Requirements and Stipulations for Fellows

University fellows must maintain a 3.0 grade-point average and make satisfactory progress toward the degree. Specific conditions for making satisfactory progress can be obtained from the graduate adviser for the program for the program. Fellowships administered by the Graduate School will be terminated when these conditions are not met.

As a Fellow, you must be registered as a full-time graduate student, namely for 9 semester credit hours if you are receiving a fellowship during Fall or Spring semesters or 3 semester credit hours if you are receiving a fellowship during the Summer semester. Registration must be completed and your tuition bill paid before any fellowship payments will be released. This means it is important to be pre-registered or the initial fellowship payment for a semester might be delayed.

University fellows are expected to enroll and continue in the graduate program in which they have been nominated. They must obtain advance permission from the Graduate School for any change of major while they hold the fellowship. 

If a fellow elects to transfer to another institution, any offer of fellowship support made by The University of Texas at Austin no longer applies. The fellow should consult the Graduate School to determine the nature and duration of the remaining support to be provided by The University of Texas at Austin.

University fellows are required to remain in residence at The University of Texas at Austin during the tenure of their awards unless the Graduate School has explicitly authorized them to do research or other work elsewhere. 

If you change your name, change your address, receive an additional fellowship, or accept external employment for more than 30 hours per week, wish to change your major, or you have any other plans that may affect your fellowship, please contact the Graduate School at gradfellowships@utexas.edu. 

If you wish to defer your fellowship to a future semester or year, you must request a deferral by the 12th day of class (4th class day of the first session of summer) or the semester funding is forfeited.

Full fellowships (which include tuition and money towards insurance) come with work restrictions as indicated on the summary page of the offer letter.  Opportunities for additional support in the form of a prestigious outside fellowship, an additional UT fellowship, a teaching assistantship/assistant instructor, a graduate research assistantship or other work opportunities need to be reported to the Graduate School.  The Graduate School reserves the right to defer/adjust part or all of the Graduate School fellowship when a student is receiving other funding.  

Opportunities exist for support following the period covered by a fellowship. Typically, such support might consist of another competitively awarded University Fellowship, a Teaching Assistantship or a Graduate Research Assistantship, depending on specific circumstances.