Financial Assistance
All students requesting financial assistance from the MPA Program need to submit current Graduate Requisite Exam Scores (GRE) by application deadlines. Graduate Assitantships (GAs) are the most frequent form of financial assistance. GAs primarily are primarily awarded according to academic merit and the work-related competence of the applicant. Need-based fellowships are also available.
Students who receive a graduate assistantship usually work as research or teaching assistants for faculty members in the MPA program and Political Science Department. Students who have a 50% appointment work 20 hours per week. Those with a 25% appointment work 10 hours per week. The number of assistantships available varies from year to year. The maximum appointment time for master’s students is 24 months.
How to Apply for a Graduate Assistantship
Graduate students requesting a graduate assistantship must submit valid GRE scores to the MPA director prior to application deadlines. The student should obtain and complete a graduate assistantship/fellowship application card. These cards are available in the MPA program office. Applicants must also take the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) and report that score to the program director prior to application deadlines. Academic achievement, individual skills, and financial need are major factors for determining graduate assistantship awards.
Most graduate assistantship awards are made in April for the upcoming calendar year (August to May). Occasionally awards are made in November for assistantships beginning in January. In the latter case, the award is only for one semester. All graduate assistants holding a fall and spring appointment for the full length of the semesters will be eligible for an eight hour tuition scholarship for the summer session immediately following the two consecutive semesters.
Fellowships through the Graduate School
Fellowships available through the Graduate school carry a stipend and tuition waiver, but unlike graduate assistantships do not always include a requirement to work. These awards are made to students of outstanding academic ability and achievement, and to students who have overcome disadvantages of minority group membership, socio-economic status, or gender. These competitive awards require nomination by the program director. Information on current fellowship programs is disseminated by the MPA program to currently enrolled students.
Tuition Waivers
The Graduate school determines eligibility for tuition waivers (i.e., tuition scholarships):
50%- GA’s holding a 50% contract and Fellows will be given a 15 hour tuition scholarship for fall and spring semesters, and an 8 hour tuition scholarship for the summer semester.
25%- GA’s holding a 25% contract will be given a 9 hour tuition scholarship for fall and spring semesters, and an 8 hour tuition scholarship for the summer semester.