Graduate Student Resources

Financial

External Funding

Most scholarships are obtained from outside the university system. We encourage you to do a web search for outside funding at the same time as you are applying for gradutate programs. Some fellowships can only be used in the first year of graduate study, e.g. the Mellon; you would apply for these before you enter graduate school so that, if successful, you will have funding for your first year. Other possibilities include Ford, Mellon, Javits, or National Science Foundation scholarships. Our Division of Graduate Studies also awards a small number of one- or two-year fellowships to entering students. The Film and Digital Media Department itself has extremely limited funding for student support. However, some faculty are engaged in funded research projects that do, at times, have GSRs (graduate student research assistantships) associated with them. Application to these GSR positions should be initiated directly with the faculty member and may entail another application process.

Below we list a number of granting opportunities some of which support graduate education, others which support writing or production projects.

  • Arts Research Institute: UCSC’s own Arts Grants, as well as a listing of other grant databases and “External Funding Agencies.”
  • Florence French Scholarship: The Florence French Financial Aid Fund for Art is bequest “to provide scholarships in art for worthy students in need of financial aid.”
    • Your eligibility hinges on filing the FAFSA online. The FAFSA is based on your previous year’s income. If there is a change in your income for the current year that is not reflected in the FAFSA, contact the Financial Aid office after filing the FAFSA form online to clarify your financial situation.
  • Porter College: Support for Graduate Students
  • UC Office of the President – Research Grants Program Office
Last modified: Sep 10, 2024