FAQ: TSELF Frequently Asked Questions

This is a very difficult question but, in short, the answer is no - TSELF awards are currently restricted to students of all nationalities who are being educated in the United States and Canada. TSELF's intent is to focus its limited resources in those two countries initially. TSELF's goal is also to help foster similar transgender scholarship programs in other nations.

In a more pragmatic sense, extending TSELF's scholarship awards to individuals outside of the United States and Canada requires that TSELF understand the complexities of experience and education of a variety of different nations, cultures, practices, etc. Our vision at TSELF is to eventually become culturally competent in this way but, for the time being, TSELF will continue to restrict scholarship awards to the United States and Canada. This may change in the future.

Yes - there is no maximum age requirement for most TSELF awards. "Out and proud" transgender students of ALL ages are eligible for many TSELF scholarships. The requirements of some specific awards may vary. Since some studies have indicated that the average age of transition is between 30 and 40, TSELF assumes that a number of applicants will be seeking assistance for retraining or post-graduate study. TSELF encourages these applications.

Yes - there is no minimum age requirement. As noted in Question 2 above, "out and proud" transgender students of ALL ages are eligible for most TSELF scholarships. The requirements of some specific awards may vary. There is also a specific "TSELF Youth Award." Eligibility for this award is limited to youth under the age of 22 attending their first or second year of post-secondary education during the next academic year application.

Each award varies. Most scholarships will be between $1,500 and $2,500. Smaller or larger grants may also be awarded. This could depend on individual need or the requirements of a specific grant sponsor.

No - you do not need to indicate specific awards on your application. The sponsor requirements for some of the specific TSELF awards vary. TSELF will determine eligibility for various awards based on your application.

The answer to this question is maybe. TSELF is committed to the concept that trans-people should be encouraged to help other trans-people. As such, TSELF awards are intended for "out and proud" transgender identified students that are, or will be, enrolled in a post-secondary program in the helping and caring professions. These are openly defined to include Social Services, Health Care, Religious Instruction and the Law. Further definition of these professions is the responsibility of the applicant. In Part 2, Question 5 of the TSELF application , applicants are asked:

TSELF has been vague about what exactly qualifies as the "the helping and caring professions." This was done purposefully to give each applicant the opportunity to self define their chosen field of study. Most specifically, this gives each applicant a chance to explain how they perceive themselves to be in the helping and caring professions and how their work will specifically help other trans-people. As such, individuals such as "Biology students," "Chemistry students" and "Library Science students" might also be able to make their individual case for an award. This is each applicant's opportunity to self define their chosen field of study. Most specifically, this gives each applicant a chance to explain how they perceive themselves to be in the helping and caring professions and how their work will specifically help other trans-people.

TSELF would like to thank everyone for all the generous offers of support that have been made available to TSELF. Currently TSELF's general mission is adequately funded and we are not seeking monetary contributions from individuals.

As an alternative to this, please consider joining and/or giving to other transgender organizations such as TSELF's collaborative organization, the International Foundation for Gender Education (IFGE), or one of the many local transgender advocacy or activist organizations. By helping those organizations and the transgender communities at large, you are helping TSELF.

In addition, TSELF is always seeking sponsor funding for individual scholarships. If you, or your organization, are interested in sponsoring a scholarship, please review the TSELF Sponsor page for more detailed information.

Yes, TSELF awards are available to both full-time and part-time students.

No, TSELF is not offering funding for other purposes at this time and is focusing it's resources entirely on scholarships for transgender identified students who are or will be enrolled in a post-secondary programs in the helping and caring professions including Social Services, Health Care, Religious Instruction and the Law in the United States and Canada. Grants are educational and individual in nature and can be applied to tuition, books, fees, dissertation, or personal expenses.

No, not currently. A special component of TSELF is the aspect of visibility. TSELF is seeking trans-individuals that wish to serve as "out and proud" role models for other transgender identified people. As out trans-people in the helping and caring professions, these special individuals will be perceptibly challenging many of the societal prejudices that trans-folk encounter within educational and professional institutions.

TSELF can understand that some students would have reasonable and justifiable concerns about being out at school and/or work. As such, TSELF could never expect all trans-students to feel safe enough to come out. It is for precisely this reason that this scholarship was conceived -- to offer assistance and to increase the number of out and proud trans-people in the helping and caring professions. By doing so we forge links between professionals and emerging leaders and hope to help make it safer for more trans-people to just be themselves. TSELF hopes this process will help to facilitate the growth and advancement of not only these individuals, but of our communities as well. And finally, TSELF is committed to the concept that trans-people should be encouraged to help other trans-people. If trans-service providers are not out, we may not be really able to affect this sort of change.

Students who are not out may still be qualified for other LGBT scholarships (See FAQ, Question 11, below), as well general academic aide from other resources. Your college financial aid/grant office or local LGBT student organization (if available) should have information on these resources.

No, not at this time. While TSELF's intent is to initially focus its limited resources, we hope there will be a time when other trans-scholarships are offered. TSELF's goal is also to help foster transgender scholarship programs through other organizations.

In addition to TSELF, there are a large number of Lesbian & Gay as well as LGBT awards available. Transgender students should also consider applying to these sources. Some are available nationally and many others are regional or specific to a field of study. Certain scholarships are earmarked for Gay men or Lesbian women but most of these are actually inclusive of transgender people, if not in name, then in actual deed or mission.

Many college financial aid/grant offices have information on these. If available, student's can also check their local LGBT student organization for information. A large number of these scholarships have placed their information online. A search in any one of the many search engines (such as www.yahoo.com, www.hotbot.com, www.excite.com, www.lycos.com, www.altavista.com) should offer links to these websites.

You might also check Bill Roach's List of GLBT Scholarship Information. Bill Roach, a Professor of Business Administration at Washburn University in Topeka, Kansas maintains a list of Gay / Lesbian/ Bisexual / Transgender Scholarship Information at http://www.washburn.edu/sobu/broach/glbt-scholar.html