPARTMENT:
Educational Leadership and PolicyPROGRAM LEVEL:
All master's and doctoral students are eligibleThis scholarship supports students studying or conducting research in a program which includes the interface of learning and teaching.
QUALIFYING DEPARTMENT:
All departments within GSEPROGRAM LEVEL:
Doctoral and master's students are eligibleThis scholarship supports students pursuing a degree in literacy in the Department of Learning and Instruction.
QUALIFYING DEPARTMENT:
Learning and InstructionPROGRAM LEVEL:
Master's and doctoral students are eligibleThis award supports students in the Higher Education program in the Department of Educational Leadership and Policy with costs related to professional development such as conference fees or travel expenses.
QUALIFYING DEPARTMENT:
Educational Leadership and PolicyPROGRAM LEVEL:
Higher Education master's and doctoral programsThis scholarship provides support to female students in the Graduate School of Education. Preference given to daughter(s) of women who have immigrated to U.S.
QUALIFYING DEPARTMENT:
All departments within GSEPROGRAM LEVEL:
Doctoral students onlyThis scholarship supports doctoral students in Counseling Psychology. Preference is given to students conducting research on counseling with families.
QUALIFYING DEPARTMENT:
Counseling, School and Educational PsychologyPROGRAM LEVEL:
Doctoral students are eligibleThis scholarship is for any GSE student with financial need. Preference given to veterans.
QUALIFYING DEPARTMENT:
All departments within GSEPROGRAM LEVEL:
Doctoral, master's and combined master's students are eligibleThis scholarship supports students pursuing graduate studies in the field of rehabilitation, in particular those students who show outstanding achievement in counseling people with disabilities.
QUALIFYING DEPARTMENT:
Counseling, School and Educational PsychologyPROGRAM LEVEL:
Master's and doctoral students are eligibleThis award provides support to international doctoral students with their dissertation research expenses.
QUALIFYING DEPARTMENT:
Educational Leadership and PolicyPROGRAM LEVEL:
Doctoral students onlyThis scholarship supports students who plan to pursue a career as a science teacher in the Department of Learning and Instruction.
QUALIFYING DEPARTMENT:
Learning and InstructionPROGRAM LEVEL:
Master's, combined master's and doctoral students are eligibleThis scholarship supports first-generation college students in the student teaching semester of the adolescence/secondary initial teacher certification program.
QUALIFYING DEPARTMENT:
Learning and InstructionPROGRAM LEVEL:
Doctoral, master's and combined master's students are eligibleThis scholarship supports graduate students majoring in an education/teaching field within the Graduate School of Education. The selection of students is made on the basis of merit and need.
QUALIFYING DEPARTMENT:
Learning and InstructionPROGRAM LEVEL:
Doctoral, master's and combined master's students are eligibleThis award provides support to non-traditional students pursuing a graduate degree in the Graduate School of Education after working several years in a different field.
QUALIFYING DEPARTMENT:
All departments within GSEPROGRAM LEVEL:
Doctoral, master's and combined master's students are eligibleThis scholarship supports a student pursuing a degree in the TESOL (teaching English to speakers of other languages) master’s program or a student pursuing a foreign and second language education doctoral degree. Students should be international and have financial need.
QUALIFYING DEPARTMENT:
Learning and InstructionPROGRAM LEVEL:
Doctoral and master's students are eligibleMust be a Graduate School of Education PhD student graduating during the current academic year. Seeking students who demonstrate individual creativity, exceptional flexibility and cooperative & inclusive spirit. Must complete the FAFSA, have financial need and be a graduate of a Western New York high school or lived in Western New York for at least five (5) years prior to undergraduate graduation. Preference given to underrepresented students.
QUALIFYING DEPARTMENT:
All departments within GSEPROGRAM LEVEL:
Doctoral students onlyThis award supports students pursuing a degree in mental health counseling. Preference is given to students who are active in any community/school program.
QUALIFYING DEPARTMENT:
Counseling, School and Educational PsychologyPROGRAM LEVEL:
Master's students are eligibleThis award supports students participating in the K-12 Leadership Initiative for Tomorrow’s Schools (LIFTS) preparation program.
QUALIFYING DEPARTMENT:
Educational Leadership and PolicyPROGRAM LEVEL:
LIFTS advanced certificate program students onlyEstablished in 2001 by the estate of Helen Ravin. Must be a student majoring in Information Science in the Graduate School of Education. Must complete the FAFSA and/or have documented financial need.
QUALIFYING DEPARTMENT:
Information SciencePROGRAM LEVEL:
Master's and doctoral students are eligibleThis fellowship supports underrepresented minority students pursuing a doctoral degree in educational administration from the Department of Educational Leadership and Policy.
QUALIFYING DEPARTMENT:
Educational Leadership and PolicyPROGRAM LEVEL:
Educational Administration doctoral students onlyThis scholarship supports students in the Department of Information Science. Preference given to students who have financial need and have demonstrated academic excellence.
QUALIFYING DEPARTMENT:
Information SciencePROGRAM LEVEL:
Master's and doctoral students are eligibleThis scholarship supports full-time students in the Department of Information Science. Must complete the FAFSA and/or have documented financial need and achieve high academic merit or indicate dedication through work experience in the field of information science.
QUALIFYING DEPARTMENT:
Information SciencePROGRAM LEVEL:
Master's and doctoral students are eligibleThis scholarship supports the promotion of excellence in the field of librarianship.
QUALIFYING DEPARTMENT:
Information SciencePROGRAM LEVEL:
Master's students are eligibleThis scholarship supports an undergraduate student pursuing a career in teaching in the Department of Learning and Instruction.
QUALIFYING DEPARTMENT:
Learning and InstructionPROGRAM LEVEL:
Combined master's students at undergraduate level onlyThis scholarship supports students pursuing a degree in chemistry and/or science education in the Department of Learning and Instruction.
QUALIFYING DEPARTMENT:
Learning and InstructionPROGRAM LEVEL:
Doctoral, master's and combined master's students are eligibleThis scholarship is for an outstanding doctoral student in the higher education program in the Department of Educational Leadership and Policy.
QUALIFYING DEPARTMENT:
Educational Leadership and PolicyPROGRAM LEVEL:
Doctoral students only