Financial Aid Options for Graduate Students
Federal Work-study
This award is granted to a limited number of high need graduate students who are eligible for hourly employment that is not an assistanship/grad appointment, are carrying at least six credits, and have filed a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
A work-study award is used as part of the funding source for a student's hourly employment and is subject to approval by the hiring department, the Graduate School, and Financial Aid Services. Federal Work Study funds are extremely limited and may not be awarded to all students who request them. To request work study funds for the summer session, please fill out and submit a Summer Aid Application. To be considered for work study funds during the fall/spring, please contact the Graduate Financial Aid Office. Work study funds may only be used to fund hourly non-assistantship positions.
TEACH Grants
The Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant Program provides $4000 annual grants to full-time students who plan to become teachers. A graduate student may receive a total of two scheduled awards, or a total of $8000, for a Master’s degree program.
More about TEACH Grants
Graduate Assistantships
Your best option for finding a teaching or research assistantship is to contact your academic department. The Graduate Assistantship Office processes graduate appointments and associated waiver benefits. This office also posts assistantship opportunities when they become available (these assistantships are mostly through non-academic departments and are generally for administrative support). The Graduate Assistantship Office does not assign or determine who receives appointments.
Graduate Assistantship Office
517 Goodell Building
Phone: 413-545-5287
E-mail: gradappt@grad.umass.edu
Graduate School Fellowships
A limited number of competitive Graduate School Fellowships are awarded to graduate students on a campus-wide basis. These fellowships provide for tuition, health fee (not a family plan), and curriculum fee waivers. They are intended to encourage and assist superior students in pursuing graduate studies and in completing the requirements for graduate degrees in the minimum time possible. Graduate School Fellowships are awarded for one year and may be renewed upon departmental nomination and Fellowship Committee recommendation.
A recipient of a Graduate School Fellowship must be enrolled as a full-time student. Prospective students may indicate that they would like to be considered for a fellowship on the Graduate School's application form. Completed applications should be submitted to the Graduate School faculty for review before January 15 for the following September. Awards are announced by April 1.
The Office of Graduate Student Recruitment and Retention (OGSRR)
OGSRR aims to increase the diversity of the Graduate School student body by supporting the recruitment and retention of graduate students with academic quality and potential, from under-represented groups. In order to be considered for OGSRR support, students must first be nominated by their departments. Priority is given to incoming students except in the case of dissertation fellowships. Applicants are strongly encouraged to provide a complete admissions file by January 15, for fall enrollment. Students who wish to be considered for the Opportunity Scholar Fellows Program are urged to submit GRE scores even if not required to do so by the graduate program.
The Office of Graduate Student Recruitment and Retention (OGSRR)
528 Goodell Building
Phone: 413-545-5284
Email: ogsrr@grad.umass.edu
International Programs Office (IPO)
Located in 467 Hills South, the International Programs Office manages the following graduate student programs.
Study Abroad
The IPO organizes meetings with Financial Aid Services to link American students who wish to study abroad. Some study abroad and student exchange programs offered by IPO are able to give scholarships and other financial assistance to participating students, often in conjunction with various departments. The IPO also provides bibliographies of funding resources, as well as access to the Scholarships, Fellowships, and Grants for the Programs Abroad directory. Individual counseling is also available. For additional information, call the IPO at 413-545-2710.
The Foreign Students Office (FSO)
The IPO manages a limited number of tuition waivers established for international students. These waivers are for tuition only and do not cover any other fees or costs. The award process for these waivers is extremely competitive and is based on prior academic record, departmental recommendation, and financial need. Applications for continuing students are available at the FSO, but the student’s sponsoring department must submit the completed application and supporting recommendations. Please call the FSO at 413-545-2843 for information regarding procedures for new admissions.
