Find answers to frequently asked questions by clicking one of the tabs below. Can't find your question? Send us an email at gradgrnt@indiana.edu.
Internal and external refers to who will be distributing the funds. Internal funding implies that the funding is held by Indiana University already; and, it is up to IU to distribute the funding to recipients. Sometimes fellowship that originate outside of IU may administratively be considered internal if the university bears the responsibility of distributing the funding. External funding is just the opposite, that a funder outside of IU will be funding you.
We offer one-on-one appointments to (1) equip you will the skills to search for funding opportunities and (2) discuss detailed comments that we have made on your application materials.
We also offer 3-4 workshops per semester, which focus on practicing common skills of graduate students as they apply for grants. Along the same lines, we offer 3-4 brownbag lunches per semester. Brownbag lunches give an overview of requirements and expectations for specific, large, external grants.
Lastly, we also accept requests to speak in graduate department meetings, in graduate classes, and in graduate student group meetings.
Yes, as long as you are a currently enrolled student, our services can also be accessed virtually. For new students, you must have accepted your place in your program at IU to be eligible for our services. GradGrants consults can be scheduled via Zoom, and our consultants can also offer advice over email.
Our website’s Funding Resources, Writing a Great Proposal, and Search the Databases sections may also help you get started. You may also want to check out our archive of previous workshops, which have been recorded by the Social Science Research Commons. In Bloomington, thanks to the United Way, the Monroe County Public Library offers the database Foundation Grants for Individuals in the Hoosier Room; in the same light, you may find your local public library is able to help.
Yes. COS Pivot and Fellowship Finder are available from our website if you click on the “Search the Databases” tab. For access to COS Pivot, you will need to create an account with your IU email to save your searches or use it off campus. Foundation Grants to Individuals is available, in addition to the GradGrants Center, in the Indiana Room of the Monroe County Public Library. (At MCPL, please ask a reference librarian for assistance.)
For one of our consultants to show you how to use the databases, please email us to set up a search appointment.
All of our workshops are free to IU graduate students and do not require registration to attend.
Funding search consultations are perhaps more useful to graduate students who haven't found a grant or fellowship yet. This appointment is designed for students to become familiar to popular and powerful funding databases. Proposal consultation appointments are for graduate students to get detailed feedback on grant application materials at any phase of the writing process.
Make an appointment with us with our scheduler, or email us with three times and days that you're available to meet between 9am and 5pm Monday through Friday.
Not necessarily! Walk-in hours give graduate students about 15 minutes for quick questions about grants and funding. Appointments are preferred to ensure that graduate students have a maximum of 50 minutes for funding searches or proposal consultations.
Sorry. Your funding is likely managed with your grant and fellowship provider or department. Should you find yourself in need to apply for other funding opportunities, we will happily help you find and apply for new funding.