MLER Scholarships

Scholarships and awards available to Master's of Labor and Employment Relations students are listed below. Please email scholarships@smlr.rutgers.edu if you are interested in applying to be considered for a scholarship or fellowship.

*Limited funding available*


To search opportunities available for the current academic year, enter general dates of September 1 through May 31. Enter keywords such as "merit" or "financial need" to identify scholarships in that category.

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Established by the United Food and Commercial Workers Union Local 1262 in honor of Samuel Kinsora, its former president, this fund provides annual scholarship support for labor studies graduate students at Rutgers SMLR.

To qualify students must be enrolled at the University, pursuing a graduate degree in labor studies and show scholastic aptitude and financial need.

Current as of:

Friday, January 1, 2021

The essence of this Fund is to further the recipient's understanding of the process and practice of unionization in the U.S. Interest areas include but are not limited to: employment law, conflict resolution, negotiation, collective bargaining, grievance processes, arbitration, minorities, women, immigration issues and work, work and social change, public sector vs. corporate ownership, and the role of media regarding union activities and status. This fund may be used to:

  • Sponsor field work or an internship for an undergraduate or graduate student with a stipend to support students pursuing an unpaid internship or pre-professional staff position at a labor union, central labor council, national union coordinating body, labor attorney firm, or related area or field; or
  • Provide scholarship to a master’s candidate pursuing a labor relations related major within the LSER Department or as tuition support for course credit in the master’s level or above; or
  • Support research in related areas; or
  • Support individuals pursuing union related training opportunities offered at Rutgers SMLR.

Current as of:

Friday, January 1, 2021

Ann and Martin Finegold were lifelong learners who sacrificed their own formal education and careers when they came to the U.S. to insure that their children and grandchildren could take full advantage of the educational opportunities available. This scholarship is intended to assist recent immigrants or their children to complete their degrees at SMLR.

Scholarships are to be awarded to full-time graduate or undergraduate students who are recent immigrants or children of immigrants in order to complete their degrees at SMLR. The award will be based on academic merit as determined by University rules in effect on the date of the award.

Special considerations: Recent immigrants or children of immigrants; full-time student

Current as of:

Friday, January 1, 2021

This endowed fund has been established to provide financial assistance to a college graduate for the purpose of obtaining an advanced degree and to encourage the study of workers and their labor organizations. An award will be made annually to a new student enrolling in the MLER program offered at Rutgers SMLR.

Awards are given to new, full-time students (taking 9-12 credits in a semester) in the MLER program who possess a Rutgers undergraduate degree in labor studies.  A student with an undergraduate degree in another area of study or from another institution must demonstrate substantial experience within a labor union to be eligible for an award.  Scholarship recipients must also demonstrate financial need. Students employed in a managerial position (outside of one in a labor organization) are ineligible.

Special considerations: New full-time MLER student who possesses a Rutgers BSLER or BALSER; must have substantial experience within a labor union if undergraduate degree is in another area of study or from another institution.

Current as of:

Friday, January 1, 2021

The endowed scholarship will honor the commitment of SMLR alumni to raise the profile of SMLR and support current students. The scholarship also acknowledges that SMLR Alumni recognize the School as a center of excellence in human resource management as well as labor studies and employment relations education.

The purpose of this scholarship is to provide financial assistance to full-time graduate and/or undergraduate students enrolled in SMLR based on academic merit.

Current as of:

Friday, January 1, 2021

This is a general support fund for all SMLR students across both departments, and includes merit-based awards and awards to students who demonstrate financial need.

Current as of:

Friday, January 1, 2021

The Paul B.J. Chu Scholarship is intended to provide scholarship or internship support for an excellent student enrolled in labor studies.

Current as of:

Friday, January 1, 2021

This annual fellowship is established by the SMLR Alumni Association to provide financial assistance to students enrolled in SMLR graduate programs at Rutgers.

Fellowships are to be awarded to students admitted to a SMLR master's and/or Ph.D. program based on demonstrated academic excellence as determined by the program administrator.

Current as of: 

Friday, January 1, 2021

Mary Stark Botteon, together with her parents' close friends and colleagues, created this student support fund to honor the legacy of the late Professor Harry F. Stark and his wife Vera K. Stark. Harry and Vera each had a very pronounced impact in shaping the Institute of Management and Labor Relations (precursor to SMLR) when it was created in 1947, as two of its original core employees. Vera, as public program coordinator, was the first professional woman employed in the Institute; Harry, with a Ph.D. in Economics, specialized in labor education and labor relations in addition to human resource management. The Starks had particular interest in making international graduate students feel personally welcome and were committed to providing many opportunities to enhance the cultural and educational experience of students far from their homes around the globe. This endowment was created in the Starks’ honor and with the intention to continue to provide these cultural and educational opportunities to graduate students enrolled in a SMLR program.

This award will be used to support international students enrolled in a SMLR graduate program in either the HRM Department or the LSER Department. Students must be enrolled in a master's, Ph.D., or post-doctoral program. Awards are to be given at the discretion of the program administrator to foster hands-on experience for international students. This fund will further opportunities for students to gain exposure to U.S. culture, values and educational experiences in labor relations and human resource management.  Such experiences include, but are not limited to US travel, internship stipends, or other stipends that the program administrator deems appropriate related to the donors’ intent.  This scholarship includes matching funds from The United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipe Fitting Industry of the United States, Canada (UA).

Special considerations: Student who has had a positive impact on the community within SMLR, across Rutgers, or outside the University.

Current as of:

Friday, January 1, 2021

This scholarship is awarded to students enrolled in the Labor Studies and Employment Relations program based on academic need and merit as determined by the program director.

Current as of:

Wednesday, December 2, 2020

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