McGrath Graduate Fellowship Program

Interested in becoming a McGrath Graduate Fellow? 
Join our interest list for the 2026 Fellows Program (Cohort 6)

McGrath Graduate Fellowship Information Session
Thursday, February 12, 2026
5:30–6:30 p.m.
Berman Room, Fromm (Hilltop Campus) & Virtual
Register Now

Program Overview

The McGrath Graduate Fellowship Program will allow participants to engage and grapple with a diversity of experiences and questions that challenge humanity and the earth we live on. Topics including gender, education, sustainability, pandemics, connectivity/technology access, equity, and inclusion will provide a framework for USF graduate students to explore, investigate, and develop skills and new ways of thinking toward the future. An experiential Summer international immersion component will serve as the foundational experience of the program.

Program Learning outcomes:

Objectives of the program are to provide graduate students an opportunity to:

• Develop and nurture a sense of reflection and contemplation to assist in a deeper understanding of human reality.
• Engage with the pressing questions facing humanity and our planet.
• Develop their inclusive leadership skills and their abilities to integrate differences.
• Refine their abilities to synthesize complex ideas and divergent viewpoints.
• Encourage innovation and nurture creative problem-solving skills.
• Enhance their adaptability and nimbleness and their capacities to navigate ambiguity, uncertainty, and unfamiliar circumstances.
• Distinguish themselves in a crowded marketplace of graduate students seeking employment opportunities.

2026 Program Outline

• Cohort Meet & Greet |Thursday, May 7 from 4–6 p.m. (tentative, based on cohort availability)
• Change Institute Celebration | Monday, May 11, 7–8:30 p.m. in Xavier Auditorium, Fromm Hall
• Cohort Onboarding | May 2025 (date/time dependent on cohort availability)
• Pre-Immersion Summer Sessions | Week of Jun. 15th or 22nd (TBD based on cohort/Leadership Team availability)
• Summer International Immersion to Cambodia | Friday, Jul. 24–Friday, Aug. 8
• Cohort Meetings | 2 hours on Thursdays every 3 weeks over the Fall 2026 semester
  • Thursday, Aug. 27, from 4–6 p.m. 
  • Thursday, Sept. 17, from 4–6 p.m.
  • Thursday, Oct. 8, from 4–6 p.m.
  • Thursday, Oct. 29, from 4–6 p.m.
  • Thursday, Nov. 19, from 4–6 p.m.
  • Thursday, Dec. 10, from 4–6 p.m.

2026 Eligibility & Requirements:

• Must be a full/part–time graduate student through Fall 2026
• Must be able to travel internationally to Cambodia. Visit the Henley Passport Index to see if you are eligible to travel
• Must maintain good academic and judicial standing 
• Must attend all in-person/hybrid events (listed above)
• USF Staff/Faculty are not eligible for this program. 

Program Costs

The McGrath Graduate Fellowship Program is a full–funded fellowship through the Change the World From Here Institute! The Institute covers all costs associated with the program's activities, including but not limited to: 

• Airfare 
• Visas
• Lodging
• Transportation
• Meals
• Ticketed events/activities

Fellows are expected to cover personal expenses (i.e. toiletries, hygiene, apparel, etc.). The program operates through a reimbursement process when unable to pre-book expenses. Fellows must be prepared to cover up-front costs of meals, taxis, and other needs during the international immersion. Exceptions can be made on a case-by-case basis. 

2026 Fellow Recruitment Timeline (Cohort 6)

• Applications Open | Monday, Feb. 9 
• Applications Due | Wednesday, Mar. 4, by 11:59 p.m.
• Interview Offers | Friday, Mar. 13, by 5 p.m.
• Virtual Interview | Monday, Mar. 23–Friday, Mar. 27
• Fellowship Offers | Friday, Apr. 10 by 5 p.m.
• Fellowship Acceptance Due | Friday, Apr. 24 by 5 p.m.