Central Fellowships

Each year the Music department nominates its top doctoral applicants for centrally administered university fellowships. These ‘Central Fellowships’ are very prestigious and many provide multi-year financial packages.

All doctoral applicants (DMA, PhD, MM/DMA, MA/PhD) who apply will be considered when nominations are made as long as they have a completed application by the January 10th deadline.

Performance applicants (DMA, MM/DMA) who wish to be nominated for one of these fellowships, in addition to a completed application, must have completed a DMA audition by January 10 if they wish to be considered for these fellowships. We strongly urge DMA and MM/DMA applicants to set up their audition as early as possible so that they do not miss out on this amazing opportunity.

Departmental Support

Generally speaking, the Music Department at UCSB tries to provide all accepted students a funding offer of some sort.

The department has over 30 Teaching Assistantships which are available to graduate students in musicology, theory, ethnomusicology, composition, vocal, piano and instrumental performance, and conducting. Young Artists String Quartet Scholarships are available to string players for any vacancies in this scholarship graduate quartet. Other forms of support are: the Non-Resident Tuition Fellowships, Departmental Fellowships, Graduate Opportunity Fellowships, Interdisciplinary Humanities Center Junior Fellowships, Graduate Humanities Research Assistantships, Graduate Research Mentorship Program, President's Dissertation Year Fellowship, Humanities/Social Science Research Grants, Academic Senate Travel Grant, Graduate Fee Fellowships, Interdisciplinary Humanities Center Predoctoral Fellowships, General Affiliates Dissertation Fellowships, U.S. Student Fulbright Programs, Jacob K. Javits Fellowship program and UCSB Music Affiliates Scholarships in varied amounts.

Here are a few examples of the many financial support offers given out to admitted applicants in the last couple of years:

  • 25%-50% Teaching Assistantships-Includes a partial fee remission covering 100% of the health insurance, educational and registration fees plus a monthly salary (UCSB Salary Scales)
  • Non-Resident Tuition Fellowship
  • Chancellor’s Fellowship-5 Years of support. (3 Years of $24,000.00 stipend plus full fees, 2 years of 50% Teaching Assistantship in the department or equivalent which includes full fees and insurance)
  • YASQ Fellowship- Complete fee and health insurance fellowship plus a stipend
  • Mallory Distinguished Fellowship
  • Faulkner and Rappleye Brass Scholarships

Please understand that these are a few examples of the many funding offers that were handed out by our department last year and that fellowship information, amounts and details change from year to year. All applicants will be considered for departmental fellowships and teaching assistantships and all doctoral applicants will also be considered for central fellowships as long as all admissions deadlines and requirements are met.

The application deadlines are posted above. It is important to note that the longer you wait to complete your application and submit your materials, your chances of receiving a funding package decreases.


UCSB Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships

Graduate students may apply for a variety of need-based awards including work-study and loans through the UCSB Financial Aid and Scholarships Office. Applications for aid require the completion of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The Financial Aid and Scholarships Office assists students in applying for California State Graduate Fellowship Grants, which are need-based grants sponsored through the California Students Aid Commission (CSAC). Questions about need-based aid should be addressed directly to the Financial Aid and Scholarships Office, UCSB, Santa Barbara, CA 93106-3180. Phone (805) 893-2432. (http://www.finaid.ucsb.edu/)

Fill out the FAFSA