Master's Research Scholarship
Description
The Master's Research Scholarship (MRS) directs institutional funding to support recruitment, retention, and timely degree completion for excellent master’s students engaged in scholarship advancing the university's goals for research and creative activity.
The MRS provides students with a one-year $10,000 scholarship that is disbursed in two installments, split between the start of the fall and spring semesters. Scholarships will be awarded to continuing and entering master’s students through a competitive process. Following a preliminary review process at the college level, an advisory committee will advise the Graduate Dean in allocation of the funds.
A $10,000 scholarship is sufficient to cover full time tuition and campus mandatory fees for a California resident, but not to fully support a graduate student. The scholarship does not provide health or other benefits. Therefore the review criteria include consideration of additional support committed to the student for the academic year from department/college sources (academic student employment) or external funding sources (grants, contracts, fellowships, other scholarships). The intent of the MRS is to complement those sources, not replace them or stand alone as a student’s only piece of support.
Awards will be distributed through the Office of Financial Aid & Scholarships, with funds deposited directly into students’ my.SDSU accounts at the start of the fall and spring semesters. Note that the full amount of the award is dependent on other financial aid that the student may have. Students must maintain active matriculated status in their degree program in both semesters to remain eligible for awards.
***The MRS does not come with waivers for tuition and/or fees.***
Review Process
Criteria for review:
- The nominee’s academic achievements to date
- Evidence of research, scholarship, and creative activities accomplishments and potential in the nominee’s field
- Quality of the commitment from institutional and external financial sources of support allocated to the nominee
After the nomination period closes, Deans will be responsible for a preliminary review of nominations from their college. Following this round, no more than 10 finalist nominations from each college will be submitted to the Graduate Dean. An advisory committee will advise the Graduate Dean in selecting among finalists for awards.
Important Reminder
The Center for Student Rights and Responsibilities and the student’s home college will be consulted to ensure that potential awardees are in compliance with the Student Code of Conduct and/or their program’s Graduate Professional Standards.
- Award nominees and current awardees: A nomination or award is subject to being deemed ineligible if (a) it is determined by CSRR that the student is in violation of the Student Code of Conduct and/or (b) if the program notifies CGS that the student has violated their program’s Graduate Professional Standards.
Nomination Instructions
Nominations for the MRS were accepted from February 1, 2025 through March 31, 2025. Awards were announcement on April 23, 2025.
Nominations must be submitted by the graduate advisor of the master's program in which the nominee will be enrolled during the subsequent academic year. Both continuing and incoming students are eligible for awards. Nominations submitted by individuals other than the student's graduate advisor will not be considered. Nominations require:
- Basic student information (nominee's first and last name, SDSU email address, EMPLID, GPA (undergrad and/or post-bacc), residency, and if they are a new admit or ongoing student).
- A brief statement of the nominee’s accomplishments and potential in research, scholarship, and creative activity in their chosen field.
- An inventory of the commitment for other external and institutional financial support allocated to the nominee for the academic year.
Graduate advisors are encouraged to solicit language for the statement and inventory of support from a colleague closely mentoring the nominee.
Nomination Links
- PDF of MRS 2025-2026 Nomination Google Form (for reference only)
- 2025-2026 MRS Rubric
Feel free to reach out to [email protected] if you have any questions.
