Dean's Fellowship Program
The Graduate School's Dean's Fellowships are offered by graduate programs in order to create greater flexibility in creating overall support packages for students. Graduate School Dean's Fellowships may be used as recruitment tools for prospective students or as awards for currently enrolled students. Each year, the Graduate School allocates a certain number of Dean’s Fellowships to colleges who then allocate the fellowships to programs. Programs are then responsible for recruiting and retaining outstanding students.
Postdoctoral Associates
Postdoctoral associates are employee-trainees who:
- Receive salaries funded by research grants,
- Are employed as academic or staff personnel, and
- Work under a principal investigator whose research proposal is funded by the government or other external entity.
This usually occurs when the individual’s training is accomplished through the performance of obligations on a sponsored contract. The appointments of such individuals will show an appropriate percentage of employment in the PHR System and a salary payment.
New Graduate Student Orientation

#NewGradTerps Orientation 2025-2026
We are so happy to welcome you to your first semester as a GradTerp!
The Graduate School is hosting our campus-wide Graduate School New Student Orientation asynchronously through ELMS-Canvas.
Transcripts and Diplomas/Degree Certificates
All-S.T.A.R. Fellowship
The Graduate All-S.T.A.R. Fellowships are no longer offered
Past award recipients are below
Outstanding Graduate Assistant Awards
Approximately 4,000 UMD graduate students also serve as teaching, research, or administrative assistants. The Graduate School recognizes the outstanding contributions that these GAs provide to students, faculty, departments, administrative units, and the University as a whole. The Graduate School awards approximately 80 Outstanding Graduate Assistant Awards annually, which represents roughly the top 2% of campus GA's in a given year. The AY 25-26 Outstanding Graduate Assistant Award winners will receive a credit for mandatory fees in the Spring 2026 Semester.
International Graduate Students
TerpTax
TerpTax Partnership
The Graduate School has once again partnered with TerpTax and the Robert H. Smith School of Business to provide a free, comprehensive tax preparation service for UMD graduate students. Appointments are now available!
UMD Postdoc Opportunities
The President's Postdoctoral Fellowship Program
This Program encourages women and minority Ph.D. recipients to pursue academic careers and is coordinated by the University of California (http://ppfp.ucop.edu/info/) through a common application process.
PROMISE AGEP Postdoctoral Fellows Program for Faculty Diversity