Current Fellows and Trainees
Congratulations on receiving a fellowship or traineeship for your study at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign! The links below should assist you with questions about the benefits and obligations associated with the award. If you have any questions, please contact the Graduate College Fellowship Office at 204 Coble Hall, GradFellowships@illinois.edu, or (217) 333-0036.
Campus Fellowship Policies
The policies related to holding a fellowship or traineeship are outlined in the Graduate College Handbook at www.grad.illinois.edu/gradhandbook.
Full-time Enrollment
Fellows and Trainees are required to register for a full courseload during each term of their fellowship. Full-time status is defined as 12 hours for spring and fall semesters and 4 hours in an 8-week course during summer. Registration in a four-week summer course will not fulfill the requirement. Failure to enroll full-time while holding a fellowship or traineeship appointment may result in termination of the appointment.
Concurrent Appointments
Fellows are prohibited from holding two major awards concurrently (fellowship, traineeship, grant, tuition payment award or comparable support from any government agency, state, federal or foreign, or from any foundation, corporation or similar organization). Any award offer should be reported immediately to the Graduate College Fellowship Office, where the determination will be made whether the two awards may be held concurrently.
Unless otherwise restricted by the granting agency or unit, fellows may, at the discretion of their department and with prior approval of the Graduate College, carry additional appointments as graduate hourlies or assistants of up to 50 percent time, providing they conform to the minimum registration requirements. Questions about concurrent appointments should be directed to both the department and the Graduate College Fellowship Office.
With the expectation that trainees are pursuing their research training on a full-time basis, trainees are restricted in the concurrent appointments (assistantship or hourly) they can hold while receiving traineeship support. The campus uses the policy established for trainees supported on NIH training grants as the guide for reviewing requests for concurrent appointments.
Tuition Coverage
For full information on tuition and fee coverage for students with waiver-generating fellowship or traineeship appointments, see theTuition Waiver Policy
Loan Eligibility and Fellowships
Students with fellowships who apply for direct loans will have their eligibility reduced by the amount of the fellowship. Traineeships are not counted when eligibility for direct loans is calculated for graduate students. For more information about financial aid for graduate students, see www.osfa.illinois.edu/aid/loans/fd_max.html.
Tax Information
Fellowship and traineeship stipends may be subject to income taxes. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has ruled that universities are not responsible for withholding or reporting income taxes on fellowship payments for U.S. citizens or permanent residents. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) requires that universities withhold taxes from the fellowship payments of international students on temporary visas. All Fellows and Trainees should be aware of the laws regarding reporting of fellowship and traineeship stipends. See the appropriate document for more information.
- Tax and Loan Information for U.S. Students with Fellowships
- Tax Information for International Students with Fellowships
Graduation for Fellows and Trainees
When preparing to graduate, Fellows and Trainees should contact the Fellowship Office before depositing their thesis or dissertation, as that event may trigger the end of those appointments. For more information consult the Thesis Deposit/Degree Conferral and Fellowship Appointment End Dates.
If you have question or need additional information, contact the Graduate College Fellowship Office at GradFellowships@illinois.edu or (217) 333-0036.