McKnight Doctoral Fellowship Application

Register and Apply

If you have already registered and/or begun completing your online application, you may log in to view and/or update your application or check the receipt status of supporting materials:
Log into Your Application

Important Deadlines & Contacts:

Application Deadline:
January 15
University Admission Deadline:
February 28
MDF Program Contacts:
Phyllis Reddick and Monica Montes
813-272-2772

Application Procedure:

Please follow instructions carefully and adhere to the deadlines indicated. Applications and supporting materials received after the deadline will not be considered for the Fellowship.  Note that, if you submit your application online, you may log into the application periodically to learn whether your submitted supporting materials have been received.

1. Contact graduate admissions offices and specific departments at the institution(s) in which you have an interest. Read the catalogs and other descriptive materials related to the program in which you wish to enroll.

   You must apply directly to each university's graduate school program in addition to applying to the McKnight Doctoral Fellowship Program. You must be admitted into at least one Ph.D. program at a participating university by February 28th for your application to be considered for a Fellowship. Email your letter of admission to the FEF at mdf@fefonline.org once you are admitted.

2. Request official transcripts from each institution which you have attended (both undergraduate and graduate). Request that each Registrar’s office forward one official copy of the transcript to the FEF office.  It normally takes three weeks or more for transcript requests to be processed. Please allow yourself ample time to complete this step. Applications are not processed for Fellowship consideration without official transcripts from all institutions attended.

3. Complete the application and all required forms. Send your résumé or vita to the FEF office to be added to your file but not in lieu of filling in all information requested in the application. You may wish to use the following checklist as a guide for completing all steps in the application process:

   Contact graduate admissions offices and/or departments at your universities of choice, and ensure that you meet their application deadlines.
   
   Request that official transcripts from each institution which you have attended be sent to the Florida Education Fund. Remember to request the same number of transcripts as institutions to which you intend to apply, plus a copy for the FEF office.  You must request that the other original transcripts be sent directly to the university programs to which you are applying.
   
   Complete the McKnight Doctoral Fellowship Program Application, including the Statement of Purpose.
   
   Request that three (3) individuals who can speak to your academic potential complete the McKnight Doctoral Fellowship Program Confidential Recommendation Form and submit a letter of recommendation.  You may download the Recommendation Form by clicking here.
   
   Submit a copy of your résumé or vita to the FEF office.
   
   Submit original sets of transcripts to the FEF office.
   
   If you are applying to one of the seven state eligible universities, complete the Residency Affidavit that you may download by clicking here. Even if you are NOT claiming Florida residency, you must sign the Affidavit in the appropriate space.
   
   Email all materials to the FEF at mdf@fefonline.org or mail materials to Florida Education Fund, 201 E. Kennedy Boulevard, Suite 1525, Tampa, Florida 33602.

   NOTE that, to be accepted, emailed (1) Recommendation Forms and letters must be emailed directly from the recommender and (2) transcripts must be emailed directly from the college or university registrar's office.