Fall Scholarships Competition Application

Current Social Welfare BA/BS, BSW, Full-Time MSW, and Part-Time MSW students are eligible to apply for the annual Fall Scholarship Competition. The Application for the Fall Scholarship Competition deadline can be found on our School's website. 

For information about these awards, please view the Fall Scholarships list in the tabbed area below.

How to Apply for a Fall Scholarship

1. Sign into WiSH using your Net ID and password
2. Submit the General Application (this is a very short application every student is required to complete using the WiSH system)
   • Note: When it asks which School/College you intend to graduate from, select College of Letters & Science which includes the Sandra Rosenbaum School of Social Work.
3. Submit the Sandra Rosenbaum School of Social Work Application (this application is for all of the SSW Fall Scholarships and you will be considered for all awards for which you are eligible based on the answers you provide and your student status)

For questions, please contact scholarships@socwork.wisc.edu. 

Current PhD students are eligible for PhD Awards through nominations.  The PhD Program Office will announce the call for nominations in the spring semester. For information about these awards, please view the PhD Scholarships/Awards list in the tabbed area below.

For questions, please contact phdprogram@socwork.wisc.edu.

Current Social Welfare, BSW, Full-Time MSW, and Part-Time MSW students can apply for scholarships during the fall semester using one application. These scholarships range from $1,000-$5,000.

Fall Competition Scholarships

Kathryn Becker Norman Memorial Scholarship
Debra Beebe Memorial Scholarship
Donald G. Benn Scholarship
Katherine Prichard Benz Award
Norma Berkowitz International Opportunities Scholarship
Bernice Straub-Bolek and Jim Bolek Scholarship
Gerald and Karen Bougneit Scholarship
Gary S. Cohen and Lawrence H. Gard School of Social Work Fund
Joyce Carpenter Degenhart ’57 Scholarship
Robert and Lila Dibble Social Work Scholarship
Vincent (Vince) Fish Memorial Scholarship Fund
Lynn Green Scholarship for Public Social Service
Tamara Grigsby Scholarship
Ed Erwin Memorial Scholarship
Anne Minahan Affecting Change Scholarship Fund
Meghan and Michael Morrissey Scholarship
Mary Ann Mutchler-Nelson Opportunity Award
Kathleen Oberbeck Van Gorden Scholarship
Richard E. Schwert Award
John Cordts Slack Memorial Scholarship
Heather Milne Southwick ’53 Scholarship
Dr. Marion L. Usher School of Social Work Scholarship
Bob and Melida Wagner Excellence in Social Work Scholarship
Joseph and Elaine Wojtowicz Scholarship
Lillian Aked Yatvin Scholarship

In addition to the above awards, the school gives out several general scholarships to students each year thanks to donor support.

For more information on PhD program funding, please visit our Funding page

In the spring, the PhD Committee awards current students PhD Scholarships and Awards including;

• Alfred Kadushin Dissertation Research Award
• Arthur P. Miles School of Social Work Scholarship
• DEI Leadership Award
• Exceptional Service Award
• Irving Piliavin Award
• Doctoral Research Paper Award
• Dorothy M. Pearson Graduate Fellowship
• Sheldon D. Rose Memorial Scholarship
• Teaching Excellence Award

New for 2025, the Sandra Rosenbaum School of Social Work is proud to support Social Welfare PhD students with Doctoral Student Dissertation Grants (DSGS). The DSGS provides up to $5,000 to support PhD students in conducting dissertation research. The DSGS is designed to alleviate financial barriers associated with specific research-related expenses.

The International Student Services Office offers information on scholarships and grants for International graduate students, as well as educational loan options.  

Additionally, we recommend applying for outside awards and funding. The Wisconsin Scholarship Hub, or WISH, is a great place to start the graduate scholarship search. 

Can be found on our School website and the Wisconsin Scholarship Hub.