Teaching Fellows for​ Maryland Scholarship

Scholarship Sponsored by Maryland Higher Education Commission

Qualification Criteria:

• Candidates must be enrolled or planning to enroll in an undergraduate or graduate program at a qualifying institution, with the aim of obtaining a Maryland professional teacher's certificate.
• Candidates must commit to serving as a public school or public prekindergarten teacher in the State after completing their studies. They must work in a high-needs school (as identified by MSDE), or in a grade level or content area where there is a shortage of qualified educators.
• Both full-time and part-time enrollment at a qualifying institution is acceptable, as long as the course of study leads to a Maryland professional teacher's certificate.
• There is no longer a requirement for candidates to be Maryland residents or to provide GPA, GRE, or SAT scores.

Additional Information: Those who have worked as a teaching assistant at a public school or public prekindergarten program in Maryland for at least 2 years are eligible to apply and can hold the scholarship as a full-time or part-time undergraduate or graduate student. However, scholarship recipients cannot hold a Maryland professional teacher's certificate.

Application Procedure & Criteria:

Candidates must complete the online application via the Maryland College Aid Processing System (MDCAPS). The online application and all necessary documents must be submitted to the Office of Student Financial Assistance by the deadline.

Note: All necessary documents will be requested and submitted online through each candidate's MDCAPS account.

High School Candidates:

• Submit a high school transcript after completing the first semester of senior year in high school; AND
• Essay; AND
• Institutional Certification Form

Candidates currently enrolled at a post-secondary institution:

• Submit a college transcript, or if not applicable a final high school transcript; AND
• Essay; AND
• Institutional Certification Form

Candidates that graduated from high school and completed some courses at a post-secondary institution:

• Submit a college transcript; AND
• Essay; AND
• Institutional Certification Form

Candidates not currently enrolled at a post-secondary institution but who graduated from a college or university:

• Submit a final undergraduate transcript; AND
• Institutional Certification Form; AND
• Essay

Candidates currently enrolled in a graduate degree program:

• Submit a final undergraduate transcript; AND
• Institutional Certification Form; AND
• Essay

Teaching Assistants:

• Submit a Teaching Asst Employer Verification Form; AND
• Essay; AND
• Institutional Certification Form
• Candidates with teaching certificates are not eligible for the award

Required Documents:

• For High School Candidates or Those with Less Than 12 College Credits:
  • Official or unofficial high school transcript.
• For Candidates with More Than 12 College Credits or College Graduates Not Currently Enrolled:
  • Official or unofficial college transcript.
• For Graduate Candidates:
  • Official or unofficial transcript from current school or undergraduate transcript.
• All Candidates:
  • A 600-word essay detailing the candidate's exceptional dedication to or aptitude for teaching. The essay must be typed.
  • Institutional Certification Form - Provided through the candidate's MDCAPS account. Must be completed by the institution.

Award Amount:

The amount of the award a candidate is eligible to receive depends on the availability of funds:

• At a Maryland public senior higher education institution, the scholarship award covers 100% of the annual tuition, mandatory fees, and room and board for a resident undergraduate student or graduate student, as appropriate.
• At a Maryland private nonprofit institution, the scholarship award is the lesser of:
• 100% of the annual tuition and mandatory fees for a resident undergraduate student or graduate student, as appropriate, at the University of Maryland College Park (UMCP) and 100% of the room and board at the institution; or
  • 50% of the annual tuition and mandatory fees for a resident undergraduate or graduate student, as appropriate, at the institution and 100% of the room and board at the institution.
  • Note: A private nonprofit institution must match the State award for tuition & fees only. They are not required to match State funds awarded for room and board.

Subject to available funding, out-of-state residents with a housing status of "Off Campus" or "With Parent" will receive a housing allowance in their award. The housing allowance is based on room and board costs provided to MHEC from each institution.