Financial Aid
Graduate Assistantships and Other Aid
MFA applicants who want to be considered for an assistantship and fellowship must complete their application to the Graduate School by January 16, 2024. Exceptions are occasionally made for students applying for admission after that date or for currently enrolled students who may be awarded assistantships after the first-year review. Applications are accepted until the area quota is filled.
School of Art assistantships are ¼ time, normally requiring a 10-hour per week commitment. An assistantship is generally awarded for a full year (9 month academic year). Appointment to a second or third year assistantship is the norm, but not automatic, and is based upon success in academic and studio coursework.
Other graduate positions with tuition waivers are frequently available in the Office of Information Technology, Student Activities, Advising, Recreation, and other university services. Contact these services directly or ask the concentration area representative for more information.
GTA Benefits:
- Graduate Teaching Assistantship (year one) annual stipend – $8,450 (2023-24 rate)
- Graduate Teaching Associate (year two and three) annual stipend – $9,390 (2023-24 rate)
- $1000 fellowship for summer 2025 (Summer stipend is awarded the summer after the first year.)
- Full tuition waiver and Graduate Teaching Assistants (GTA), Graduate Teaching Associates (GTAssoc), with appointments on a one-fourth time basis or higher, are entitled to a waiver of maintenance, mandatory fees, and differential tuition for the period of appointment.
- These appointments also include a benefit of health insurance for the student.
- See Financial Aid for the latest graduate tuition and fee information.
Other Scholarships and Funding
- The Buck Ewing and Terry Burnett, and Joseph Delaney Scholarships are awarded to currently enrolled graduate students in the School of Art every year. Applications are submitted to the Graduate Program Director during the spring semester. Evaluation is by the entire faculty.
- The School of Art has residency/internship awards, materials awards, travel abroad award, summer research assistant and other funding resources for currently enrolled graduate students. See below.
- The University of Tennesse Graduate School offers additional Graduate School Fellowships, Assistantships, and other Funding. Some of these awards are self-apply. Most need to be supported by the School of Art Graduate Committee and Graduate Program Director. Contact the concentration area representative for more information.
- Visit the Office of Financial Aid & Scholarships for information on more scholarships, grants, and loans, and Center of International Education for travel abroad funding.
Graduate Scholarships + Awards
The School of Art annually presents a broad range of scholarships and awards to graduate students in addition to tuition waivers, GTA stipends, and fellowships.
School of Art Scholarships are awarded through a faculty jury of student applications and portfolios. Eligibility for the various awards is described in the application form links below. Awardees of 2024-25 scholarships will be notified via email in the spring.
Prospective graduate students are not eligible for the awards listed. Application materials for incoming fellowships and fellowship nominations are reviewed by the School of Art Graduate Committee during the admittance process.
Current first and second-year graduate students may apply for awards in the following categories.
NOTE: You must be logged into your UTK Google Account to access the application forms.
SOA Study Abroad Scholarships
All students currently enrolled in and pursuing an undergraduate or graduate degree (first and second year only) in the School of Art are eligible. Applicants must demonstrate successful academic performance and financial need, and be registered in the School of Art in the semester following their travel.
Application must be uploaded by February 11, 2024.
Note: Applicants seeking funding to support travel for research or creative activity should complete the SOA Travel Award application, and those seeking funding for residency should complete the SOA Residency and Internship Award application.
SOA Travel Award
The School of Art Scholarship Committee awards travel support to proposals for artistic and research projects, or scholarly activity. Recipients of the grant will be expected to have their project completed by the end of the following fall semester. Upon completion of the project, a public presentation — either a public lecture, an exhibition, or another appropriate publication venue — is required.
Applications must be uploaded by by May 6, 2024.
Note: Applicants seeking funding for residencies should complete the SOA Residency and Internship Award application. Applicants seeking travel funding to support study abroad should complete the SOA Study Abroad Scholarship application.
SOA Materials Grants
The School of Art Scholarship Committee awards funding for materials to support graduate students’ studio work. This grant is intended to be used in the exploration or creation of the student’s artistic practice rather than used for unrelated commissions. Upon completion of the project, a public presentation — either a public lecture, an exhibition, or another appropriate publication venue — is required.
Applications must be uploaded by by May 6, 2024.
