The Department of Fire Protection Engineering offers several types of financial support through various research assistantships (RA) or partial or full teaching assistantships (TA). Research assistantships are awarded by individual faculty members from their research budgets. These RA positions are limited by available resources and are dependent on the number of research grants awarded to the faculty. These assistantships are awarded on a strictly competitive basis.
There is no guarantee that once financial assistance is granted to a student, it will continue for the duration of the student’s program. Such continuation is dependent upon the student’s individual competitive standing in light of the available resources and performance as a research assistant. Every effort is made to be as fair and equitable as possible. Individual faculty members directing the funded research activity are responsible for informing students of sub-par performance.
It is the student’s responsibility to contact the faculty members to seek and secure RA funding. The FPE Director of Graduate Studies is available to facilitate these contacts.
The department also offers partial or full teaching assistantships. For information on how to apply for TAs, contact the FPE Director of Graduate Studies, Dr. Arnaud Trouvé (atrouve@umd.edu). For information on the criteria used in the selection of TAs, see 
the Guidelines document. The partial TA positions cover 50% of the academic stipend and require a commitment of 10 hours per week to teaching assignments (e.g. grading, proctoring, etc); the partial TA is typically limited to the academic year (9 months) and does not provide summer support. The full TA positions cover 100% of the academic stipend and require a commitment of 20 hours per week to teaching assignments; the positions extend throughout the calendar year (12 months) and provide summer support. The full TA positions are dedicated to the FPE Distance Learning Program.
To learn more, please see the FPE Graduate Guide (2023).
A number of scholarships are available to students enrolled in the Department of Fire Protection Engineering, including those listed below, not all of which are necessarily given each year.
- Fire Suppression Systems Association (FSSA) Educational Foundation Scholarship
Scholarship candidates must have graduated from high school or its equivalent before July 1st of the year in which they will use the scholarship. Scholarships are awarded by the FSSA Educational Foundation to students who plan to enroll in a fire suppression technology program at an accredited two year or four year technical school, college or university in North America. Consideration will be given to the degree in which the career choice would have an application to the fire suppression industry. An application is typically due July 1st. For more information and the application, please visit: Fire Suppression Systems Association (FSSA).
- Dr. Harry E. Hickey Scholarship
In honor of Dr. Harry E. Hickey, alumni, friends and former students donated to establish this scholarship that will support an undergraduate or graduate fire protection engineering student who have interest in teaching or educating others about fire protection engineering. Preference will be given to students with fire service experience. Complete the Engineering Scholarship Application to apply.
- National Scholarships
National scholarships are highly competitive, prestigious awards that provide opportunities and support for many different experiences, including study abroad, graduate study (and sometimes undergraduate study also), federal employment, teaching, research, and public service.To search national scholarships, visit the University of Maryland National Scholarships Office.
- The Salamander Scholarship Award
This award is given to both undergraduate and graduate students from the Department of Fire Protection Engineering (FPE). The scholarship was established to award students for their exemplary dedication to academics as well as service to the FPE Department and it is merit-based. These scholarships are funded by the generous donations of alumni, corporate sponsors, and friends of the department. To apply, download and complete the application (PDF) and deliver it to the Salamander mailbox or Professor Jim Milke's office by 4:30 p.m. on April 24.
GRA position for incoming M.S. students via the John L. Bryan Chair endowment:
The John L. Bryan Chair endowment provides full support for up to two Graduate Research Assistantship (GRA) every year. The support is provided to outstanding, incoming Master of Science (MS) students, domestic or international, in the FPE department and is awarded on a competitive basis.
The support goes to individuals who have already applied or will be applying to the FPE M.S. program. Identification of a research project and a M.S. thesis faculty advisor are welcome, but not required. The recipient(s) of the John L. Bryan GRA Award is expected to complete the proposed research project under the supervision of a member of the Faculty of the FPE Department.
The John L. Bryan GRA Award includes standard tuition credits (up to 25), health benefits, and a stipend (approximately $40K). The duration of the support is up to 12 months. A requirement of this award is that the awardee(s) agree to serve as Teaching Assistants for one course during both the Fall and Spring terms (1/2 TA positions).
Interested applicants should provide a one-page statement of purpose explaining their interest in the M.S. degree program in general and in fire research in particular. Applicants should also provide an updated resume. Applications should be submitted via email to Arnaud Trouvé, FPE Professor and Director of Graduate Studies (atrouve@umd.edu). The deadline for application is usually around February 15 and will be announced on the FPE website. A decision on the recipient of the John L. Bryan GRA Award is made by the beginning of March. The competition applies to incoming students who start their M.S. program in the following Summer, Fall, Winter or Spring terms.
Download the award information sheet here: Bryan Chair RA 2024
The 2022/2023 JLB GRA Award recipient is Thomas Roche - follow this link to learn more.
GRA position for incoming M.S. students via UL's Fire Safety Research Institute Fellowship:
The Underwriters Laboratories (UL) Fellowship with UL's Fire Safety Research Institute (FSRI) provides support for at least one graduate research assistantship (GRA) each year. The support is provided to incoming master of science (M.S.) students (during any semester) in the UMD Department of Fire Protection Engineering (FPE), and is awarded on a competitive basis. Candidates with a combination of fire protection engineering and fire service experience are strongly encouraged to apply. Identification of a research project is welcome, but is not required; the research project will be defined in collaboration with UL representatives, and will be conducted primarily at the FSRI lab in Columbia, MD.
The UL Fellowship, which runs roughly 16 months, includes standard tuition credits (up to 25), health benefits and a stipend (approximately $40k).
Interested applicants should provide a one-page statement of purpose explaining their interest in the M.S. degree program - in general and in firefighting research in particular - in addition to a current resume. Applications should be submitted via email to FPE Chair, Arnaud Trouvé (atrouve@umd.edu). The deadline for application is February 15.
Follow this link to download a UL Fellowship application.
The 2022/23 fellowship recipients are Grayson Bellamy and Thomas DiPietro - follow this link to learn more.