Scholarships & Fellowships

Scholarship applications for Fall 2027 are open.

The PRIORITY Deadline for scholarship applications for the Fall 2027 semester is 11:59pm on January 15th, 2027. March 31st, 2027 is the FINAL deadline for students to apply for scholarships.

The PRIORITY Deadline for scholarship applications for the Fall 2027 semester is 11:59pm on January 15th, 2027. March 31st, 2027 is the final deadline for scholarship applications for Fall 2027.

Social Work Community Outreach Services (SWCOS) Scholarships are available to full-time students planning to complete a  practicum experience in Baltimore City through an approved community-university partnership within the Center for Restorative Change.

The Center for Restorative Change (CRC) is an outreach initiative housed in the University of Maryland School of Social Work.  CRC’s mission is to advance social justice through mutually transformative community-university partnerships.

SWCOS Scholarship awards range from $2,500-$5,000+. To be considered for scholarship, students must apply after submitting a complete application for the Baltimore campus.

The following are eligible to apply:

* New incoming full-time students in the 60-credit hybrid MSW program in Baltimore

* Continuing part-time students in the 60-credit hybrid MSW program in Baltimore who will be in their first practicum in Fall 2027

If you have any questions about the SWCOS scholarship award process, please contact Becky Davis (she/her).

In addition to federal and state grants awarded based on financial need, various private scholarships are available for students enrolled in programs at USG. These scholarships are created with contributions from private donors including the USG Board of Advisors, local businesses, foundations, community organizations, and individual donors.

Scholarship opportunities available to USG students can be found here.

The Montgomery County Child Welfare Fellowship Program provides a stipend and specialized training for students who can commit to employment in child welfare at the Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services. Students will complete their practicum at Montgomery County DHHS and enroll in coursework to support understanding clinical practice and policy in child welfare.

Students will receive a financial stipend of $7,500 for each semester they are enrolled in the program and must commit to work for Montgomery County DHHS upon graduation for the amount of time that they received the stipend.

This fellowship program is available to students enrolled at the Shady Grove campus who are in their advanced year of coursework and field.

The priority deadline for scholarship applications is 11:59pm on January 15th, 2027.

The final deadline for scholarship applications is 11:59pm on March 31st, 2027. Applications will only be considered if students have submitted a complete admissions application for the MSW program.

To learn more about this program, please contact Dr. Joan Pittman, jpittman@ssw.umaryland.edu.

The Behavioral Health Workforce Integration Service and Education (BHWISE) Fellowships are training programs for MSW students committed to providing behavioral health services to individuals from underserved populations. BHWISE Fellows will receive inter-professional educational opportunities, specialized seminars, focused coursework, and an educational stipend.

BHWISE-SUDWE - One-year fellowship with a $15,000 stipend for advanced standing and advanced year students interested in specialized education and training related to substance use disorder treatment. 

BHWISE-SUDIF – SUDIF is for incoming foundation students who will enroll in their field assignment simultaneously while in the fellowship and complete the MSW program in two consecutive years. Two-year Fellowship with a $12,000 stipend for the Foundation year and a $16,000 stipend for the Advanced year; participants contractually commit to providing integrated behavioral health services for two years post-graduation in a program providing direct clinical services to individuals impacted by substance use disorders.

To learn more about all BHWISE fellowships, application process, and deadlines, and to submit an application, please visit our webpage: http://www.ssw.umaryland.edu/bhwise/

Research Assistant (RA) Scholars Program
Currently on pause and not accepting applications.

While the program is paused, students are encouraged to stay tuned to the weekly MSW Student Newsletter for announcements about faculty research assistant opportunities.

The RA Scholars Program is a competitive research fellowship for MSW students who demonstrate strong interest and potential in social work research and scholarship. RA Scholars are matched with faculty mentors engaged in active research, contributing to projects that advance social justice, inform practice, and strengthen communities. The program has been an important pathway for students to gain hands-on research experience while supporting the School’s mission of academic excellence and community impact.

The Child Welfare Fellowship (formerly known as Title IV-E) is a paid internship opportunity that also provides specialized training, coursework, and support to students interested in pursuing a career helping families and children across the state of Maryland. Child Welfare Fellows are placed in a variety of internship sites across the state, including but not limited to Local Departments of Social Services, Family Connections Baltimore (within the Center for Restorative Change), and Social Services Administration.

The internship sites offer a range of experiential opportunities for both Clinical students and Leadership, Policy, and Social Change (LPSC) students in areas like family preservation services, foster care services, child protective services, policy work, and so much more. Child Welfare Fellows are supported while pursuing their MSW degree with a financial stipend of $14,400 per year and welcomed into a cohort of students receiving clinical and/or LPSC training and coursework geared towards engagement and intervention with vulnerable families and children.

The Child Welfare Fellowship Program is known for providing specialized training around trauma responsive interventions, Motivational Interviewing, and offering reflection space for critical analysis of services and systems.

Following graduation, Child Welfare Fellows are also guaranteed employment at a Maryland Local Department of Social Services with excellent benefits packages, generous paid leave time, and competitive salaries starting at $70,000 for Licensed Social Workers.

For those interested in employment specifically in Baltimore City or Prince George’s County after graduation, there are additional stipends within the Child Welfare Fellowship Program available.  

The Child Welfare Fellowship Program is looking for students who are critical thinkers and interested in being part of an innovative time in Child Welfare system transformation.

Applications for Fall 2027 are open with a priority deadline of January 15, 2027.

To learn more about all Child Welfare Fellowship stipend opportunities and the application process, please visit our webpage: https://www.ssw.umaryland.edu/tuition--fees/scholarships--fellowships/child-welfare-fellowship/

These funds are only eligible for students entering their Advanced Year. Newly accepted students will not be considered for the following awards. Students may apply for up to 3 advanced scholarships.

UMB offers a number of scholarships to students who demonstrate a strong ability to succeed through their academic achievements, community leadership, and service.

Visit Here for a List of Scholarships Available Through UMB

Loan Forgiveness Program
https://www.socialworkers.org/Advocacy/Policy-Issues/Student-Loan-Forgiveness

Helping Social Workers With Student Loan Debt
https://www.socialworktoday.com/archive/exc_051515.shtml

CSWE’s Minority Fellowship Program (MFP)
The Minority Fellowship Program is targeted to, but not limited to, racial/ethnic minority students.

• Please direct all other questions to mfp@cswe.org. 

Who can be considered for this program?
The Master’s Minority Fellowship Program (MFP) is a program designed to enhance the training of full-time, master’s-level, direct practice-focused social work students in their final year of study at a CSWE-accredited institution. Applicants must identify mental health and/or substance use disorder service delivery to racial/ethnic minority populations as their focus, and be committed to seeking employment in this field after graduation. Historically, the MFP master’s fellowship has also required that fellows specifically work with children, adolescents, and/or transition-aged youths. While this is still a target population for applicants to serve, it is no longer a requirement.

 
The purpose of this program is to reduce health disparities and improve behavioral healthcare outcomes for racially and ethnically diverse populations by increasing the number of culturally competent master’s-level behavioral health professionals available to serve racial/ethnic minority populations.

See the How to Apply page for eligibility and other details.

Please visit our PhD Scholarships page for more information.