Financial Benefits

Cancer Research Program Scholarship Opportunities for New Students

All Cancer Research Doctoral Program students receive a yearly stipend of $33,000 (effective July 1, 2024) and may be eligible for additional scholarships. Students accepted to the program are screened for eligibility and do not need to submit separate applications for scholarship awards.

Scholarship Level 1

$200/month for a maximum of two years, for a total of $2,400 per year above the annual stipend. Receiving the second year of funding will be contingent on making good progress in research and having a cumulative UNMC grade point average (GPA) >3.00. Students who meet the following eligibility requirements will be considered for this scholarship.

Eligibility Requirements

• U.S. citizenship or permanent residency
• Prior research experience
• High cumulative GPA prior to joining UNMC
• Cumulative UNMC GPA >3.00, if graduate courses have been completed at UNMC
• MD/PhD or PhD students (including students originally admitted to UNMC either in IGPBS Single Program or Multi-Program status) who are members of the Cancer Research Doctoral Program
• Having a research advisor with an Eppley Institute primary appointment (after completion of research rotations)

Scholarship Level 2

Eligible students are guaranteed a scholarship of $200/month for a maximum of two years, for a total of $2,400 per year above the annual stipend. Receiving the second year of funding will be contingent on making good progress in research and having a cumulative UNMC GPA >3.00. Students who meet the following eligibility requirements will receive this scholarship.

Eligibility Requirements

• U.S. citizenship or permanent residency
• Extensive prior research experience
• Minimum cumulative GPA of 3.80 prior to joining UNMC (in undergraduate coursework, and, if applicable, also in any graduate coursework that the student may have completed)
• Cumulative UNMC GPA >3.00, if graduate courses have been completed at UNMC
• PhD students originally admitted to UNMC either in IGPBS Single Program or Multi-Program status who are members of the Cancer Research Doctoral Program
• Having a research advisor with an Eppley Institute primary appointment (after completion of research rotations)

Scholarship Level 3

$300-400/month for a maximum of four years, for a total of $3,600-$4,800 per year above the annual stipend. Receiving funding in the second through fourth years will be contingent on making good research progress and having a cumulative UNMC GPA >3.00. These scholarships start at $300/month and rise to $400/month upon successful completion of the comprehensive exam. Students who meet the following eligibility requirements will be considered for this scholarship.

Eligibility Requirements

• U.S. citizenship or permanent residency
• Exceptional prior research experience
• Exceptional cumulative GPA prior to joining UNMC
• Cumulative UNMC GPA >3.00, if graduate courses have been completed at UNMC
• MD/PhD or PhD students (including students originally admitted to UNMC either in IGPBS Single Program or Multi-Program status) who are members of the Cancer Research Doctoral Program
• Having a research advisor with an Eppley Institute primary appointment (after completion of research rotations)