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Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Program

Columbian College of Arts & Sciences

Graduate Awards & Scholarships

WGSS students receiving awards

Graduate students may be eligible to receive funding opportunities from the Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies (WGSS) Program, as well as other available awards and scholarships. 

 

 

WGSS Program Funding Opportunities
 

WGSS Endowment Award

Award Value: $1,000 (varies)

This award prioritizes students who have been traditionally underrepresented in the field and those with special need for funding. To apply for this award please email the WGSS Office at [email protected] for the application.

 

The Nicole Paul Endowed Prize in Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies

Award Value: $900 (varies)

This annual award, established in 1994 by gifts in memory of Nicole M. Paul, BA ’92, provides an award to a Master’s degree candidate completing their first-year in the WGSS graduate program. The recipient will be an exceptional student demonstrating both academic excellence in the field and a commitment to furthering women’s issues championed by Nicole Paul, especially the issue of gender-based violence. Applicants who demonstrate commitment to feminist scholarship and social justice activism are encouraged to apply.

Please email the WGSS Office at [email protected] for the award application.

 

Graduate Feminist Scholarship Award

Award Value: $200

The Graduate Feminist Scholarship Award is open to WGSS master’s students and acknowledges outstanding scholarship. 

Submission Requirements:

  • Students must turn in an 8-10 page academic paper (double-spaced) 

  • Submissions can be an edited or shortened version of a paper previously submitted for a GW graduate course 

  • The application must include a title page, the name of the instructor, and the course at GW for which the paper was originally written

Please email the WGSS Office at [email protected], with the subject line: "[Name]/WGSS Feminist Scholarship Award.“

 

Service to the Community of Women Award

Award Value: $200

This award acknowledges the activism of a student pursuing a Master’s degree in the WGSS graduate program.

Submission Requirements:

  • A resume that includes your service experience.
  • A 200-word paragraph describing how your work benefits any community in support of gender and sexual minorities.
  • This award is open to self-nomination (highly encouraged) or nomination by a fellow student or faculty.

Please email your application to [email protected] with the following subject line: "[Name]/WGSS Service to Community Award.”

 

Making a Difference Award

Award Value: $250

This award is made possible by the generous donation of Clara Schiffer, a long-time supporter of our program, when she was in her 90s. The primary goal of this award is to encourage original research, stimulate critical thinking, and shape current debates on one or more policy- related topics concerning gender and sexual minorities. Please submit a 300 to 500-word abstract of a paper you have completed or a 300 to 500-word research proposal outline. Your work should cover the purpose, implementation, outcomes, and impacts of legislation, policies and programs that include or are aimed specifically at advancing feminist and LGBTQ movements, and human rights more broadly. Whether you submit an abstract of completed work or a proposal for future work, you should be focused on a public policy matter. 

Submission Requirements:

  • A title page with your name, the name of the instructor, and the name of the course the paper or proposal was originally written for at GW
  • A research proposal outline or an abstract of a paper that is completed.

Please email your application to [email protected] with the following subject line: "[Name]/ WGSS Making a Difference Award.”

 

Emily B. Proctor Research Award 

Award Value: $500 (varies)

The Emily B. Proctor Award is made possible by a generous donation from Emily B. Proctor, a graduate of the MA Program in Women's Studies (now the WGSS Program). Funds can go towards capstone, thesis, practicum-related research, and conference attendance to present research. The award can also fund research expenses (including travel) during the summer. 

To be eligible, you must be enrolled in either the Master’s program in WGSS or the Graduate Certificate program, should be in good academic standing, and should have a minimum GPA of 3.4.

Submission Requirements:

To apply, in a single PDF, please submit the following to [email protected] with the following subject line: [Name]/ Emily B. Proctor Grant:

  • A 500-1,000 word research proposal along with an estimated budget that details an expected outline of expenses
  • CV or resume mentioning your GPA so far and GW courses taken

Other University Assistance

The Columbian College of Arts and Sciences and GW offer additional funding opportunities to qualified graduate candidates. Visit the Graduate Student Funding web page to learn more about opportunities for dean's scholarships, fellowships, assistantships, loan assistance and student employment. In addition, the Columbian Women Scholarships, which are funded by a group of GW alumnae, offer scholarships to eligible GW undergraduate and graduate students each year.

Cost and Application Deadlines

 

 

External Funding Sources

The Scholarships for Women website maintains a list of organizations and corporate foundations that offer grants and scholarships specifically for women at the graduate level.

Visit the Scholarships for Women Site