Financial Issues
Higher education is very expensive in the United States. The federal government requires all F and J visa applicants to prove that they have the financial resources to fund the entire cost of their education. The federal government offers various loan programs to US citizens and permanent residents, but unfortunately, F and J visa holders are not eligible for those funds. Most international students find that the best option for funding sources is from their department, either in the form of a teaching assistantship, research assistantship, or student assistantship. Other students find on-campus employment through Career Planning and Placement Services to help offset the costs associated with studying and living in the US. F and J visa holders have very few off-campus employment options, and must wait one academic year before requesting off-campus work authorization. Always remember, though, that the consular officer will not grant a visa without verification of financial support in the form of liquid assets-the hope that you will work on campus is not sufficient. An award letter showing a scholarship, graduate teaching or research assistantship, however, can be used when applying for a visa.
- Below you will find information regarding
- GENERAL INFORMATION
- TUITION AND FEES
- FEDERAL FINANCIAL AID (NOT AVAILABLE FOR F OR J STATUS)
- RESIDENT TUITION PROGRAMS
- FELLOWSHIPS AND SCHOLARSHIPS
- EXTERNAL FUNDING
- TEACHING / RESEARCH / STUDENT ASSISTANTSHIPS
The Graduate School offers important information regarding funding.
To receive federal financial aid through the Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid you must be a citizen of the United States or have permanent resident status. The standard documentation for a permanent resident of the United States is the Permanent Resident Card (Form I-551, since 1997) or Resident Alien Card (Form I-551, before 1997).
You are not eligible for federal financial aid if:
- You have only a Notice of Approval to Apply for Permanent Residence (I-717 or I-464)
- You are in the United States on an F1 or F2 student visa only
- You are in the United States on a J1 or J2 exchange visitor visa only
Tuition Waiver Eligibility
Holders of the following visas are eligible for waiver of the non-resident portion of assessed tuition: A, E, G, H, I, L, R and TN. Each term before the end of the first week of classes, eligible students must submit an application and documentation of their tuition waiver-eligible status to Registration and Scheduling. Please direct questions concerning tuition waiver eligibility to Registration and Scheduling, (313) 577-3541.
"Good Neighbor" Program
Under the Wayne State University "Good Neighbor" program, residents of Ontario, Canada, who enroll in WSU academic programs, excluding the MD program, will have the non-resident portion of fees waived. Please direct questions concerning the WSU "Good Neighbor" program to 1-877-WSU-INFO [1-877-978-3636].
GRADUATE SCHOLARSHIPS AND FELLOWSHIPS
Thomas C. Rumble University Graduate Fellowship
The University will make Thomas C. Rumble Fellowships available for the academic year (fall and winter terms). Full-time graduate students pursuing a Ph.D., M.M., or M.F.A. degree are eligible to apply. The award includes: a stipend, tuition scholarship, subsidized medical and dental insurance coverage and a housing allowance. Students holding graduate assistantships, other fellowships, internships, traineeships, scholarships, or full-time employment may not concurrently hold this award. Information is available from applicant's Dean's Office.
Application Deadline: check with school or college dean's office
Graduate-Professional Scholarships for 2004-2005
The Graduate School sponsors one competition annually for Graduate-Professional Scholarships (GPS) for the 2004-2005 academic year. The competition is held for full academic year tuition awards (fall and winter terms). Scholarships are offered to qualified applicants pursuing graduate (Master's, Ph.D., Certificate Programs) or advanced professional (Ed.D., M.S.W.) degrees in all University programs. New students should apply for graduate admission no later than December and must be admitted by May 1 to be considered in the competition. Applicants should confirm their admission status with their academic department. Awards are based on merit and available to both full-time and part-time students. The scholarship will provide resident tuition payment up to twelve graduate credits each term for the fall and winter terms regardless of the applicant's status as a full or part-time student. The average graduate GPA of scholarship awardees for 2003-2004 was 3.80; the average undergraduate GPA was 3.56. Students holding graduate assistantships or other tuition paying fellowships, internships, traineeships or scholarships, and salaried or full-time employees of Wayne State University are not eligible to hold this award. Additional information and applications are available from the Scholarships and Fellowships Office of the Graduate School. Students pursuing the J.D. or M.D. degrees should consult the Law School or School of Medicine concerning financial assistance.
On-line Application Available: download it now
- Application Deadline: March 1, 2004
- Award Notifications: By Mid-May 2004
The King-Chavez-Parks Future Faculty Program for 2004-2005
The Graduate School sponsors one competition annually for King-Chavez-Parks Future Faculty Fellowships. The KCP Fellowship provides an annual stipend from one to four years, up to a maximum of $35,000 over a four-year period. The purpose of the Fellowship is to assist students who intend to pursue a full-time teaching position in a post-secondary institution within one year of receiving their doctoral degree at Wayne State University. The eligibility requirements include: United States citizenship or permanent resident status; Michigan residency status as defined by the University; being an underrepresented minority (Black, Hispanic, or Native American) in the chosen field of study; and acceptance into a Wayne State University doctoral program. The Fellowship may be used to supplement other awards. Additional information and applications are available from the Scholarships and Fellowships Office of the Graduate School. Students pursuing the J.D. or M.D. degrees should consult the Law School or School of Medicine concerning financial assistance.
