Resources for Graduate Students

Doctoral training in clinical psychology is rigorous. Before applying, consider:

• Your career goals: Do you want to focus on research, clinical practice, or both?
• Program type: Ph.D. programs emphasize research; Psy.D. programs emphasize practice.
• Degree path: A Master’s program may be a better first step for some career goals.

Aligning your career plans with the right type of program is key to long-term success.

CUDCP: Predoctoral Competency

Psychology Today: Master’s vs. Doctorate in Clinical Psychology

Psychology Today: Ph.D. vs. Psy.D.

APA: Transitioning from a Master’s to a Doctoral program

ASFP: Get feedback on your personal statement

Collegiate Gateway: The Paths to Different Psychology Graduate Schools

Guides from APA and the Council of University Directors in Clinical Psychology (CUDCP)

The application process can be complex. Fortunately, there are several resources to guide you. These resources explain differences between program formats and help you prepare strong, competitive applications.

APA: Applying to Graduate School

APA APAGS: Resources for Students

CUDCP: Application tips

CUDCP: Considering a graduate program in Clinical Psychology?

Graduate school costs include more than tuition. Students should plan for:

• Tuition and fees
• Books and supplies
• Rent, food, and transportation
• Health insurance (required at some schools)

Many students live off campus, which adds housing and commuting costs. Programs may provide cost-of-living estimates or connect you with current students to discuss typical expenses.

Key Questions to Ask Programs

The amount of debt varies widely by student and program, so it is important to ask specific questions before committing. Examples include:

• Cost of living: What is typical rent, transportation, and other expenses?
• Tuition and fees: Is tuition remission available? For how long?
• Assistantships: Are TAs or RAs offered? How are students selected, what is the stipend, and does funding include tuition remission?
• Summer funding: Is support available during summer terms?
• Scholarships: Are internal or external awards available?
• Outside work: Are students permitted to work outside the program?
• External funding: Are students required to apply for external fellowships or grants?
• Funding guarantee: Ask programs what funding is guaranteed, for how long, and whether tuition is included.

Additional information is provided by the APA: APA FAQs about graduate school

Many programs offer financial support through assistantships:

• Teaching Assistantships (TA): Funding provided in exchange for teaching responsibilities.

• Research Assistantships (RA): Funding for working on faculty-led research projects; availability may depend on grant funding.

• Tuition Remission: Many assistantships also cover tuition costs.

What to Ask When Applying

• What types of assistantships are available?

• How much funding is provided and for how long?

• Does the program include tuition remission?

Additional sources of funding for graduate research are listed below.

Research Awards: National Institutes of Health

Individual Fellowships:
https://researchtraining.nih.gov/programs/fellowships
The purpose of this Kirschstein-NRSA program is to enable promising predoctoral students with potential to develop into productive, independent research scientists, and to obtain mentored research training while conducting dissertation research. The F31 is also used to enhance workforce diversity though a separate program.

Mental Health Research Dissertation Grant to Increase Diversity (R36)
https://www.nimh.nih.gov/funding/training/mental-health-research-dissertation-grant-to-enhance-workforce-diversity-r36
The purpose of this Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA), issued by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), is to increase the diversity of the mental health research workforce by providing dissertation awards in all areas of research within the strategic priorities of the NIMH to individuals from diverse backgrounds underrepresented in mental health research to support the completion of the doctoral research project.

Research Awards: Robert Wood Johnson Foundation

Health Policy Research Scholars:
http://healthpolicyresearch-scholars.org/
This is a national leadership development program for first-or- second-year doctoral students in any academic discipline who want to apply their research to help build healthier and more equitable communities.

Research Awards: Autism Speaks

Autism Speaks Weatherstone Fellowships:
https://www.autismspeaks.org/science/grants-program
Autism Speaks supports global biomedical research into the diagnosis, causes, prevention, and treatment of autism or its disabling symptoms. Our mission is to improve the future for all who struggle with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). In support of that mission we provide funding along the entire research continuum – from discovery to development to dissemination – for innovative projects that hold considerable promise for significantly improving the lives of those affected by autism.

