We offer substantial financial support for M.F.A. students through paid Teaching Assistant positions each quarter, and through department fellowships and awards — made possible by generous private endowments. The Maria Manetti Shrem Fellowships offer significant support to five graduate students annually. Students may also apply for financial support through Graduate Studies.
Departmental Awards
The program helps to financially support the education of its graduate students through fellowships and competitive awards. Our generous support includes funds endowed by Mary Lou Osborn, Robert Arneson, Fay Nelson, Freemon Gadberry, and The Nelson Artfriends.
Maria Manetti Shrem Fellowships
In a testament to Maria Manetti Shrem's continuing commitment to the arts and education internationally, she pledged more than $20 million to the Arts programs at UC Davis to further the art patron's longstanding philanthropic partnership with the university. This generous gift made possible the Maria Manetti Shrem Fellowships for graduate students in studio art to attract and inspire the next generation of art scholars and professionals.
University Awards and Grants
Students may also apply for university support through Graduate Studies Travel Awards.
Outside Awards and Residencies
UC Davis participates in the Headlands Graduate Fellow Award program that supports year-long artist's residencies for recent M.F.A. graduates at the Headlands Center for the Arts. Some of our recent students have won nationally competitive graduate fellowships from the Dedalus Foundation and the Joan Mitchell Foundation.
Teaching Positions
Graduate students also have the opportunity to work with the faculty as Teaching Assistants (TAs) and as instructor of record, as Associate-Ins (AIs). These positions come with pay and partial fee remission.