Applications Available: September 1, 2003
Application Deadline: June 1, 2004
Award Notifications: August 2004
Munich Fellowship for 2004-2005
Munich Graduate Exchange-Fellowship Program
The Graduate School sponsors one competition annually for the Munich Graduate Exchange-Fellowship Program. This award provides one year of study at the University of Munich with the remission of all tuition fees and a monthly stipend sufficient to meet a single student's normal living expenses for 10 months. Eligible students must be U.S. citizens, admitted to a Wayne State University graduate program and have written and oral competence in the German Language. Additional information and applications are available from the Scholarships and Fellowships Office of the Graduate School. Students pursuing the J.D. or M.D. degrees should consult the Law School or School of Medicine concerning financial assistance.
Applications Available: September 1 2003
Application Deadline: April 1, 2004
Award Notifications: By May 2004
OTHER AWARDS
The Federation of Women's Clubs of Metropolitan Detroit Scholarship [PDF]
This scholarship is available to full-time or part-time graduate, post-bachelor's, post-master's and undergraduate women students. Usually only one award is made each semester for the resident tuition cost. This scholarship may not pay full tuition. Applications may be obtained through the Women of Wayne Alumni Association, 441 Ferry Mall, (313) 577-2300.
The deadlines are:
Fall Semester: June 15
Winter Semester: October 15
Spring/Summer Semester: February 15
Women of Wayne Incentive Program for Part-Time Students [PDF]
Each semester, the Women of Wayne Alumni Association offers Incentive Scholarships for part-time undergraduate, post degree and graduate women students. The scholarships provide resident tuition assistance for up to seven hours per semester for graduate students. Additional information and applications are available at the Women of Wayne Alumni Association, 441 Ferry Mall, (313) 577-2300.
The deadlines are:
Fall Semester: June 15
Winter Semester: October 15
Spring/Summer Semester: February 15
Dissertation Fellowship
The College of Urban, Labor, and Metropolitan Affairs has established a Fellowship for a Wayne State University Ph.D. degree candidate to work full-time on his/her dissertation. Candidates may apply from any University department or college so long as their dissertation is related to urban, labor, or workplace issues, broadly construed. The support is designed to enable the recipient to complete or make considerable progress towards the completion of the dissertation. The application deadline is Mid-April. For further information contact, Robin Boyle, Office of the Dean, College of Urban, Labor, and Metropolitan Affairs, 3198 Faculty/Administration Building. Telephone (313) 577-5071.
College of Education
Graduate students enrolled in the College of Education who have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 may wish to contact the Dean's Office, Room 441 Education Building, (313) 577-1623 to receive a handout regarding scholarship award and loan programs from that college. Contact Cam Lie bold regarding deadlines at camliebold@wayne.edu.
Thesis/Dissertation Research Support
The Graduate Thesis/Dissertation Research Support Program is a grant program for WSU graduate students who are engaged in approved thesis/dissertation research. These grants are intended to help defray necessary but unusual expenses essential to the performance of thesis or dissertation research. Costs associated with preparation of the thesis or dissertation manuscript itself are not allowable under this program. Awards are limited to a maximum of $1,000 for dissertation research and $500 for thesis projects. Matching support from the student's department is required. Eligibility is restricted to one award per student per degree. Funds from the Thesis/Dissertation program must be spent within six months of the date of award. Applications and additional information are available in the Graduate School, 4300 Faculty/Administration Building. Telephone (313) 577-2170.
Graduate Student Professional Travel Fund
The Graduate Student Professional Travel Fund (GSPTF) is a limited fund made available to encourage and support Master's and doctoral student paper presentations at conventions, conferences, workshops, etc. Awards of up to $250 are made on the basis of merit to support the travel costs of students who present papers or poster sessions at professional meetings. Support will be provided only to one student for each paper and only then if the student is actually presenting the paper. Because these awards are intended to defray only partially the total costs to the applicants, matching support from the student's department is required. Students may apply for only one award per fiscal year (October 1, 2003 through September 30, 2004). Contact your department for information.
Many opportunities for grants for graduate study are available from public and private institutions. Information about these outside sources of funding may be available in a student's academic department. Information about financial aid sources outside of WSU for international students is available on the Web at www.edupass.org/finaid.
Some opportunities and sources of information are indicated below.
