FINANCIAL AID
The George Washington University offers a program of financial support for students, which includes assistantships, fellowships, traineeships, graduate scholarships, research appointments, part-time employment, the Federal Work–Study Program, and loans. Several forms of aid not based on financial need are available. In general, consideration for financial aid is restricted to students in good academic standing who meet the minimum grade-point average for particular awards and are not financially encumbered by any other University office.
The University reserves the right to ask for documentation necessary to determine aid eligibility. Documents submitted as part of aid applications become the property of the University and cannot be returned. Federal regulations require that the University report suspected cases of fraud or misrepresentation to the appropriate federal, state, and local authorities.
Gift aid (scholarships, grants, fellowships, assistantships, tuition awards, etc.) is taxable to the extent that it exceeds the allowable costs of tuition, fees, and required books and supplies or is dedicated to other costs, such as room and board. Federal grants may be taxable if, together with other gift assistance, they exceed the allowable costs.
Application and correspondence concerning assistantships, fellowships, traineeships, or graduate scholarships should be sent directly to the school concerned at The George Washington University. Unless otherwise specified, application and supporting credentials should be submitted no later than February 1 preceding the academic year for which the award is made. Application for admission to graduate study is a prerequisite for consideration.
Information in this section is accurate at the time this Bulletin is prepared for press. Future changes in federal regulations or institutional policies may alter the application requirements or program guidelines.
Office of Graduate Student Assistantships and Fellowships
The Office of Graduate Student Assistantships and Fellowships provides information on awards that may be used in support of graduate study. These awards are generally sponsored by foundations, professional and learned societies, industries, and other organizations.
Services are provided to entering and enrolled graduate students. Detailed information is available at www.gwu.edu/~fellows/.
Assistantships
Graduate Teaching Assistantships—Available to students in master's and doctoral programs in most departments of the University. A graduate teaching assistant receives financial compensation for a designated unit of service to the assistant's major department of instruction. All new graduate teaching assistants must attend an orientation program and enroll in an on-line course.
Graduate Research Assistantships—Available to students in master's and doctoral programs in some departments of the University. A graduate research assistant receives compensation for research assistance provided to a professor.
Other Research Assistant Positions—May be available in departments with faculty who are participating in sponsored research. Students are advised to check with the department concerned.
Resident Assistantships—Available to graduate students in any field of study who are interested in working in University residence halls. Specific duties vary with the position, but basically consist of counseling, advising student groups, and administration. Remuneration includes salary and a furnished room for the academic year. All positions are part time, and staff members are required to enroll as full-time students in degree programs. Further information may be obtained from GW Housing Programs.
Fellowships, Scholarships, and Related Programs
University Fellowships—Available to graduate students in master's and doctoral programs in most departments of the University. Fellowships are based on scholarship and each fellow may receive a stipend and/or tuition allowance.
Other Fellowships, Scholarships, and Related Programs
Achievement Rewards for College Scientists Scholarships
Angeline Anderson Scholarship Fund
Bank of America Fellowship
Robert R. Banville Scholarship Fund
Sylven Seid Beck Endowment Fund for Elementary Education
Bell Atlantic Endowment Fellowships in Physics and Chemistry
Florence Bichan/Scottish Rite Scholarships
Mary Darnell Blaney Fellowship in International Relations
Winfield Scott Blaney Fellowship in International Relations
John and Claudia Boswell Scholarship Fund
Hortence Mae Boutell Scholarship in Fine Arts
David and Anne Elizon Brown Scholarship
Letitia Woods Brown Fellowship in American Studies
Joel T. Broyhill Scholarship
Doris and Sam Buchhalter Scholarship
Robert D. Campbell Endowment Fellowships in Geography
Career Development Fellowships
Oliver T. Carr, Jr., Fellowships
Carruthers Family M.B.A. Scholarship
Center for Washington Area Studies Fellowship
James Edward Miller Chapman Educational Foundation Scholarship
Chemistry Alumni Fellowship
Children's National Medical Center Fellowships in Biomedical Sciences
Daewoo Corporation Scholarships
Daewoo Vietnamese Scholarship
Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) Endowment Fellowships
Maria Davis European Studies Fellowships
Vincent J. DeAngelis Scholarship Fund
Deixler/Swain Graduate Scholarship in History
