Funding Opportunities
2025-2026 SOJC Graduate Student Scholarships and Awards:
The deadline for SOJC Graduate Student Scholarships and Awards is February 28, 2025.
Scholarship and awards are distributed in three equal installments during fall, winter, and spring terms of the 2025-2026 academic year. To be eligible, students must be full-time (taking at least 9 credits each term). See below for eligibility requirements and application instructions.
Please note: The Division of Graduate Studies offers additional funding opportunities.
OPEN TO INCOMING STUDENTS ONLY:
Emerging Leader Award—Multimedia Journalism Master’s
The Emerging Leader Award provides $2,000 in scholarship support for graduate students pursuing a master’s degree in multimedia journalism at the UO.
Criteria: In addition to writing a high-quality response to the essay prompt below, ideal candidates will have a compelling portfolio that demonstrates communication and storytelling acuity. If they are existing students, additional consideration will be given if they are engaged in their coursework, meaningfully contribute to class discussions, and demonstrate leadership skills.
How to Apply: Submit your resume/CV and a 500-1,000 word essay responding to the following prompt: In an era of unprecedented disruption in the way individuals and organizations communicate, what issues would you like to better understand and as a result become a leader in the field? What experiences would you bring to our program that guide you in that journey and how would this scholarship help you reach your goals?
Eligibility: Incoming Multimedia Journalism Students
Deadline: Feb. 28, 2025
The Emerging Leader Award provides $2,000 in scholarship support for graduate students pursuing a master’s degree in strategic communication at the UO.
Criteria: In addition to writing a high-quality response to the essay prompt below, ideal candidates will have a compelling portfolio that demonstrates communication and storytelling acuity. If they are existing students, additional consideration will be given if they are engaged in their coursework, meaningfully contribute to class discussions, and demonstrate leadership skills.How to apply: Applicants are required to submit a resume/CV and a 500-1,000 word essay responding to the following prompt: In an era of unprecedented disruption in the way individuals and organizations communicate, what issues would you like to better understand and as a result become a leader in the field? What experiences would you bring to our program that guide you in that journey and how would this scholarship help you reach your goals? Submit this online application form
Eligibility: Incoming Strategic Communication Students
Deadline: Feb. 28, 2025
OPEN TO BOTH INCOMING AND CURRENT STUDENTS:
Civic and Watchdog Journalism
The Civic and Watchdog Journalism Scholarship provides support to SOJC graduate students whose work has demonstrated a commitment to, and outstanding achievement in, civic and watchdog journalism.
Criteria: Special consideration is given to applicants whose work demonstrates the importance of explaining the complexities of issues, challenging conventional wisdom, holding institutions and leaders accountable, and listening to the voices of those often ignored in the community. The student’s work should show a commitment to protecting civic values such as fairness, justice, equal access, public and health safety, and the public treasury.
Eligibility: Incoming students and current students
How to Apply: To apply for the Civic and Watchdog Journalism scholarship, use the online application form to submit a current resume/CV, a writing sample, and a one-page statement explaining how your work is concerned with civic and watchdog journalism.
Deadline: February 28, 2025
Graduate Student Enhancement Scholarship
The purpose of the Graduate Student Enhancement Scholarship is to provide financial incentives for master’s or PhD students to attend and or complete a SOJC graduate program. Preference given to students whose work is in journalism and news media.
Criteria: To apply for the Graduate Student Enhancement Scholarship, use the online application form to submit a current resume/CV and a 500-Criteria: 1,000 word essay responding to the following prompt: How would you use the Graduate Student Enhancement Scholarship to attend or complete your graduate program, and how does your work involve journalism and/or news media?
Eligibility: Incoming students and current students
Deadline: February 28, 2025
Politz Graduate Scholarship
Criteria: Awarded to new and continuing students pursuing studies in the Eugene-based Journalism master’s program and the Portland-based Multimedia Journalism master’s program.
How to Apply: Use the online application form to submit a current CV or resume and two writing samples:
- A short piece (500-750 words) on current news
- A feature story (750-2500 words). This can be human interest, profile, seasonal theme, or behind the scenes.
Eligibility: Incoming students and current students
Deadline: February 28, 2025
OPEN TO CURRENT STUDENTS ONLY
Anderson Family Fellowship
Criteria: Anderson Family Fellowships of $3,000 – $5,000 are awarded to one or more SOJC graduate students whose work addresses issues and questions of journalism ethics.
How to apply: Use the online application form to submit a current CV, a one-page statement explaining how your work is concerned with journalism ethics, and the names of 2 to 3 faculty members who could speak to your suitability for this award.
Eligibility: Current students
Deadline: February 28, 2025
Lokey Scholarship
The Lokey Scholarship provides support to raise the national and international profile of the SOJC, attract the best and the brightest minds to the UO, and be a catalyst for developing outstanding future leaders for the journalism and communication industry. Only PhD students who have approved dissertation proposals and have advanced to candidacy are eligible for consideration.
