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 (2024).
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.
Graduate Research Assistantship 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 Assistantships (GRA) every year. The support is provided to outstanding, incoming Master of Science (M.S.) 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 are not required. The recipient(s) of the John L. Bryan GRA Award is (are) 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 $42K). The duration of the support is up to 16 months. A requirement of this award is that the awardee(s) agrees (agree) to serve as Teaching Assistant(s) for one course during both the Fall and Spring terms (a 1/2 TA position).
Interested applicants should provide a one-page statement of purpose explaining their interest in the FPE M.S. degree program in general and in fire research in particular. Applicants should also provide an updated résumé and (official or unofficial) copies of transcripts. Applications should be submitted via email to Dr. Arnaud Trouvé, Professor and Chair in the FPE Department (atrouve@umd.edu). The deadline for application is usually in February and will be announced on the FPE website. Decisions on applications are usually made in no later than early March.
The competition applies to incoming students who start their M.S. program in the following Summer, Fall, Winter or Spring terms. Because of a possible delay between the time of the announcement of the Award and Fellowships (March) and the start of the M.S. program (possibly as late as Spring of the following year), changes to the original plan submitted by the John L. Bryan GRA awardees may be allowed (e.g., changes in the proposed research area, the start date of the M.S. program, etc); in that case, changes need to be authorized by the Chair of the FPE Department.
Graduate Research Assistantship for Incoming M.S. Students: UL Fire Safety Research Institute (FSRI) and Fire Risk Alliance (FRA) Fellowships
The UL Fire Safety Research Institute (FSRI) Fellowships provide full support for up to two Graduate Research Assistantships (GRA) every year. The Fire Risk Alliance (FRA) Fellowship provides full support for one Graduate Research Assistantship (GRA) every year. The support is provided to outstanding, incoming Master of Science (M.S.) students, domestic or international, in the FPE department and is awarded on a competitive basis.
The support goes to individuals who have already applied to the FPE M.S. program. Identification of a research project and a M.S. thesis faculty advisor are welcome but are not required.
The UL Fellows are expected to complete their proposed research project under the supervision of FSRI research engineers with advising/support from a member of the Faculty of the FPE Department. The duration of the Fellowship is up to 16 months. The research work is typically performed off-campus, at the FSRI office located in Columbia, MD; some of the work could involve travel (which would be supported by UL).
Similarly, the FRA Fellow is expected to complete his/her proposed research project under the supervision of FRA research engineers with advising/support from a member of the Faculty of the FPE Department. The duration of the Fellowship is up to 16 months. The research work is typically performed off-campus, at the FRA office located in Rockville, MD; some of the work could involve travel (which would be supported by FRA).
The Fellowships include standard tuition credits (up to 25), health benefits, and a stipend (approximately $42K). The duration of the support is up to 16 months.
Interested applicants should provide a one-page statement of purpose explaining their interest in the FPE MS degree program in general and in fire research in particular. Applicants should also provide an updated résumé and (official or unofficial) copies of transcripts. Applications should be submitted via email to Dr. Arnaud Trouvé, Professor and Chair in the FPE Department (atrouve@umd.edu). There are two calls for applications to Fellowships every year: the calls will be announced on the FPE website with deadline for applications typically in mid-February and end-of-August and decisions on applications usually made no later than one month later.