School and Department Funding
Many departments at the George Washington University offer incoming and current graduate students fellowship funding to support their studies. Fellowship awards from the George Washington University are typically made to newly admitted students. However, current students may be considered for funding, depending on the availability of funds. The amount of funding support varies widely depending on the department and the type of graduate program a student is enrolled in.
The George Washington University is de-centralized at the graduate level. This means that schools and departments have their own limited sources of funding support aside from the Office of Student Financial Aid and the Office of Graduate Student Assistantships and Fellowships (OGSAF). Interested students can find more information on the awarding process on each school's respective funding page linked below.
OGSAF is unable to give students specific information about department-level funding. Prospective students should reach out to the admissions staff for their program to learn more about the funding packages that are commonly awards to students in their program. Current students should contact their department staff to see what funding is available to continuing students in their program.
Fellowship Package Types
Fellowship packages can include one or more of the following funding types:
- Tuition discounts or scholarships: some departments offer graduate students a percentage discount off their tuition, a certain number of course credits covered, or a specific scholarship amount applied to tuition. This support often does not apply to fees such as matriculation fees, registration fees or enrollment fees. This type of support is applied directly by the department to a student's account at the beginning of each semester offered.
- Stipends: some departments offer graduate students a living stipend to be used for daily expenses such as housing, food, etc. Students with stipend awards receive their payment at the beginning of each month for the duration of the award.
- Graduate Assistantships: some departments offer graduate students an assistantship position with a salary. Assistantship salaries are paid to students at the end of each month for the duration of the position. Learn more about assistantships here.
- Please note that all assistantships are offered directly by departments, so interested students should contact their department to learn more about current position availability.
Award Restrictions
Your award letter will inform you of the requirements and restrictions of the award. Some common language utilized in award letters:
- Stackable versus Non-Stackable
Stackable tuition fellowships can be combined with other tuition fellowships, as long as the combined total does not exceed the cost of tuition. Non-stackable tuition fellowships cannot be combined with other tuition fellowships. If you receive a non-stackable award with a stackable award, you will need to decline one of the awards.
It is important to note that an outside award that is a tuition fellowship must be reported to your department if you have also received a GW departmental award.
- Renewable versus Non-Renewable
Some awards at the graduate level can be held for more than one year, while others are only for one semester or one academic year. If your award is only for one semester or one year (non-renewable) you may still be able to apply or be considered for the award. Details will be in your award letter or you may contact your awarding department for more information.
Graduate Award Requirements
School Funding Information
- College of Professional Studies (CPS)
Please visit Financial Aid Opportunities for more information on funding options for study at CPS.
- Columbian College of Arts and Sciences (CCAS)
The Columbian College of Arts and Sciences (CCAS) offers many funding opportunities for its graduate students. Many departments offer graduate teaching assistantships or University fellowships to full-time degree candidates. Students must reapply each year for these merit-based awards, which include a salary, stipend, and 18-credit-hour tuition award. A few departments also offer research assistantships. For more information, visit their Graduate Student Funding page.
- Disability Support Services
Disability Support Services (DSS) at GW recognizes disability in the context of diversity. They work collaboratively with students, faculty and staff across the campus to foster a climate of universal academic excellence, while also promoting disability culture and GW’s broader diversity and inclusion initiatives.
DSS awards several scholarships to currently enrolled, degree-seeking students at GW.
- Elliott School of International Affairs (ESIA)
The Elliott School offers a number of highly competitive awards, mostly to entering full-time Master of Arts candidates. Factors considered in the fellowship selection process include academic achievement, scores on the Graduate Record Examination, language skills, academic interests, work experience, preparation in relevant areas, and a demonstrated ability to excel in a rigorous graduate program. For more information, visit their Funding Graduate Studies page.
- Graduate School of Education and Human Development (GSEHD)
Students in the Graduate School of Education and Human Development (GSEHD) may apply for merit-based fellowships, assistantships and endowment awards. For more information, please visit their Funding Your Graduate Education page.
- Milken Institute School of Public Health
Milken is a closed unit, which means it has its own sources of funding for fellowships, scholarships and assistantships. If you have questions about funding at Milken or you have a current award with the School, please contact them directly.
- School of Business (GWSB)
The School of Business offers a variety of fellowships as well as employer tuition discounts. Please visit their Fellowships and Financial Support page for more information.
If you have received an award from the School of Business, please contact them directly.
- School of Engineering and Applied Science (SEAS)
Graduate students are eligible for assistance, most of which is merit-based and includes research assistantships, teaching assistantships, scholarships, fellowships, awards, and employment opportunities. Research assistantships make up the largest portion of aid available to students in the School. Details on available support are provided on their Funding Your Graduate Education page.
- School of Medicine & Health Sciences (SMHS)
The School of Medicine & Health Sciences is a closed unit. Please visit The Office of Financial Aid for the MD program for information about loans. Please visit Funding and Support for an overview of funding options at SMHS. A summary of research support is also available on SMHS's Grant Support page.
- School of Nursing
The School of Nursing is a closed unit and has in-depth information on aid and fellowship and scholarship support on its Costs and Attendance page.
- The George Washington University Law School
The GW Law Financial Aid Office administers a variety of institutional scholarships, need-based grants, and loans that are awarded on the basis of merit or financial need. Details on the variety of aid and support are provide via Types of Aid. Scholarships and Summer funding are also available.