Diversity Fellowship Programs

To request an application fee waiver, you will need to request the fee waiver when you actually apply using the online application.

• You can find a link to the Cornell Graduate School application fee waiver on the payment page of the online application.

   

• If you plan to request a fee waiver, be sure to plan ahead and submit your application at least 3 business days before the application deadline.

   

• For more information visit: https://gradschool.cornell.edu/admissions/apply/application-fees/

   

For additional information on application fee waivers and pathway programs, should be directed to grad_assoc_dean@cornell.edu.

The Cornell Engineering Colman Fellowship is designed to broaden representation and develop future engineering leaders. This fellowships is administered by the office of Diversity Programs in Engineering (DPE) and funded by the Colman Family Foundation and the Cornell Graduate School.

Fellowship Structure:

Students selected for a Cornell Colman Fellowship receive two (2) academic years awards of fellowship support including summer support (tuition, stipend, and individual health insurance) to pursue a PhD in designate Engineering and Computer Science disciplines. The two academic year awards are split between the first year and the fourth or fifth year (the second-year award must be made post the A-Exam). The remainder of the fellow's program, assuming adequate academic progress, is borne by the field/department through alternative sources of funding such as institutional awards, assistantships, or other external fellowships. Funding support is contingent upon the fellow remaining in good academic standing and making satisfactory progress in their graduate program. Colman Fellows also receive the following:

• Professional Development Funding: Fellows will also receive $2,000 from the College of Engineering to support professional development expenses (conferences, academic supplies, society memberships, etc.) during each of their two fellowship years (1st year and 4 or 5 year post A-Exam).
• Settling In Funding: $1000 stipend supplement from College of Engineering during their first year to go toward expenses for moving and setting in as a new student.

How to apply for a Cornell Engineering Colman Fellowship:

Prospective PhD students apply for the Colman Fellowship through the admissions application.

• Graduate Admissions Application:
  • To be considered, applicants must respond “yes” to the question on the admissions application asking if they wish to be considered for university assistantships and fellowships, including diversity fellowships.
• Supplemental Essay:
  • Applicants must also submit a supplemental essay via the admissions application. The supplemental essay should detail how one or more of the following criteria applies to the applicant:
    • first-generation college student
    • member of a group historically underrepresented in graduate education 
    • experiences overcoming any significant challenges in your path toward graduate school (examples include but are not limited to: managing a disability, being of a gender historically underrepresented in your graduate field of study, and being a Veteran)
    • Success in graduate education requires significant persistence and resilience. Therefore, students should also use their supplemental essay to address how their personal, academic, and/or professional experiences demonstrate their ability to be both persistent and resilient especially when navigating challenging circumstances.
• Graduate Field/Department Nomination:
  • The Director of Graduate Studies for the graduate field to which the applicant is applying must submit a nomination to Diversity Programs in Engineering for consideration by the Senior Associate Dean for Diversity & Faculty Development  and the DPE Director.

Eligible fields for the Cornell Engineering Colman Fellowship:

• Aerospace Engineering
• Applied & Engineering Physics
• Biological & Environmental Engineering
• Biomedical Engineering
• Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering
• Civil and Environmental Engineering
• Electrical and Computer Engineering
• Geological Sciences
• Materials Science & Engineering
• Mechanical Engineering
• Operations Research & Information Engineering
• Systems Engineering
• Theoretical and Applied Mechanics

The Cornell Engineering Lance R. Collins Fellowship was established to enhance the diversity of the College of Engineering's graduate student population. Further, it honors Dr. Lance R. Collins, who from 2010 to 2020 served as the Joseph Silbert Dean of the College of Engineering. This fellowship is administered by the office of Diversity Programs in Engineering (DPE) and funded by the College of Engineering, the fellow's field/department, and the Cornell Graduate School.

