Grad Students

Grad Students

Graduate Opportunities and Financial Resources


California State University, East Bay offers numerous forms of financial support for current graduate students. The Office of Graduate Studies coordinates the many programs which provide financial resources and educational opportunities in support of your graduate education.
State University Grants, for California residents, pay the mandatory state university tuition fee for eligible Cal State East Bay graduate students. The grant pays to students who are enrolled in at least half-time enrollment. (4+ units for Masters Program ; 6+ units for Credential Program). Students with other registration fee payment resources, including fee scholarships, fee waivers, Cal Grant (fees) and Vocational Rehabilitation, and students who do not pay the State University Fee are not eligible to receive SUG. Students must notify the Office of Financial Aid if registration fees are paid by any third party. Grants are based on need and annual funding, and priority is given to eligible students applying by March 2nd.

  • Master's degree students must have completed less that 125% of their required program units

Deadline to apply for Academic Year 2021-2022 awards: May 1, 2021.  

The Graduate Equity Fellowship Program seeks to increase the diversity of students completing grad­uate degree programs at Cal State East Bay, encourages continuation towards doctoral programs, and promotes consideration of university faculty careers. It provides fellowships for Cal State East Bay students with educationally or economically disadvantaged backgrounds who have had success in overcoming these disadvantages. Graduate Equity Fellowships are grants ranging from $500 up to $2000 per year.

Program Eligibility:

To apply for a Graduate Equity Fellowship, you must: 

  • Be considered a resident of the State of California for tuition purposes;
  • Have maintained a GPA of 2.70 in all undergraduate work, and 3.25 in all graduate work;
  • Be admitted to Cal State East Bay and to a state-supported graduate program as a classified or conditionally classified student;
  • Have completed a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or California Dream Act Application (CADAA) and have financial need of at least $1,000;
  • Enroll in a minimum of 8 units per semester applicable to the master’s degree during the academic year of your award, with graduation planned no earlier than Spring semester of that year (no exceptions);
  • Demonstrate potential to succeed in graduate school and to complete a graduate degree program in no more than two years as evidenced by undergraduate coursework and letters of recommendation; and
  • Have not received more than one previous Graduate Equity Fellowship.

To apply for the Graduate Equity Fellowship, please submit the following:

  • A completed ‘Graduate Equity Fellowship’ application form.
  • Official transcripts – Unofficial CSUEB transcripts are acceptable. If you are already enrolled in a CSUEB graduate program, please provide your CSUEB graduate school transcripts only. If you have not yet enrolled in a CSUEB program, please provide a transcript from the university where you received your undergraduate degree (community college transcripts do not need to be submitted).
  • Two recommendation forms, at least one from a faculty member, must be emailed directly to gradstudies@csueastbay.edu with the subject line of “GEF Recommendation: Student’s Name”.
  • A statement of purpose – a two page, typed and double-spaced, explanation of the following:

~ New Applicants: Describe your academic, and personal background and educational and/or professional achievements; how this fellowship will help you achieve your career/professional goals, including a university faculty career, if applicable; and a discussion of any educational disadvantages you have overcome.

~ Renewal Applicants: Describe your academic achievements during the first year that you received the award. How has the fellowship enhanced your current educational experience and how a renewal will help you achieve your career/professional goals? 

Note: All materials must be emailed to gradstudies@csueastbay.edu by the application deadline. Incomplete, late or partial applications are not acceptable. All awards are subject to availability of funds. Questions should be directed to The Office of Graduate Studies.

Printable Forms:

Details about Information sessions will be available on Upcoming Events.

Download Information session slides

Application Deadline: 
Application materials must be submitted to the CSU via InfoReady by 5:00 PM, Monday, March 1st, 2021.

Through the Chancellor's Doctoral Incentive Program (CDIP), the California State University (CSU) provides financial assistance in the form of a student loan to a limited number of individuals pursuing doctoral degrees. The program seeks to provide loans to doctoral students who are interested in applying and competing for CSU instructional faculty positions after completion of the doctoral degree. The program is designed to increase the diversity of persons qualified to fill instructional faculty position in the CSU.

Through the Doctoral Incentive Program, students may borrow up to $10,000 per year (up to a total of $30,000 within a five-year period). Students who complete their doctoral studies and teach in the CSU system as full-time faculty members will have their loans forgiven at the rate of twenty percent for each year of teaching; those who do not obtain a CSU faculty position are required to repay the loan at an interest rate comparable to other graduate student loans. Employment at a CSU campus, however, is not guaranteed. Applicants are not required to be accepted into a doctoral program at the time of applying but must enroll in Fall 2020 to receive the award.