Criteria: Graduate student Lokey scholars are selected in recognition of their outstanding scholarly achievements and to provide added support during the dissertation year. Up to two ABD recipients are selected primarily based on their scholarly record and demonstrated potential for research as indicated by their work in classes, conference presentations, and publication. Teaching and service in the SOJC are additionally weighed, though the primary criterion is research, both accomplishments and potential. Selection of the scholar(s) is made by the PhD Advisory Committee, which may choose not to award in a given year, depending on student eligibility, strength of research, other considerations and contributions, and funds available.
How to Apply: Submit your online application
Eligibility: ABD Students
Deadline: February 28, 2025
Warren C. Price Memorial Fund
Criteria: This scholarship recognizes a student at the University of Oregon for excellence in writing in the field of journalistic history. The Warren C. Price Memorial Fund was established in 1967 in honor of this “one-of-a-kind” SOJC professor. During his time at the University of Oregon, Price was the editor of Journalism Quarterly and twice served as acting dean of the school.
How to apply: Use the online application form to submit a current CV and a writing sample that demonstrates excellence in the writing of journalistic history.
Eligibility: Current Students
Deadline: February 28, 2025
Franco Reis Graduate International Scholarship
The Franco Reis Graduate International Scholarship provides support up to $2,375 for international graduate students enrolled at the SOJC at the University of Oregon. The scholarship(s) may be used to assist students with all standard educational expenses including tuition, fees, books, miscellaneous supplies, room, board, stipends, and research costs.
Criteria: The selection of the recipient(s) shall be based on the following criteria: International graduate students, enrolled in the SOJC, who have demonstrated academic merit, as determined by the scholarship committee.
How to Apply: Use the online application form to submit a statement of 500 words explaining how this award would support your graduate studies.
Eligibility: Current Students
Deadline: February 28, 2025
The Rafi And Zoreh Scholarship
Criteria: Created by Hassan Rafi-Zadeh (MA ’69) and Zohreh Sotoodeh in 2019, this scholarship supports SOJC graduate and undergraduate students who demonstrate financial need, especially international students.
How to apply: Use the online application form to submit a current CV or resume and a statement of up to 500 words explaining your financial need and detailing how this scholarship would support your graduate studies.
Eligibility: Current Students
Deadline: February 28, 2025
Glenn Starlin Endowed Fellowship in Telecommunication and Theatre Arts
Criteria: The Starlin Fellowship is a $1,000 award given to a “worthy student engaged in graduate study toward a master’s or doctoral degree in telecommunication issues and related research in the School of Journalism and Communication.” Strong consideration is given to scholarship and career potential, with a desire to also support dissertation research when possible.
How to apply: Use the online application form to submit a current CV or resume, a one-page statement explaining how your work is concerned with telecommunication issues and related research, and the names of 2 to 3 faculty members who could speak to your suitability for this award.
Eligibility: Current Students
Deadline: February 28, 2025
For Communication & Media Studies Students Only: SOJC Travel Funding Policy
The SOJC has limited funding for graduate research and travel expenses. This money is awarded competitively to Communication & Media Studies students for thesis/dissertation-related travel, travel to conferences to present papers, and assorted research-related expenses. Both Travel and Research Fund Request Forms are available online and must be submitted before travel or research begins.
Please contact Amy Boutell, Director of Graduate Affairs, if you have questions about travel and research funding.
Distribution of graduate travel and research funds will be made based on the following priorities:
- Type of presentation
Priority #1: Individually authored refereed full paper (not panel or refereed abstract)
Priority #2: Joint-authored refereed paper
Priority #3: Other types of participation (plenary presentation, discussant, panel presenter, paper based on abstract submitted, etc.)
- Type of organization/meeting
Priority #1: ICA, AEJMC, IAMCR, NCA; American Academy of Advertising, Association for Consumer Research
Priority #2: Other national/international organizations
Priority #3: Regional meetings, ad hoc conferences
Priority #4: Other
- Seniority of students
Priority #1: First to fourth year PhD students in residence
Priority #2: First to second year master’s students in residence
- Number of requests
First requests will be favored over previously funded students’ requests. Students may submit more than one travel request during a one-year period. However, each student is only eligible for up to $900 of travel funding per fiscal year. This amount is available on a first come, first served basis and is not guaranteed to each student, each year. For PhD students beyond their fourth year and Communication and Media Studies master’s students beyond their second year, travel/research funds are generally not available but will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
Research and Project Funds Requests for research funds must be made before the money is spent. Students may not complete their thesis or projects, and then seek funding afterward to pay for their expenses. Students should not apply for more than $300 per fiscal year. This amount is available on a first come, first served basis and is not guaranteed to each student, each year. Thesis and project research is given priority consideration.
Other Funding Opportunities
Funding opportunities elsewhere on campus include thesis/dissertation grants from the Center for the Study of Women in Society, the Division of Graduate Studies and the Humanities Center. These opportunities are competitive; you should contact those centers for more information. The Division of Graduate Studies also maintains a funding webpage that can be helpful to students looking for grants and fellowships in their field. Students should begin their funding search early to allow time to complete the application process and meet application deadlines.