Joint PhD Program Funding

Flourish Fund: Supporting Community Well-Being Initiatives

The Flourish Fund provides small grants to support current MSW students, PhD students, staff and faculty within the School of Social Work who are interested in hosting events or developing projects that advance community-wide well being, with and explicit connection to one or more of the 8 Sectors of Well-Being (emotional, environmental, financial, intellectual, occupational, physical social, spiritual).

The John & Penny Tropman Conference Networking Travel Grant carries a value of $500. This travel grant is to support a doctoral student who would like to attend a conference for networking purposes who is not presenting at the conference. To be eligible for the award, a student must be in good standing in the Doctoral Programs. Please contact the Doctoral Office prior to submitting the award application to verify funds are still available: [email protected]

This student-initiated application must be submitted directly to Rackham.

This student-initiated application must be submitted directly to Rackham.

The Rackham Graduate Student Research Grant is designed to support Rackham graduate students who need assistance to carry out research that advances their progress toward their degree.

Rackham Graduate Student Research Grant Precandidate Application

Rackham Graduate Student Research Grant Candidate Application

Department deadline: September 2026

This award is in memory of Joseph Veroff and Katherine Pavelka Luke. It provides students with the funds to create a Conversations Across Social Disciplines event. The event will focus on key social issues that affect both social work and social science disciplines

Department deadline: September 3, 2026
Submit electronically to Todd Huynh [email protected]

The Rackham International Student Fellowship assists outstanding international students, particularly those who may be ineligible for other kinds of support because of citizenship.

Rackham International Student Fellowship

Department deadline: September 18, 2026
Submit electronically to Todd Huynh [email protected]

Department deadline: September 23, 2026

This Scholarship was established by James L. and Vivian A. Curtis. It supports doctoral students whose research focuses on minority populations with low income and education, with a preference for research on issues faced by African American males. Eligible to both joint and standalone students.

Vivian A. and James L. Curtis Endowed Scholarship for Doctoral Student Research Application

The Rosemary Sarri Endowed Scholarship was established by gifts from alumni and friends to honor Rosemary Sarri, PhD, on her retirement from her distinguished teaching and research career at the UM School of Social Work. Dr. Sarri generously matched these contributions to double the amount of the fund. This award provides two scholarships, one for students in the MSW program and one for the students in the Joint PhD Program who have interest in community change, policy and political social work, management and leadership or program evaluation and applied research.

Department deadline: November 25, 2026

This award is to support research expenses for doctoral students. Preference will be given to students in the School of Social Work Joint Doctoral Program whose research addresses an area of community-based care with a focus on psycho-social education, rehabilitation, and social integration for those dealing with chronic mental illness. Research projects should expand opportunities, build strengths and promote social inclusion of individuals with mental health concerns.