Dockery Endowment Scholarship
Brian and Marianna Dwyer Fellowships
Eaton Scholarship
Eaves–Carden Graduate Scholarship
Engineering Alumni Association Fellowship
Evans Scholarship Fund in Art
Evans Scholarship Fund in Theatre and Dance
Rosetta and Sadie Feldman Endowment Fellowship
Fischer Family Fund
Joseph Fleischman Fellowship in Real Estate Studies
Julius Fleischman Scholarship in Tourism and Hospitality Management
Rockwood H. Foster Memorial Scholarship Fund
James Harold Fox Scholarship Fund
Philip Friedlander, Jr., Scholarship in Entrepreneurship and Small Business Studies
Mary Hatwood Futrell Scholarship Fund
Jack Gerard Endowment Fellowship
Global Leaders Fellowships
Leo and Lillian Goodwin Endowment Scholarship
Graduate Engineering Honors Fellowship Program
Graduate Student Engineering Scholarship
Mildred Green Memorial Endowment Fund
Walter Green Award Fund
Griffith Family Scholarship Fund
GSPM Alumni Scholarship Fund
GSPM Faculty Scholarship Fund
Anna Spicker Hampel Scholarship
Corey Hansen Scholarship Fund
Evelyn Barstow Harrison Scholarship in Public Administration
Elizabeth Earle Heckmann Graduate Scholarship
Norris and Betty Hekimian Engineering Endowment
Herbst Family Graduate Fund
Thelma Hunt Graduate Fellowships in Psychology
Hyundai Scholarship Fund
Iran Research Fellowships
Douglas L. Jones Endowed Graduate Fellowship in Mechanical Engineering
Kylen and Heide Jones-Huffman Fund
Marvin L. Kay Fellowship in Finance
Kayser Fund Endowment in History
Rita H. Keller Scholarship Fund
Kellogg Graduate Scholarship
John Whitefield Kendrick Graduate Fellowship in Economics
Isabella Osborn King Research Fellowships in Biological Sciences
Larry King Graduate Scholarship in Media and Public Affairs
Andrew John Knox Scholarship
Wolfgang and Astrid Kraus Graduate Scholarships
Lambert Graduate Stipend in Arts and Sciences
Laurence F. Lane Graduate Scholarship in Political Management
Levitan Endowment Fellowships
Myron L. Loe Graduate Student Scholarship
Loughran Foundation Fellowships
Loughran Oxford Fellowships
Morris Louis Fellowship in Painting
W. Stanley Machen Graduate Fellowship in Civil Engineering
J. Willard Marriott Foundation Graduate Scholarships
George McCandlish Fellowship in American Literature
McConnell Endowment in Chemistry
Dorothy A. Moore Graduate Scholarship Endowment for International Education
Dorothy and Charles Moore Fellowship in International Development Studies
James N. Mosél Scholarship Fund
National Council for Education and Human Development Endowed Scholarship Fund
National Institutes of Health Fellowships in the Biomedical Sciences
Wendy Anne Ochsman Endowment Scholarships
Phi Delta Gamma Scholarships
Raymond L. Pickholtz Graduate Scholarship
Policy Studies Graduate Fellowships
Poncelet Scholarships
Presidential Merit Fellowships
Public Administration Faculty–Alumni Scholarship
Kelly J. Purcell Memorial Credit Union Scholarship in Political Management
Joan Roddy Regnell Fellowships in Speech and Hearing Science
Shirley H. and Robert L. Richards Scholarship Fund
Thomas Bradford Sanders Fellowships
Schwoerer Graduate Scholarship
Scottish Rite Graduate Endowment Fellowships
Bourdon F. Scribner Graduate Student Scholarship in Chemistry
Selective Excellence Endowment Fellowships
ServiceMaster Fellowship
J.B. and Maurice C. Shapiro Fellowships in International Affairs
Sickler Family Endowment Scholarship
Speech–Language Pathology Endowment Fellowships
Toccin Endowment Fellowship
Timothy W. Tong Fellowship
Trachtenberg–Wang Teaching Fellowship
Turner Non-Profit Leadership Development Scholarship
General John W. Vessey Endowment Fellowships
Vest Graduate Scholarship
Videtto Family Endowment Scholarship
Jack C. Voelpel Memorial Fund
Louis P. Wagman Endowment Scholarship in Engineering
Richard David Walk Endowment Scholarships in Psychology
Washington Gas and Light Scholarship
Helen Waters Endowed Scholarship
William Warren Endowment Fund for Fellowships
Ann Gordon Webster Endowment for Anthropology
Ronald Barbour Weintraub Research Fellowships in Biological Sciences
Ruth Ann Parker Wells Scholarship
Ruth Ann Parker Wells and David Leonard Wells Endowment Scholarship Fund
Katherine J. Williams Endowment Scholarships in Art Therapy
Wolcott Foundation Scholarships
Helen and Sergius Yakobson Graduate Scholarship
Loan Funds
Federal Direct Stafford Loans—Graduate students enrolled at least half time may apply for subsidized Stafford Loan funds of up to $8,500 per year, based on their need as determined by a federally mandated formula based on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Stafford loans are fixed-rate loans, currently at 6.8%, with a repayment period up to 10 years; the government pays the interest while students are enrolled in school at least half time and for six months afterward. All graduate students may apply for an unsubsidized Stafford Loan up to $20,500, less any subsidized amount received. Terms and conditions are the same, except that the student borrower is responsible for all interest that accrues on the unsubsidized amount during the in-school period; deferments are available. Graduate students must apply for, and be eligible for, a full subsidized Stafford Loan before their eligibility for a Federal Perkins Loan or Federal Work–Study will be determined.
