Program Details and Eligibility

Fellows are required to remain as full-time students, and maintain a high GPA, during their two years as MMUF fellows. MMUF students are required to discuss their academic plans with the director and their faculty mentor.

Additionally, fellows are encouraged to apply to a doctoral program in an MMUF designated field in the fall semester of their graduation year. To be eligible for Mellon support during graduate study, fellows must apply for a PhD program within 39 months of earning their undergraduate degree.

Fellows will conduct independent research, under the guidance of their faculty mentor, and submit a thesis by the end of their second year. Fellows are also expected to apply to summer research programs at peer institutions. Fellows are required to present their work at the program’s symposiums and the annual MMUF Southeast Regional Conference. Additionally, fellows are encouraged to present at least two academic conferences.

Fellows will have the support of a faculty mentor and the MMUF team. It is imperative that fellows maintain a close working relationship with their faculty mentor throughout the two years of the program, including summers, meeting with them at least twice a month. The mentors will provide guidance on the fellow’s research project and graduate school preparation.

Fellows are expected to attend a weekly seminar focused on topics such as understanding the research and writing process, preparing conference abstracts, applying for graduate school, and writing a strong statement of purpose. Also, fellows are encouraged to attend workshops, seminars, and professional conferences. MMUF funds are available to support professional development opportunities.

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During the two years in the program, fellows receive a stipend each semester, including the summer, to conduct research. Payment is contingent upon the completion of the research plan approved by the student's Mentor, progress on their research project, and participation in program seminar and events. This funding will allow students to work full time on their research without the distraction of outside employment.

Upon graduation, MMUF fellows will continue to enjoy the support of the MMUF Program. As fellows approach the end of their graduate studies, a series of MMUF programs, such as the Social Science Research Council's PhD Retreat and the Institute for Citizens & Scholar’s Junior Faculty Career Enhancement Fellowship Program, will help them to prepare and steer them to post-graduate programs and academic careers.

If fellows enter a PhD program in a Mellon-designated field within 39 months following receipt of the undergraduate degree, they are eligible to receive up to $10,000 in undergraduate student loan relief.

Always a Mellon. After graduation from UT Austin, fellows’ association with the Mellon Mays Fellowship remains intact. As graduate students, fellows will also become part of initiatives that will enrich their graduate training and will be able to participate in many MMUF activities across the nation.

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