Magna Charta Prize A 10,000 Euro Award [PDF]
Award for Graduate Students who obtain External Support
This is a program that provides supplemental research funds to individual students who are successful in winning fellowship support from an external agency. Awards in the amount of $1,000 each are made to the student and his/her advisor. For more information, contact the Office of the Vice President for Research (OVPR), 4043 Faculty/Administration Building, (313) 577-5600.
Spin Searches: SPIN WWW is the World Wide Web version of the Sponsored Programs Information Network database and is currently available to WSU researchers connected to the University network. SPIN WWW contains thousands of federally and non-federally funded research opportunities. The listings are current and include funding opportunities for graduate student research and fellowship information. Instructions for accessing this service and other assistance are available from Vance Briceland in the Sponsored Programs Administration Office at 577-2294.
TEACHING/RESEARCH/STUDENT ASSISTANTSHIPS
Departmental Awards
Many graduate departments award Graduate Teaching Assistantships (GTA), Graduate Student Assistantships (GSA) and Graduate Research Assistantships (GRA). These awards provide a stipend, assistance for 6-10 credits of graduate tuition per term, and subsidized health and dental insurance coverage. As a GTA, GSA or GRA, the student spends about 20 hours per week in teaching, research, or related duties. Fellowships, scholarships, internships and traineeships may also be available. Information concerning all of these awards may be obtained by writing directly to the contact person of the department in which the student plans to major. Visit the Wayne State University website for information about departmental contacts. Because Fall Term appointments are usually awarded early in the calendar year, be sure to submit applications and supporting documents to the department in adequate time for consideration.
Graduate assistantships are appointments made to students enrolled in a master's or doctoral program at Wayne State University. Appointments may be made for one, two or three semesters of the calendar year. Graduate student appointees must be in good academic standing, i.e. have a minimum 3.0 honor point average or its equivalent. The graduate assistant must be enrolled for a minimum number of six graduate credits each per fall and winter semester appointments and one graduate credit for a spring/summer semester appointment. Assistantship positions provide a salary, tuition scholarship, and subsidized medical and dental insurance. The hiring unit determines the salary but must offer at least the Discipline Category minimum listed in the Compensation Schedule. The tuition scholarship provides payment for up to ten graduate credits for each of the fall and winter semesters and up to two graduate credits for the spring/summer semester appointment. The scholarships will pay for only graduate credits listed on a student's Plan of Work.
Graduate assistant positions include: Graduate Teaching Assistants (GTA), Graduate Student Assistants (GSA) and Graduate Research Assistants (GRA). GTAs and GSAs may be represented by the Graduate Employees Organizing Committee/American Federation of Teachers (GEOC). Below are definitions for each of the graduate assistant positions.
GRADUATE TEACHING ASSISTANT
Graduate Teaching Assistants (GTAs) must be master's or doctoral students in good standing. GTAs provide approximately 20 hours of instructional service per week over the course of a semester. GTAs may be assigned teaching duties, including grading, in undergraduate level courses or related laboratories or discussion sections, and may serve as instructors of record for undergraduate courses. Students who are primarily assigned to perform such duties for undergraduate level courses or related laboratories or discussion sections should be classified as GTAs.
GRADUATE STUDENT ASSISTANTS
Graduate Student Assistants (GSAs) must be master's or doctoral students in good standing. Graduate Student Assistants provide approximately 20 hours of service per week over the course of a semester. Graduate Student Assistants may be assigned research, administrative and scholarly duties for the primary benefit of the University or granting agency under the supervision of a University faculty member or administrator. Students who are engaged in work whose product is reasonably expected to be used among other purposes for the student's dissertation, thesis, essay, or independent or directed study, or who are engaged in other work for the primary benefit of the student's research, scholarly or education program, should not be classified as Graduate Student Assistants but as Graduate Research Assistants. All Graduate Student Assistant appointments must include a Graduate Student Assistant Certificate of Relevancy.
GRADUATE RESEARCH ASSISTANTS
Graduate Research Assistants (GRAs) are typically doctoral students in good standing who hold their appointments in academic or research units. In some instances, the Graduate School may approve appointment of master's students as Graduate Research Assistants, provided their master's program carries a significant research component directly relevant to their own academic programs of study. Graduate Research Assistants provide approximately 20 hours of service per week over the course of a semester in research or academic activities relevant to their own academic programs of study. These activities should relate directly to the student's degree requirements and should be reasonably expected among other purposes to contribute to a student's dissertation, thesis, essay, independent or directed study, or otherwise be undertaken for the primary benefit of the student's research, scholarship or academic program. All Graduate Research Assistant appointments must include a Graduate Research Assistant Certificate of Relevancy.
Please see University Policy 2000-2 - Position Definitions and Terms of Appointment for Titles Held by Graduate Students and Postgraduate Trainees for additional information regarding these positions.
For more information regarding financial aid please visit the website
http://www.financialaid.wayne.edu