Graduate Awards and Other Financial Assistance
Graduate Awards
Award Information
You must be admitted to the Graduate School with regular standing to be considered for a graduate award.
If you meet the minimum undergraduate grade point average required for admission with regular standing, you may be appointed to a graduate assistantship for one semester with reappointment contingent upon achievement of a 3.0 graduate grade point average for that semester and satisfactory performance of your graduate assistant duties.
You may not hold more than one graduate award for any given semester or academic year.
A graduate award holder cannot hold any other employment at Miami University during the term of the graduate award unless recommended by the department chair and approved by the graduate dean. International students (those with F-1 and J-1 visas) are allowed to work a maximum of 20 hours per week while classes are in session (this includes assistantship/associateship duties). An international student who holds a modified graduate assistantship with duties of eight hours per week may request permission to hold additional employment as long as that employment does not exceed 12 hours per week.
Award of a graduate appointment for one year involves no commitment for continued support by the university for subsequent years.
To Apply for a Graduate Award
Apply for a graduate award when you apply for admission. The award application is included in the Graduate School admission application form. If you are an international student, your award application is included in the international admission forms available online or sent by the Graduate School. Return completed applications to the Graduate School by:
- January 1 for psychology;
- January 6 for speech pathology and architecture
- January 10 for history;
- January 15 for business administration;
- February 1 for programs in accountancy, art education, studio art, botany, computer science, English, environmental sciences, geology, geronotology, mathematics, exercise and health studies, sport studies, political science, school psychology, statistics, and zoology;
- March 1 for chemistry, college student personnel, economics, education, educational leadership, educational psychology, teacher education, family studies, French, geography, gerontology, mass communication, microbiology, music, paper science, philosophy, physics, Spanish, speech communication, and theatre.
Three letters of recommendation sent directly from faculty or professional colleagues to your major department are also required, as well as formal admission to the Graduate School.
More information on graduate awards is in A Handbook for Graduate Students and Faculty, available at the Graduate School and online at www.muohio.edu/graduateschool/.
Types of Awards
Most award recipients work in departments of their field of study. Graduate assistantships and doctoral associateships, however, are also available in other offices, such as the library, the Bernard B. Rinella Jr. Learning Center, recreational sports, university advancement, and intercollegiate athletics. Information is available from Academic Personnel Services, 513-529-6724, and the Graduate School, 513-529-3734.
Graduate assistantships are for holders of a baccalaureate degree seeking an advanced degree. These awards carry a stipend from at least $7,200 to a maximum of $19,220 for half-time duties for two semesters. Included is remission of instructional fee and out-of-state tuition for the period of your appointment and for registration of up to 16 graduate hours during summer terms immediately preceding or following the academic year of your award. Graduate assistants must carry between 10 to 14 hours of graduate courses each semester; however, Master of Arts in Teaching degree candidates in teacher education may carry nine graduate hours plus at least one undergraduate course each term. Duties normally occupy 18 to 20 hours per week. Students in music must pay additional special fees for applied music study.
Modified graduate assistantships are for holders of a baccalaureate degree seeking an advanced degree. These assistantships carry a stipend from at least $4,500 to a maximum of $5,300 for specified duties for two semesters. Included is remission of instructional fee and out-of-state tuition for the period of your appointment and for registration of up to 16 graduate hours during summer terms immediately preceding or following the academic year of your award. Holders must carry between 12 to 16 graduate hours each semester; however, Master of Arts in Teaching degree candidates in teacher education may carry nine graduate hours plus at least one undergraduate course each term. Duties consist of assisting faculty in instruction or research for an average of eight hours per week for each semester of appointment.
Residence hall assistantships, for students who plan careers in college student personnel work, carry a stipend of $7,297 plus room and board for part-time duties for two semesters. Included is remission of instructional fee and out-of-state tuition for the period of your appointment and for registration of up to 16 graduate hours during summer terms immediately preceding or following the academic year of your award. Holders must carry between 10 to 14 graduate hours each semester and perform duties as a counselor in a residence hall. Application should be made directly to the Office of Residence Life at the time of applying for admission to the Graduate School.
