Bernadette Gray-Little Fellowship

BGL APPLICATION PERIOD

September 17 - October 3, 2025 at 11:59PM CDT

The Bernadette Gray-Little Fellowship (BGL) is awarded annually to an outstanding student seeking a doctorate at the University of Kansas. The fellow receives a 5-year award with the first year funded through the Office of Graduate Studies, while the remaining four years of the fellow's doctoral program are funded by their academic department.

Award Details

For the 2026-2027 cohort, the Bernadette Gray-Little Fellowship (BGL) starts in the fall semester and provides the selected fellow with a $30,000 stipend for one (1) year and sponsorship of 100% tuition, course fees, and technology fees during the fall and spring semesters, as well as a 75% subsidy of the student health insurance plan premium. Tuition support averages $9,500, bringing the total fellowship package to over $39,000.

The department/program is required to provide financial support for the following four (4) years of the student's program. This funding should ideally be at the same level as the Bernadette Gray-Little Fellowship, but at minimum, it must be comparable to other 3G appointments in the unit. 

Mentoring Training Program

Starting in Fall 2024, the student selected for this fellowship and a faculty member from the nominating department will be required to participate in a mentoring training program provided by the Office of Graduate Studies. Details about the program will be shared in the fall semester and sessions will be scheduled based on participant's availability.

For questions regarding this new requirement/mentoring program, please reach out to Nicole Reiz at nreiz@ku.edu. For all other questions, please reach out to graduateawards@ku.edu.

Tuition and Fees

The BGL is structured to provide funding for the fall and spring semester only, covering 100% of required tuition, course fees, student fees, wellness fees, and technology fees. The fellowship does not include summer tuition.

GRA Appointment

The fellowship is administered as a 9-month Graduate Research Assistant (GRA) appointment at 0.50 FTE.  No summer appointment funds are available through this fellowship.

Information about the requirements to hold a GRA position is available in the Graduate Research Assistant Appointment Eligibility policy.  Please note that per the Remote Work Policy, GRA appointments are not eligible for remote work arrangements unless an exception is approved by the unit leadership and HRM.

Note: Graduate students cannot hold another GTA/GRA/GA appointment while they hold the Bernadette Gray-Little Fellowship.