Master of Urban & Regional Planning (MURP)

Graduate Funding

MURP Graduate Assistantship AND FELLOWSHIPS

The primary departmental funding opportunity for MURP students is the fellowship program. MURP fellowships provide an approximately 20 hour per week internship with area planning employers. We also offer one highly competitive graduate assistantship (GA) position in the MURP program with an approximately 20 hour per week workload. Fellowship and GA opportunities are only available to students who have been admitted into the MURP program. Appointments are typically for an entire academic year and, in some cases, may be renewed for up to two years.

To qualify for a fellowship or GA position, students must first be admitted into the MURP program. To be eligible for the tuition waiver that accompanies the stipend, students must also enroll in classes full-time (9 credit hours each Fall and Spring semester). The tuition waiver only covers about 80% of the in-state tuition rate. The remaining 20% of the fees are the responsibility of the student.

These opportunities are primarily available with a Fall semester start date. However, we sometimes do have a few opportunities that become available with a Spring semester start date, so you are encouraged to apply during any time of the year. Only completed application packets that are submitted by the priority deadline will be considered for internal funding. Please be aware that graduate funding is not guaranteed!

SCHOLARSHIPS

Mark R. Hafen MURP Diversity Scholarship

Named after (and established by) the former MURP Program Director Dr. Mark Hafen, this privately funded scholarship provides support to graduate students in the MURP program through funds raised from generous donors. The $1,000 scholarship is awarded annually to one deserving planning student of merit who submits a personal statement describing how their background and/or experiences can contribute to our program's goal of expanding opportunities to historically underrepresented, economically disadvantaged, and marginalized communities. The application process and deadlines are announced via email to current students only.

Mark Bentley APA Sun Coast Section Scholarship

Named after (and established by) Mark Bentley—one of the state's top land use lawyers and a long-time supporter of local professional planning development activities in partnership with the Sun Coast Section of APA Florida—this scholarship provides support to emerging planners in the graduate MURP program. The $1,000 scholarship is awarded annually to one deserving planning student of merit who submits a personal statement describing why they chose planning as a career path, how their planning education will be applied to their career goals, and their accomplishments in planning-related activities and/or within the MURP program. The application process and deadlines are announced via email to current students only.

James E. Blanton III Veterans Scholarship

In memory of Professor Emeritus Dr. J. Ellis Blanton's son—James E. Blanton III—this scholarship provides support to MPA and MURP graduate student veterans who honorably served in a branch of the U.S. military (Army, Navy, Air Force, Space Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard) or the National Guard. The $1,000 scholarship is awarded annually to up to three deserving students who submit a personal statement relating how their military service has led them to pursue a graduate degree in public service. The application process and deadlines are announced via email to current students only.

USF Sources for Graduate Funding

Graduate Assistantships and Scholarships at USF:
Financial Aid Services at USF:

The Office of Financial Aid is the hub for scholarships and fellowships, grants, loans, and work study.

  • Submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to be considered for federal, state, and university financial aid programs.
  • To apply for certain scholarships (i.e., College of Arts & Sciences Student Success Scholarship, etc.), you will need to create an AwardSpring account and set up your profile. Each year, AwardSpring opens in November and closes in February (for new graduate students) or May (for continuing graduate students).

USF Employment (Careers@USF)

Part-time employment on campus is often a convenient way to help finance your education and gain valuable work experience.

  • International students (with F-1 and J-1 visas) who are enrolled in classes full-time are only allowed to accept part-time employment at USF for 20 hours per week during the regular semester (Fall and Spring). You can be employed full-time on-campus for 40 hours per week during official breaks, such as the winter break in December and the Summer term.
USF Career Services

Career Services helps you assess your skills and interests, improve your career research, identify experiences leading to transferable skills, and search for internships and full- or part-time employment.