Students must file the FAFSA to determine their eligibility. In addition, students must submit the Loan Questionnaire for the current year and a completed Master Promissory Note application. Tax information for the current tax year (for example, 2010 for the 2011–2012 academic year) is required only for those selected for federal verification and for those who submit a Special Condition Form. Students who intend to use loan proceeds for payment of University charges at the time of registration should submit a loan application and all supporting documents to the Office of Student Financial Assistance by May 1 for the fall semester, October 1 for the spring semester, and March 1 for the summer sessions.
Federal Direct Graduate PLUS—The Graduate PLUS is a federally sponsored education loan for graduate students. A student is eligible to borrow up to the full cost of attendance, including tuition, fees, living, books, and transportation expenses, less any financial assistance received. The student must apply for the Stafford Loan and the amount of the Stafford Loan eligibility must be included in the calculation to determine the amount of the Graduate PLUS loan.
Graduate PLUS has a fixed interest rate of 7.9% that is set by the federal government, so the student can borrow throughout his/her education without any increase in the interest rate. Detailed information on the application process can be found at gwired.gwu.edu/finaid.
Alternative Loans—Private lenders provide competitive alternative loan options to qualified students. These loans offer attractive interest rates and repayment options. The loans allow the student to borrow up to 100% of GW's annual graduate cost of attendance less any current financial assistance. More information can be found at gwired.gwu.edu/finaid.
Other Loan Funds—The following loan funds are available to degree students. Complete information regarding each loan fund is available from the Office of Student Financial Assistance (gwired.gwu.edu/colonialcentral): Jessie B. Martin Loan Fund; Jack and Anne Morton Loan Fund; Barney Plotnick, M.D., Student Loan Fund; Hiram Miller Stout Memorial Loan Fund; University Student Emergency Loan Fund; Edmund W. Dreyfuss Loan Fund; Peter and Doris Firsht Loan Fund. In addition, the Inner-City Special Student Assistance Loan Fund is available through the GW Multicultural Student Services Center.
Student Employment
The University participates in the Federal Work–Study Program. Inquiries should be addressed to the Office of Fellowships and Graduate Student Support. In addition, the Career Center maintains a registry of both full-time and part-time positions available in the Washington area for undergraduate and graduate students. After registration, students may apply at the Center for interviews and referrals to positions for which they are qualified.
International Students
International students applying for graduate teaching assistantships must have minimum TOEFL scores of 600 (paper-based) or 100 (Internet-based) or an overall band score of 7.0 on the academic IELTS with no individual band score below 6.0. International students applying from outside the University may be appointed to graduate teaching assistantships but must successfully complete an orientation and evaluation program held prior to registration. Those found to have difficulties with English will be required to enroll in specified courses in English for Academic Purposes and/or will be referred to the Speech and Hearing Center's speech enhancement program; such students will be assigned nonteaching duties in place of classroom instruction. They will be reevaluated each semester; if they are not designated as qualified to give classroom instruction by the end of one academic year, the teaching assistantship will not be renewed.
Graduate students who are presently enrolled at GW and have been proposed as candidates for graduate teaching assistantships by their departments must pass the Test of English for Academic Purposes at the levels indicated above and will be required to complete successfully an oral interview and the orientation and evaluation program before they will be considered for graduate teaching assistantships.
Students who wish to study in the United States should have sufficient funds available to cover expenses for one full year before attempting to enter a college or university. The cost at this University for one academic year (September–May) was $45,679 in 2010–11 for full-time students (9 credits per semester) and is expected to be higher in 2011–12; generally speaking, expenses for international students are about $2,000 over the stated figure, which includes room and board, tuition, books, clothes, and incidental expenses, but not travel, holiday, or medical expenses.
Veterans Benefits and Services
The Veterans Services office assists students entitled to educational benefits as active-duty personnel, veterans, or as widows or children of deceased or totally disabled veterans with any problems that may arise concerning their benefits. This office also processes certification of enrollment and attendance to the Department of Veterans Affairs so that educational allowances will be paid. More information can be found at colonialcentral.gwu.edu/registrar/veteranservices.
When feasible, students entitled to educational benefits as active-duty personnel, veterans, or dependents of veterans should consult with the veterans counselor prior to submitting applications to the Department of Veterans Affairs. All such students should obtain the instruction sheet issued by the veterans counselor; it sets forth requirements to be fulfilled before certification of enrollment can be made to the Department of Veterans Affairs and includes other information of general interest. Eligible students should be aware they must be admitted to a degree seeking program by the start of their third semester in order to continue receiving veterans benefits.
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