Financial Aid

The School of Engineering and Applied Science offers financial support through assistantships and fellowships ordinarily consisting of a stipend and payment of all tuition and fees including health insurance. Most superior students in research degree programs (Masters of Science and Ph.D.) can expect to receive aid of some kind for up to five years, though support will vary by department and funding source. Students must be nominated by their department to be considered for a fellowship or assistantship, and they must be registered as full-time graduate students during the period of the award. Graduate students are granted financial support so they may concentrate completely on their studies; therefore, students receiving financial support are not generally allowed to work outside the University.

Financial aid for graduate students comes in several forms:
Research assistants are supported by research projects within the department and conduct the research associated with their thesis/dissertation. The majority of the students are supported by research assistantships. Funds are provided by an external agency, faculty research grants or by the University.

Teaching assistants assist the instructor of a course with tasks such as grading and conducting problem sessions. Teaching assistantships provide valuable experience for students who believe they will seek an academic position upon graduation and for students preparing for the comprehensive examination.

Fellowships are available for outstanding students. Students with fellowships have more freedom to choose their advisor and research topics, and such awards give the student added prestige and flexibility. Stipends are competitive with those offered by other universities.

Students are also encouraged to seek funding from national, international, industrial, or foundation sources for which they may be eligible. Outside sponsors have included organizations such as the National Science Foundation (NSF), the Department of Defense, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), and numerous corporations. Information may be obtained from university financial aid, from United States Information Service or Fulbright offices abroad, or from such references as the Annual Register of Grant Support and The Grants Register found in many libraries and on the World Wide Web. Notification of external awards should be included with your application or sent when the award is announced. The University of Virginia reserves the right to adjust its awards to students who receive external grants.

Application for Financial Aid
Each department determines the distribution of assistance for graduate study. To be considered for financial aid beginning in a fall term, applicants should have all materials on file by January 15th. Later applications will be considered subject to availability of funds. Indication of request for financial aid is contained in the application form. International students are considered at the same time as U.S. applicants for assistantships and fellowships.

Special Fellowships

• The ARCS Fellowship was established in 1984 as an annual gift from the Metropolitan Washington, D.C., Chapter of the Achievement Rewards for College Scientists Foundation. The recipients are chosen from enrolled students nominated by the departments.

• L. William Ballard Jr. Fellowship is offered to a graduate student who has demonstrated academic excellence, leadership qualities, and financial need.

• Carlos and Esther Farrar Fellowship provides fellowships to deserving students at the University of Virginia studying in disciplines and programs pertaining to studies of the universe, i.e., aerospace engineering, astrophysics, mathematics, etc. This fellowship is awarded on the basis of scholastic merit and financial need.

• John H. and Dorothy W. Sidebottom Fellowship is offered to graduate students majoring in aerospace engineering.
  
  
• GEM Fellowships. The University of Virginia is a member of the National Consortium for Graduate Degrees for Minorities in Engineering Inc. While attending one of the member universities for graduate study leading to a master's degree in engineering, a minority student accepted into the GEM program will receive a stipend of $10,000 over 3 semesters plus full tuition and fees. The School of Engineering and Applied Science will supplement the stipend to equal, at a minimum, the total of fellowships normally received by entering students. Application material may be obtained by writing to: GEM Executive Director, Box 537, Notre Dame, IN 46556. Telephone: 219.631.7771

• Dean's Fellows Award was established in 1984 to recognize outstanding entering graduate students. This award provides a stipend of $2,000 per year for up to three years, which is in addition to the financial aid offered by the departments. Exceptional applicants will be nominated by the department and will be notified by the Dean's Office of their award.

• NSF Integrative Graduate Education and Research Training (IGERT) fellowships are available for outstanding SEAS students interested in participating in our interdisciplinary "Science and Engineering of Laser Interactions with Matter" (SELIM) program. The SELIM program coordinates U.Va. research and education in laser-matter interactions and the laser processing of materials across the Schools of the University. Much of the research is done within the University's CAMOS Ultrafast Laser Facility and also at the world's most powerful free electron laser (FEL) at the Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility (JLAB) in Newport News, Va.