SOA Residency and Internship Awards
The School of Art Scholarship Committee is accepting applications for the support of residency and internship opportunities. Recipients of the grant will be expected to have their project completed by the end of the following fall semester. Upon completion of the project, a public presentation — either a public lecture, an exhibition, or another appropriate publication venue — is required.
Applications must be uploaded by May 6, 2024.
Note: Applicants seeking travel funding to support study abroad should complete the SOA Study Abroad Scholarship application.
First / Second Year Graduate Merit Scholarships
All first and second year MFA students pursuing graduate degrees in the School of Art are eligible to apply. Applicants must demonstrate successful academic performance, present a compelling portfolio, and show strong evidence of professional promise. Scholarships are awarded by the full faculty and selected after review of the application materials on Graduate Scholarship Day.
Applications must be uploaded by March 24, 2024
SOA MFA Project Grant
The SOA MFA Project Grant is designed to support MFA graduate students in the research and creation of their 3rd-year final MFA project. All rising third-year MFA students are eligible to apply. Applications are submitted to the School of Art Graduate Committee.
Applications must be uploaded by (TBA)
Graduate Student Senate Travel Awards
Graduate students planning to travel to a professional meeting should consider applying for a Graduate Student Senate (GSS) Travel Award. These awards, distributed three times per year, are made on the basis of both need and merit, and allow for partial reimbursement of transportation, lodging, and conference expenses. Application, deadlines, travel dates, and application workshops are available on the Graduate Student Senate website.
Note: Students may receive a GSS Travel Award only once per academic year
Graduate Scholarships + Awards
2023 Scholarship Recipients
School of Art Graduate Materials Grant
Anthony Huang
Gaby Hurtado-Ramos
Hannah Langer
Gino Castellanos
Kaitlyn Anderson
Ruchi Singh
School of Art Graduate Travel Grant
Study Abroad
LaKesha Lee
Eliza Frensley
Travel Award
LaKesha Lee
Gaby Hurtado-Ramos
Griffin Allman
Gino Castellanos
Saloni Parekh
School of Art Graduate Residency / Internship Award
Haley Takahashi
Zoe Brester-Pennings
Chloe Wack (Penland)
Ruchi Singh
Hannah Langer
School of Art Graduate Merit Scholarship
Casey Wolhar
Abigail Hedley
Saloni Parekh
Kyle Cottier
Landin Eldridge
Anthony Huang
2022 Scholarship Recipients
School of Art Graduate Materials Grant
Griffin Allman
Delany Bal
Zoe Brester-Pennings
Gino Castellanos
Abby Hedley
Sean Heiser
Saloni Parekh
Hanna Seggerman
Haley Takahashi
School of Art Graduate Travel Grant
Sarah Bernstein
Gino Castellanos
Noah Lagle
Emily Rice
Hanna Seggerman
Megan Wolfkill
School of Art Graduate Residency / Internship Award
Zoe Brester-Pennings
Danqi Cai
School of Art Graduate Merit Scholarship
Sarah Bernstein
Danqi Cai
Noah Lagle
Saloni Parekh
Hannah Seggerman
Haley Takahashi
2021 Scholarship Recipients
Buck Ewing Award
Tasha Lewis
Terry Burnette Memorial Graduate Scholarship
Zoe Brester-Pennings, Danqi Cai, and Ashley Ekstrum
Joseph Delaney Graduate Scholarship
Nuveen Barwari and Gary White
Paige Braddock Graduate Award (faculty nomination)
Sarah Bernstein
Dorothy Dille Materials Grant
Delaney Bal
Nuveen Barwari
Zoe Brester-Pennings
Danqi Cai, Muriel Condon
Abigail Freed
Noah Lagle
Amalia Mermingas
Hanna Seggerman
Emily Rice
Haley Takahashi
Orin B. & Emma G. Graff Graduate Travel Award
Danqi Cai and Amalia Mermingas
Elise Boake Award
Sean Heiser
Charles & Ann Pfitzer Residency/Internship Award
Ashley Ekstrum
Noah Lagle
Nichole Schappert
The University of Tennessee is an EEO/AA/Title VI/Title IX/Section 504/ADA/ADEA institution in the provision of its education and employment programs and services. All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, pregnancy, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, physical or mental disability, or covered veteran status.