Research Awards: American Psychological Association

Full searchable database: https://www.apa.org/about/awards

APA-Graduate Students (APAGS) Basic Psychological Science Research Grant:
http://www.apa.org/about/awards/apags-science.aspx
The intent of this grant is to fund innovative psychological science research projects. Students in all fields of psychology and neuroscience and are APAGS members are eligible to apply. Funds for this $1,000 grant must be used to support the proposed research. This grant may be used for thesis, dissertation or other research.

Janet Hyde Graduate Student Research Grant:
http://www.apadivisions.org/division-35/awards/hyde.aspx
The Hyde Grant Committee welcomes proposals for the Hyde Graduate Student Research Grants. These grants, each up to $500, are awarded to doctoral psychology students to support feminist research. The grants are made possible through the generosity of Janet Shibley Hyde, Ph.D. Past recipients of Hyde Graduate Student Research Grants are not eligible to apply. Because the purpose of this award is to facilitate research that otherwise might not be possible, projects that are beyond the data analysis stage are not eligible.

Distinguished Scientific Contribution:
http://www.apadivisions.org/division-44/awards/scientific.aspx
Division 44 offers this award for distinguished theoretical or empirical contributions to lesbian, gay or bisexual psychological issues. The winners of this award have made far-reaching and visionary contributions to the development of a science of LGBT psychology and have provided the science base for practice, education and the development of public policy. Many of these award winners are pioneers who first asked affirmative research questions about the lives of LGBT people, their families and their communities.

Distinguished Student Contribution:
http://www.apadivisions.org/division-44/awards/student.aspx?tab=1
Division 44 offers this award to a graduate student in psychology who has made a distinguished contribution to research or practice, or who has performed exceptional service to the division.

Bisexual Foundation Award:
http://www.apadivisions.org/division-44/awards/bisexual.aspx
The Bisexual Foundation Scholarship is an annual fund awarding up to $1000 per award to selected graduate students to advance research on the psychology of bisexuality.

Evelyn Hooker Award for Distinguished Contribution by an Ally:
http://www.apadivisions.org/division-44/awards/hooker.aspx
Division 44 offers this award for distinguished contribution by an ally in the areas of research, clinical practice, education and training, public advocacy, mentorship, and/or leadership.

Malyon Smith Scholarship Research Award:
http://www.apadivisions.org/division-44/awards/malyon-smith.aspx
Graduate students in psychology are honored for research into psychological issues important to gay, lesbian, or bisexual individuals, groups, or communities.

International Research Award for Graduate Students in Psychology:
https://div52.net/awards/student-international-research-award/

Henry P. David Grants for Research and International Travel in Human Reproductive
Behavior and Population Studies:
https://ampsychfdn.org/funding/david-research/
$1,500 for work in the behavioral aspects of human reproductive behavior or an area related to population concerns.

Research Awards: American Psychological Foundation

Kenneth B. and Mamie P. Clark Fund:
http://www.apa.org/apf/funding/clark-fund.aspx
$10,000 grant supports research to increase understanding of personal factors, social arrangements, social institutions and physical factors affecting the well-being of disesteemed or disadvantaged persons.

Roy Scrivner Memorial Research Grants:
http://www.apa.org/apf/funding/scrivner.aspx
$15,000 grant for empirical and applied research focused on lesbian, gay and bisexual family psychology and lesbian, gay and bisexual family therapy.

COGDOP Graduate Student Scholarships
https://ampsychfdn.org/funding/cogdop/
Provides up to $5,000 to assist graduate students of psychology with research costs associated with their master’s thesis or doctoral dissertation.

Wayne F. Placek Grants:
http://www.apa.org/apf/funding/placek.aspx
$15,000 to support empirical research from all fields of the behavioral and social sciences on any topic related to lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender issues.

