Graduate Funding Opportunities

Financial Aid

The WWU Financial Aid office determines graduate student aid eligibility, including work study, via the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Western's priority deadline is February 15 for Fall eligibility. Scholarship application materials are available beginning in January in the appropriate department office, or Western's Scholarship Center. For more information, please visit the Graduate School's financial aid & work study page.

Work Study

You must indicate your interest for work study on your FAFSA. If you qualify for work study, you will serve as a graduate research assistant to faculty involved in research projects. The typical award amount for work study is equivalent to approximately 15 hours of work per week for the student during the academic year. You should discuss your interest with the faculty member you would like to assist.

Teaching Assistantships

Teaching Assistantships are available in limited numbers. Assistantships are not available for off-campus programs. To be eligible for a TA position, you must have full admit status to the Graduate School (not provisional status) or, if a current student, be making satisfactory progress toward the degree. Teaching Assistants receive a stipend and a full or partial tuition waiver from the Graduate School and health coverage.

Research Assistantships

Students should speak directly with a faculty member if they are interested in becoming a Research Assistant. Research Assistants receive a stipend paid from the Professor's research grants and may/may not include Tuition reimbursement and/or health coverage.

Graduate Research and Creative Opportunities Grant

Designed to assist students in accomplishing their thesis/ project work. Awards may be made for equipment, computer software, consumable items, travel, etc. Requests should be confined to activities or equipment that are central to the student's thesis/project work and which are not available to the applicant through the Department. Any permanent equipment acquired using award funds remains University property. The Office of Research and Sponsored Programs announces deadlines for applications.  Visit the Graduate Research and Creative Opportunities Grant website for more information.

College of the Environment Dean’s Fund for Sustainability

The Dean's Fund for Sustainability was established to support scholarly projects or activities that focus on sustainability. Awards from this fund can be used to offset a wide variety of costs including registration fees and travel expenses to attend conferences, professional meetings or competitions. More information here.

College of the Environment Small Grants for Graduate Research

Awarded in Fall (31 Oct) and Spring Quarters (15 May) for Environmental Sciences and Environmental Studies students. You must have a Thesis Topic Approval or Project Approval on file to be considered. Used to cover expenses for such items as expendable supplies (chemicals, glassware, computer disks, etc.), travel to field sites and/or, when funds are available and after applying for Ross Travel funds through the Graduate School, attendance to present research results at a professional meeting. Application here.

Approved Fall 2025 grant applications: Ashlyn Lee

Ross Travel Grant

Available to support travel for graduate students to present papers at professional meetings and conferences, to exhibit works of art at national and international showings, and to perform, direct or produce within professional performing arts venues. More information here.

Dean and Sandy Blinn Travel & Research Fund

The Dean and Sandy Blinn Travel & Research Fund endowment was established by Dean and Sandra Blinn to celebrate the success of the College of the Environment and to support faculty-mentored student research. Funds are intended to support student research expenses with priority given for student travel to state and/or national meetings to present research. If no student is deemed eligible in a given academic year, funds may be awarded to support expenses for a faculty member to present their research at a state and/or national meeting. More information here under "Additional Funding Opportunities".

WWU Scholarships

More information here.

Other sources of Funding (external to WWU / CENV):

Many organizations offer grants to assist with your research. You must apply/meet deadline requirements of each of their programs.

National Science Foundation Research Fellowships

Charitable Foundations

Note: Many of these provide grants to nonprofit organizations only.

Professional/Community Organizations

The following organizations fund research in their field of interest:

WWU Scholarship Center listings