Competitive Graduate Award

The Competitive Graduate Award (CGA) is designed to support highly qualified new graduate students accepted into masters degree programs at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (SIUE). The award provides a two-year Research Assistantship position at the 25% level, requiring an average of 10 hours per week devoted to research activities under faculty guidance. Recipients conduct scholarly research under faculty mentorship throughout their award period. The CGA offers comprehensive financial support including a full tuition waiver for up to 12 credit hours per semester across two academic years, a competitive stipend of $8,370 per academic year ($984 per month), and a summer tuition waiver for up to 9 credit hours between the two award years. Recipients are eligible to apply for additional Research Grants for Graduate Students during their first fall term to support research costs. As Research Assistants at the 25% level, CGA recipients are eligible to accept a second Graduate Assistantship position at 25% or below. Recipients must maintain at least 6 semester hours of graduate-level coursework, remain in good academic standing, participate satisfactorily in mentored scholarly activities, and present their research at the Graduate School Spring Research Symposium after their first year. Competitive applicants typically have undergraduate research experience and well-articulated ideas for potential graduate research projects. The award is specifically designed for new masters students, including SIUE undergraduates in approved combined bachelor-to-masters programs and previously enrolled graduate students who have been out of their program for at least 2 years. Applicants must have a minimum 3.5 cumulative GPA and a fully completed masters program application by the January 15 deadline.