Scholarships & Fellowships

The SSW awards a number of scholarships each year for foundation and incoming students. Scholarship awards range from $2,000-$10,000+. To be considered for a scholarship, students must apply after submitting a complete MSW application.

The following are eligible to apply:
* New incoming students (part-time, full-time, foundation, advanced standing)

* Continuing part-time students who will be in their first field placement in Fall 2023

The priority deadline for scholarship applications is 11:59pm on January 15th, 2023.

The final deadline for scholarship applications is 11:59pm on March 31st, 2023. Applications will only be considered if students have submitted a complete admissions application for the MSW program or are already enrolled in the MSW program.

If you have questions about these scholarships for incoming and foundation students, please contact Amanda Lehning, Senior Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, at alehning@ssw.umaryland.edu.

Download PDF of Scholarship Descriptions & Essay Instructions

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SWCOS Scholarships are available to full-time students planning to complete a field placement in Baltimore City. SWCOS's mission is to advance social justice through mutually transformative community-university partnerships. The vision of SWCOS is that all communities will be equitable and promote well-being, self-determination, individual and collective power. SWCOS offers innovative field experiences in a wide range of community settings such as schools, neighborhoods, and other nonprofit organizations. Scholarship awards range from $2,000-$5,000+.

For more information, please contact Temeka Bailey: temeka.bailey@ssw.umaryland.edu 

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The Research Assistant (RA) Scholars Program is a competitive two-year research fellowship award offered to select MSW students who hold strong interests and potential for social work research and scholarship. Across the fellowship period, RA Scholars work to support a UM SSW faculty mentor who is engaged in active research initiatives. Applications are reviewed and faculty mentor matches are made between students and faculty based on complementary interests. Awards across each academic year of the program are approximately $6,000 for RA Scholars to work 10 hours per week across 15 weeks each semester (i.e. Approximate pay rate of $20/hour). The exact award amount may vary slightly from one academic year to the next and will be confirmed at the time of your application for the respective academic year. There may be opportunities for RA Scholars to work across the summer, and this determination is made annually dependent on UMSSW budget availability.

For more information, please email Christabel Cheung.

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Applications will open by February 28, 2023. The deadline for all advanced year scholarships is April 4, 2023 by 11:59pm.

Alumni Association Scholarship  
Awarded from the Alumni Association’s Scholarship Fund, these scholarships are for continuing students (going into a second year or the advanced curriculum in the fall 2023 semester) who have completed at least 15 credits at the School. 

Bou Family International Scholarship   
Awarded to a second-year student with an interest in international affairs/service. 

Brittani “Bri” Brunn Memorial Scholarship  
Given to an Advanced MSW student pursuing or furthering a career with a clinical concentration in Behavioral Health. The recipient will be selected by a staff and faculty committee based on merit and financial need, as well as an essay describing their future behavioral health plans. Preference will be given to students that have an interest in suicide prevention. 

Camille Baudot Wheeler Scholarship for Policy Studies  
Awarded to a student entering their advanced year with an abiding interest in policy studies.

Dr. Oliver C. Harris Scholarship for the Prevention of Intimate Partner Violence  
Awarded to a student entering their advanced year with an abiding interest in the prevention of intimate partner violence through the practice of social work.

Jean M. Dockhorn and Anne P. Hahn Scholarship  
Given to a student entering their advanced year who wishes to pursue further studies and gain experience in the following areas: hospital social work, a community health care organization, or social work/public health.

Julie and Erol Oktay Scholarship for Oncology Social Work  
Awarded to a student entering their advanced year with a commitment to the field of oncology social work. 

Richard W. Friedman Scholarship for Juvenile Justice or Criminal Justice  
Given to a student entering their advanced year who plans to pursue a career in juvenile justice or criminal justice. 

Sylvia Miller Nathanson Scholarship  
Given to a non-traditional student entering their advanced year. Non-traditional is defined in this case as meeting at least one of the following characteristics: delayed enrollment into postgraduate education; attending school part-time while working full time; having dependents other than a spouse, or being a single parent.

Terrie Alexander Memorial Scholarship  
Awarded to an Advanced MSW student pursuing a career in Substance Use Intervention or Prevention (preference is given to students in field placements at the Terrie Alexander Intensive Outpatient Clinic and/or Forensics Social Work {Defense Based}). 

Woodside Foundation Scholarship in Financial Social Work  
Awarded to a student entering their advanced year with a commitment to the field of financial social work. 

If you have questions about these scholarships for students entering their advanced year, please contact Amanda Lehning, Senior Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, at alehning@ssw.umaryland.edu.

For more information, download Advanced Scholarship Descriptions and Essay Instructions