The Visionary Fund:
http://www.apa.org/apf/funding/visionary.aspx
Provides grants of up to $20,000 to support research, education, and intervention projects and programs that use psychology to solve social problems in the following priority areas:

1. Understanding and fostering the connection between behavior and physical health to
   ensure well-being.
2. Reducing stigma and prejudice to promote unity and harmony.
3. Understanding and preventing violence to create a safer, more humane world.
4.  Supporting programs that address the long-term psychological needs of individuals
   and communities in the aftermath of disaster.

The David H. and Beverly A. Barlow Grant:
http://www.apa.org/apf/funding/barlow.aspx
Provides up to $9,000 to support innovative research, education, and intervention efforts that advance psychological knowledge and application in understanding and fostering the connection between behavior and health.

The Bruce and Jane Walsh Grant in Memory of John Holland:
http://www.apa.org/apf/funding/walsh.aspx
Provides up to $13,000 to support scientific, scholarly, or applied research and/or educational activities investigating how personality, culture, and environmental inference work behavior and health (mental and physical).

Lizette Peterson-Homer Injury Prevention Grant Award:
http://www.apa.org/apf/funding/peterson-homer.aspx
$5,000 for research on the prevention of injuries in children and adolescents through accidents, violence, abuse or suicide.

Clarity Award:
http://www.apadivisions.org/division-44/awards/clarity.aspx
This award recognizes leaders advancing the rights of LGBT people, engage others within our profession to extend recognition and respect for LGBT people, and advocate for equality for LGBT people.

Other awards/scholarships/Fellowships

American Fellowships (for women):
https://www.aauw.org/resources/programs/fellowships-grants/american/
American Fellowships support women scholars who are completing dissertations, planning research leave from accredited institutions, or preparing research for publication. Applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents. Candidates are evaluated on the basis of scholarly excellence; quality and originality of project design; and active commitment to helping women and girls through service in their communities, professions, or fields of research.

National Academy of Education/Spencer Dissertation Fellowship Program:
https://naeducation.org/naed-spencer-dissertation-fellowship/
The Dissertation Fellowship Program seeks to encourage a new generation of scholars from a wide range of disciplines and professional fields to undertake research relevant to the improvement of education. These $27,500 fellowships support individuals whose dissertations show potential for bringing fresh and constructive perspectives to the history, theory, analysis, or practice of formal or informal education anywhere in the world.

The Paul and Daisy Soros Fellowships for New Americans:
https://www.pdsoros.org/apply
Selection criteria focuses on accomplishments that show creativity, originality, and initiative in light of the challenges and opportunities that have been part of the applicant’s immigration experience. The application is open to college seniors, students in the early stages of their graduate career, and those in the workforce who are seeking graduate training.

Travel Awards:

The Paul E. Henkin School Psychology Travel Grants:
http://www.apa.org/apf/funding/henkin.aspx
Provide two $1,000 grants to defer the costs of registration, lodging, and travel for student members of APA Division 16 to attend the APA Annual Convention.

Dr. Richard A. Rodriguez Division 44 Student Travel Award:
http://www.apadivisions.org/division-44/awards/rodriguez.aspx
The purpose of the Dr. Richard A. Rodriguez Division 44 Student Travel Award is to encourage greater participation in Division 44 annual convention activities by LGBT students of color.

Applicants may be eligible for fellowships before beginning graduate training. Examples include:

Ford Foundation Predoctoral Fellowship

Robert Wood Johnson Health Policy Research Scholars

National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship (NSF GRFP)

APA Minority Fellowship Program

Applying early for these opportunities can reduce the financial burden of graduate training.

When the time comes to apply for internship, these resources will help you prepare:

APA Doctoral Internships

APAGS Internship Resources

APPIC Resources for Students

Canadian Psychological Association guide to the internship process