Graduate Assistantships and Scholarships

Graduate Assistantships provide financial assistance for graduate students, allowing them to pursue a higher degree and grow professionally through the development and application of discipline-based knowledge. All students with a graduate assistantship receive a stipend and pay in-state tuition, although, for some grant- or contract-funded assistantships, tuition may be covered completely. Most graduate assistants are expected to work 20 hours per week on their assistantship duties. Three types of graduate assistantships are described below, and each has a different application and selection process. Additional details regarding graduate assistantships can be found in the CCU Graduate Catalog.

University-funded graduate program assistantships

Many CCU graduate programs are allotted a specific number of university-funded assistantships each year for graduate students in their discipline. Duties vary by position and include such activities as (1) instructional assistance for undergraduate classes and laboratories under supervision of a faculty member (teaching, preparing materials, grading, etc.), (2) development and delivery of student support programs such as tutoring, reviews, discussions, etc., (3) scholarly, research, or technical assistance for departmental, university, or faculty initiatives, and (4) administrative or other support for a program or department. Students typically apply for these assistantships by indicating their desire for a graduate assistantship on their original graduate program application. If you did not do so, you can download the Graduate Assistantship Application and submit it directly to your program coordinator/director/chair. The selection process and all decisions are overseen by the program coordinator in each program, or in some cases a committee of program faculty. Questions should be directed to your advisor or the program coordinator.

Grant- or contract-funded graduate assistantships

These assistantships are typically research- or scholarship-based and include specific duties as stipulated by a grant or contract. In many cases, the student becomes aware of the opportunity through one-on-one conversations with the Principle Investigator for the grant/contract (who may also be the student’s advisor). These conversations may be prior to admission or after the student is already enrolled, and there may or may not be a formal application process. In some cases, a more general announcement and application process may come from the program coordinator or other unit director.

Administrative/professional support for University offices

A number of University offices across campus fund graduate student assistantships to support their activities and directives. These can be either University-funded or grant-funded. Examples include:

Academic Coaching
Athletics
Career Services
Global Engagement / International Programs
Graduate Studies
Online Learning
Provost Office
Student Affairs
Student Recreation
Training, Development, and Service Excellence
University Housing

In some cases, these offices will work with program coordinators to identify and assign program-allotted assistantships (category 1, above), but in other cases, they will hire graduate students who did not receive a program-specific assistantship. In the latter case, offices typically turn to the Office of Graduate Studies to provide a pool of potential applicants to choose from. If you would like to be considered for one of these graduate assistantships, fill out the Graduate Assistantship Application and return it by mail or email to:

Graduate Studies
Coastal Carolina University

Singleton Bldg., Room 153
103 Tom Trout Drive
Conway, SC 29526

graduate@coastal.edu

TEACHSC

Our partner, TEACH South Carolina (TeachSC), is a program that provides free support to anyone who’s thinking about becoming a teacher. When you sign up, you get perks like 1-on-1 coaching, up to $100 back in fee reimbursements towards expenses related to applying to our program (including testing and fingerprints), and a chance to win a regional $1,000 scholarship!

To capitalize on the application fee reimbursement, create a TeachSC account here: TeachSC , before you apply to Coastal Carolina University. Once you have subscribed to TeachSC and applied to Coastal Carolina University, you can submit your application fee reimbursement here and apply for the TeachSC scholarship here!

NEW SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION!

Financial Aid & Scholarships is pleased to announce a new scholarship application for new and continuing students! The application for 2023-2034 is now open! The application will be open from February 6, 2023 to April 7, 2023. Accepted, enrolled, and continuing undergraduate and graduate students are encouraged to apply!

Students fill out one application and are automatically matched to the various scholarship opportunities available. This application replaces the previous WebAdvisor application-based scholarship process. The deadline for applications and all additional requirements for 2023-2024 is April 7, 2023 at 11:59 p.m. Late submissions are not accepted. Students selected for these scholarships for 2023-2024 will be notified in May.

Scholarships Available

HCHEC Scholarship for Graduate Students Awarded annually by the Horry County Higher Education Commission to a CCU graduate student from any program who previously graduated from a Horry County high school. Deadline: March 15. This is for new/incoming graduate students only.
Douglas D. Nelson Graduate Fellowship (scroll down to mid-page)
External Scholarships for Graduate Students (scroll to the bottom of page) Awarded annually to a graduate student in either the Coastal Marine and Wetland Studies master’s program or the Coastal Marine Systems Science PhD program. Deadline: rolling.
Office of National Scholarships - https://www.coastal.edu/honorscollege/officeofnationalscholarships/
Tillman Scholarship - The Pat Tillman Foundation unites and empowers remarkable military veterans and spouses as the next generation of private and public sector leaders committed to service beyond self. The fellowship program supports Tillman Scholars with academic scholarships, a national network, and professional development opportunities in all different fields. Since its inception, the foundation has invested more than $20 million dollars to more than 750 Tillman Scholars attending 166 universities and colleges across the country.

The Tillman Scholar Program has evolved into a world-class community accepting roughly 3.5 percent of applicants based exclusively on merit and potential for impact. The application is open to military service members, veterans, and spouses pursuing a full-time bachelor's, master’s, or professional degree at a US-based accredited institution. Additionally, you will find this one-page overview which outlines eligibility and benefits for the Tillman Scholars program.

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