Financial Support
Students are eligible for a variety of financial aid opportunities on a competitive basis.
Assistantships
Several teaching assistant (TA) positions are available to qualified history graduate students in the master's program. A TA position includes a stipend of approximately $14,000. Some students may also receive partial tuition scholarships based on availability. In return, the TA works with a professor in an introductory-level undergraduate course. Typically, TAs grade tests and papers, assist students in understanding course material and perform other classroom duties.
Applicants for the TA position should declare their candidacy in the personal statement submitted with their admission applications. They should describe their qualifications and explain how a TA will help them fulfill their educational goals. The Financial Aid Office will assist with various other means of financing graduate study at VCU.
A TA is eligible to receive four semesters of aid provided they are performing at a satisfactory level in their own graduate coursework and as a teaching assistant. A TA does not need to apply for an assistantship each semester. TAs are selected by the department’s graduate affairs committee. History students may also find additional opportunities for assistantships in other university programs. Please see the VCU Graduate School for more information.
Travel Funds
Due to the generosity of VCU alum F. Robert Schilling Jr., history graduate students are eligible to apply for annual travel funds for up to $1,000 in order to conduct research or attend a conference. See the Schilling Fund Award section below for more information. Additional funding for conference travel is available from the VCU Graduate School. You must submit an application.
Scholarships and Awards
The College of Humanities and Sciences offers more than 100 scholarship opportunities to currently enrolled students annually. The system features a searchable database of opportunities and details the requirements for each. The application process opens early January and closes late February.
Of the scholarships and awards in the College of Humanities and Sciences database, those listed below are offered to graduate students through the history department. The majority of them are supported by, or endowed in honor of, former members of our faculty, in a tangible representation of their deep commitment to VCU and to history as discipline.
This scholarship was established by Craig Kennedy, husband of the late Susan Estabrook Kennedy, Ph.D. Two scholarships are awarded annually. Both undergraduate and graduate students majoring in history are eligible. One scholarship shall be awarded based on merit to a recipient with a GPA of 3.5 or higher and one shall be awarded based on merit and need to a recipient of 2.5 and higher.
Congratulations to Harlee Johnson and Mary McLean, recipients of the 2022-23 Craig Kennedy Scholarships!
Named for Dr. Jordan, who taught in the History Department at VCU from 1969-1984. The scholarship is awarded to a student who demonstrates the qualities Dr. Jordan inspired in his students and advisees - academic excellence, a passion for the study of history, leadership, and integrity. Students do not apply for this scholarship. All nominations and selections are by History Department faculty and committees.
Congratulations to Rachel Hollinger, recipient of the 2022-23 Daniel P. Jordan Jr. Scholarship!
This book prize award honors the best paper by a history graduate student. Students and faculty can submit papers and projects to Professor Joseph Bendersky at jbenders@vcu.edu.
Congratulations to Grace Handakas, recipient of the James Tice Moore Graduate Essay Award for 2021-22!
This merit based-scholarship honors the distinguished career of Dr. James T. Moore. Dr. Moore taught in the VCU History Department for over three decades, where he achieved a notable reputation as a teacher/scholar and served as department chair. This scholarship is awarded to a teacher currently enrolled in or applying to the VCU History M.A. Program.
Congratulations to Kendall Sargent, recipient of the James Tice Moore Scholarship in History for Teachers for 2021-22!
The Marc Noble Scholarship in the History of Technology is endowed through a gift from Marc Noble, a VCU history major who made a successful career in the field of information security, to be awarded to a graduate or undergraduate history major with a demonstrated interest in ethical perspectives on technology and its uses, past and future.
Congratulations to John Carney, 2022-23 recipient of the Marc Noble Scholarship in the History of Technology!
The Schilling Fund was established by F. Robert Schilling Jr., a VCU Department of History graduate, and his mother Ms. Mildred Schilling. Each year the fund provides a small number of competitive grants for graduate students engaged in the study of the history. These funds are intended to support costs related to research and travel.
Applications are due December 1 and May 1, and consist of:
- a brief description of the project (approximately 500 words)
- an explanation of how the funds will be used, including a budget with a specific dollar amount for the total
- a letter of reference from a faculty member or thesis adviser
Contact the director of graduate studies, Emilie Raymond, Ph.D., at eeraymond@vcu.edu if you have questions.
Congratulations to Rebecca Rose and Zachary Pittard, recipients of the Schilling Fund Award for 2021-22!
This scholarship honors William E. Blake, Ph.D., who taught in the department for 25 years before being named professor emeritus upon his retirement. Blake joined the university, then the Richmond Professional Institute, in 1965. He was named associate professor in 1969 and became a full professor in 1977. This merit-based scholarship is awarded to a full-time advanced undergraduate or graduate student majoring in history with an overall GPA of 3.0 or higher and a demonstrated interest in the history of Medieval, Renaissance, Reformation and history of Christianity.
Congratulations to Kade McGrail, recipient of the 2022-23 William E. Blake Scholarship!
Visit the Scholarship and Award Archives to view the names of past scholarship/award recipients.
Scholarships and Awards Contact
Joseph Bendersky, Ph.D.
jbenders@vcu.edu