Information and Application

Detailed information about the CDIP program and applications are available on the CSU Chancellor's Office CDIP website. You can also attend our information sessions to learn more.  Information sessions will be held virtually via Zoom on:

Thursday, November 5th from 12:15-1:45 PM  (https://csueb.zoom.us/j/88477420732?pwd=UUI5NUZiek41eXRZQ1FTOWtrRmdWQT09)

Wednesday, November 18th from 3:30-5:00 PM (https://csueb.zoom.us/j/84646808703?pwd=bDZNUXAraU9NZDJJZFFXbXhNVDdVUT09)

Download Information Session Slides

Appointments are available for faculty and students with questions about the program. Please contact the Office of Graduate Studies at gradstudies@csueastbay.edu to schedule an appointment.

Application materials are due to the Office of Graduate Studies at gradstudies@csueastbay.edu by 5:00 PM, Monday, February 1st, 2021.

California Pre-Doctoral Scholars receive $3,000 which may be used to:

  • attend or present research at professional conferences,
  • visit doctoral-granting institutions in the U.S.,
  • pay for graduate school application fees, the GRE, or GMAT preparation.

In addition, many Pre-Doctoral Scholars will be eligible to apply for:

  • a fully-funded summer research experience with a faculty member in his or her discipline at a Ph.D.-granting university in the U.S.

The California Pre-Doctoral Program, jointly developed by the California State University and the University of California, seeks to increase the pool of potential California State University faculty by supporting the doctoral aspirations of economically and educationally disadvantaged students.  This program provides students with $3,000 to explore and prepare to succeed in doctoral studies through faculty mentoring, scholarly and research opportunities, travel to visit doctoral-granting institutions, membership in professional associations, and attendance at professional conferences. 

More information about this program is available on the CSU Chancellors Office website.  Information sessions will be held virtually via Zoom on:

Thursday, November 5th from 12:15-1:45 PM  (https://csueb.zoom.us/j/88477420732?pwd=UUI5NUZiek41eXRZQ1FTOWtrRmdWQT09)

Wednesday, November 18th from 3:30-5:00 PM (https://csueb.zoom.us/j/84646808703?pwd=bDZNUXAraU9NZDJJZFFXbXhNVDdVUT09)

Download Information Session Slides

Download Pre-Doctoral Program Application  (2021-2022 application available in December 2021)

Program Eligibility

CSU juniors, seniors, or graduate students who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents are eligible to apply. You must be enrolled at CSUEB in Spring 2021, and also be enrolled for at least one semester of the academic year 2021-2022.

Applicants will be selected on the basis of three major criteria: the potential for success in completing a doctoral program, probable effectiveness of the student/faculty plan, and level of economic and educational disadvantage. Applicants work with a faculty sponsor to develop an overall plan, which will ultimately lead to enrollment in graduate school. The program provides an opportunity for summer research experience and funds for travel and other related activities.

Application Process

To prepare an application to the California Pre-Doctoral Program, you will need to:

  1. Seek a CSUEB faculty sponsor.
  2. In collaboration with your faculty sponsor, develop a 'Faculty Sponsor/Student Plan' for the funded activities you will engage in to prepare for entering a doctoral program.
  3. Complete and submit the 2021-22 Sally Casanova Scholarship application.

Completed applications will be composed of the application, three essay questions, transcripts, budget, and faculty letter of recommendation (all submitted online).

Appointments are available for faculty and students with questions about the program. Please contact the Graduate Studies Office via email at gradstudies@csueastbay.edu if you have any questions or to schedule an appointment.  Students interested in applying should make an appointment to review their application prior to submission.

All materials must be submitted by the CSUEB application deadline of February 1st, 2021.  Your application will be reviewed, and feedback provided. Once any changes have been made, the revised application must be uploaded to the CSU Chancellor's Office Pre-Doctoral website.

Description

Cal State East Bay (CSUEB) is honored to host the 34th Annual California State University Student Research Competition on Friday, April 24th and Saturday, April 25th, 2020. This system-wide competition showcases the innovative research and creative activities of CSU undergraduate and graduate students in the full range of academic programs offered by the CSU. Student participants make oral presentations before juries of professional experts from major corporations, foundations, public agencies, colleges and universities of California.

The competition is held annually to promote excellence in undergraduate and graduate scholarly research and creative activity. It recognizes outstanding student accomplishments from throughout the twenty-three campuses of the California State University.

Interested in entering the competition? You can read more about it here! 

The Center for Student Research (CSR) Scholars’ Program offers Scholar development workshops and supports faculty-mentored research and creative activities. These types of activities are known to give students more frequent and more individual attention and feedback from CSUEB professors, which can result in increased academic success. The CSR also awards tuition scholarships to Scholars who attend CSR development workshops, as well as grant opportunities to receive funding for travel and supplies. CSR Scholars are freshmen through seniors as well as graduate students who vary in GPA, major, race and ethnicity, socioeconomic status, and educational experience. The CSR is looking for students who are passionate about their future. Check out the CSR website or follow them on Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook (@csrcsueb) for more info to apply.