Fellowship Structure:

Students selected for a Cornell Collins Fellowship receive two (2) academic years awards of fellowship support including summer support (tuition, stipend, and individual health insurance) to pursue a PhD in designate Engineering and Computer Science disciplines. The two academic year awards are split between the first year and the fourth or fifth year (the second-year award must be made post the A-Exam). The remainder of the fellow's program, assuming satisfactory academic progress, is borne by the field/department through alternative sources of funding such as institutional awards, assistantships or other external fellowships. Funding support is contingent upon the fellow remaining in good academic standing and making satisfactory progress in their graduate program. Collins Fellows also receive the following:

• Professional Development Funding: Fellows will also receive $2,000 from the College of Engineering to support professional development expenses (conferences, academic supplies, society memberships, etc.) during each of their two fellowship years (1st year and 4 or 5 year post A-Exam).
• Settling In Funding: $1000 stipend supplement from College of Engineering during their first year to go toward expenses for moving and setting in as a new student.

How to apply for a Cornell Engineering Collins Fellowship:

Prospective PhD students apply for the Collins Fellowship through the admissions application.

• Graduate Admissions Application:
  • To be considered, applicants must respond “yes” to the question on the admissions application asking if they wish to be considered for university assistantships and fellowships, including diversity fellowships.
• Supplemental Essay:
  • Applicants must also submit a supplemental essay via the admissions application. The supplemental essay should detail how one or more of the following criteria applies to the applicant:
    • first-generation college student
    • member of a group historically underrepresented in graduate education 
    • experiences overcoming any significant challenges in your path toward graduate school (examples include but are not limited to: managing a disability, being of a gender historically underrepresented in your graduate field of study, and being a Veteran)
    • Success in graduate education requires significant persistence and resilience. Therefore, students should also use their supplemental essay to address how their personal, academic, and/or professional experiences demonstrate their ability to be both persistent and resilient especially when navigating challenging circumstances.
• Graduate Field/Department Nomination:
  • The Director of Graduate Studies for the graduate field to which the applicant is applying must submit a nomination to Diversity Programs in Engineering for consideration by the Senior Associate Dean for Diversity & Faculty Development  and the DPE Director.

Eligible fields for the Cornell Engineering Collins Fellowship:

• Aerospace Engineering
• Applied & Engineering Physics
• Biological & Environmental Engineering
• Biomedical Engineering
• Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering
• Civil and Environmental Engineering
• Electrical and Computer Engineering
• Geological Sciences
• Materials Science & Engineering
• Mechanical Engineering
• Operations Research & Information Engineering
• Systems Engineering
• Theoretical and Applied Mechanics

Cornell Engineering (Ithaca, NY campus only) is a member of the GEM Consortium. Cornell Engineering offers one (1) year of fellowship support for GEM fellows. Please note that PhD Students may be awarded both the GEM and either a Collins or Colman Fellowship.

Fellowship Structure:

Cornell Engineering GEM fellowships (MEng & PhD) may be offered as follows:

• Full Fellow –
  • Tuition & Fees, Stipend and Health insurance for one year or three semesters with an internship by Corporate Sponsor
• Associate Fellow –
  • Tuition & Fees, Stipend, and Health insurance for one year or three semesters
• University Fellow –
  • Tuition & Fees for one year or three semesters

To be eligible for nomination for a Cornell Engineering GEM Fellowship, students must be a U.S. citizen and identify as:

• African American/Black,
• Hispanic/Latino,
• American Indian,
• Native Alaskan,
• Native Hawaiian, and/or
• Native Pacific Islander. 

Eligible fields for the Cornell Engineering GEM Fellowship:

• Aerospace Engineering
• Applied & Engineering Physics
• Applied Math
• Biological Engineering
• Biomedical Engineering
• Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering
• Civil and Environmental Engineering
• Computer Science
• Electrical and Computer Engineering
• Information Science
• Materials Science & Engineering
• Mechanical Engineering
• Operations Research & Information Engineering
• Systems Engineering
• Theoretical and Applied Mechanics

How to apply for a Cornell Engineering GEM Fellowship:

For more information or to apply visit, https://www.gemfellowship.org/gem-fellowship-program/