Teaching associateships are for holders of a master’s degree or equivalent (i.e., 34 graduate semester hours in a doctoral program) seeking a doctorate or a Specialist in Education degree. These associateships carry a stipend from at least $15,197 to a maximum of $19,220 for half-time duties for two semesters. Included is remission of instructional fee and out-of-state tuition for the period of your appointment and for registration of up to 16 graduate hours during summer terms immediately preceding or following the academic year of your award. Teaching associates must carry between 10 to 14 hours of graduate courses each semester and perform duties, usually teaching, equivalent to 18 to 20 hours per week.
Doctoral associateships are for holders of a master’s degree or equivalent (i.e., 34 graduate semester hours in a doctoral program) pursuing an approved program leading to a doctorate or a Specialist in Education degree. Doctoral associates are normally assigned responsibilities for nonteaching duties in administration. Stipends and academic responsibilities are the same as those for teaching associates.
Dissertation scholarships, for doctoral candidates at dissertation stage, are service free and carry a stipend ranging from $15,200 to $17,600. Included is remission of instructional fee and out-of-state tuition for the period of your appointment and for registration of up to 16 graduate hours in the summer term following your appointment. Holders must carry the maximum graduate load during the period of appointment.
Graduate summer scholarships are stipends of $900 per summer term (or equivalent registration) without any duties. These stipends are awarded for a maximum of $1,800 for the summer session. They are given to graduate assistants, research graduate assistants, modified graduate assistants, residence hall assistants, teaching associates, graduate associates, and dissertation/doctoral scholars who hold awards for one or two semesters and meet guidelines for these scholarships. The instructional fee and out-of-state tuition are remitted as a benefit of the graduate award held during the academic year. Eligible students will receive information about this award in the spring semester of the academic year.
Graduate grants-in-aid are waivers of instructional fee and out-of-state tuition. There is no cash stipend. No duties are required. These grants are available for one or both semesters and/or summer terms to U.S. and international students who are in need of financial assistance, have strong academic records, and show considerable promise of future attainment. These grants are for students in continuous full-time study leading to a degree; they are not available to part-time students, nondegree students, and students whose full-time study is limited to summer sessions. Continuance or renewal of a grant is dependent upon satisfactory progress toward a degree. To apply for this grant, you must submit an official application form before March 1 for the following summer term or for the following academic year. You must apply for this award annually.
Academic Responsibilities
You must maintain satisfactory progress toward your degree in order to assure continuance as a grant-in-aid holder, graduate assistant, doctoral associate, or teaching associate. Satisfactory progress means meeting minimum registration requirements, maintaining a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0, and fulfilling academic requirements for your degree as determined by your department or program. Failure to achieve such progress may result in the revocation of the award.
Award Acceptance
The university adheres to the resolution adopted by the Council of Graduate Schools in the United States. The resolution provides that if an award recipient accepts an award before April 15, the recipient will have complete freedom through April 15 to resign in order to accept another appointment. After April 15, however, the recipient may not accept another award without obtaining a formal release from the first commitment.
Graduate Students' Achievement Fund
The Graduate School sponsors this program to recognize significant achievements in research or creative activities by graduate students. Achievement is defined as completed research or other creative activity that has been recognized by an external organization or selected by an academic department for regional or national presentation. Contact the Graduate School for more information.
Other Financial Assistance
In addition to awards administered through the Graduate School, the Office of Student Financial Assistance offers Federal Direct Subsidized Loans, Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans, Federal Direct PLUS Loans, and private loans. Campus employment is also available. To be considered for all available financial aid, you must file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Miami's priority filing deadline for the FAFSA is March 15. The FAFSA is available at www.fafsa.ed.gov. Miami University's Federal School Code is 003077.
International students are not generally eligible for federal student aid.
For additional information contact the Office of Student Financial Assistance, 121 Campus Avenue Building, 513-529-8734 (TTY accessible) or visit the website at www.muohio.edu/financialaid.
Cost of Attendance and Financial Aid Eligibility
Cost of Attendance (COA) is based on campus, housing plans, residency, and enrollment status including tuition and fees, room and board, books and supplies, personal expenses, and transportation. A student may not receive financial aid in excess of the COA. If a student receives a graduate assistantship, that amount is considered a resource and is used in the formula to determine financial need. In order to remain compliant with federal regulations, the amount of a graduate assistantship is subtracted from the COA to determine the student's remaining financial aid eligibility. This may result in a decrease of your loan eligibility. Example: If your COA is $30,000 and you have a graduate assistantship for $10,000, you have financial aid eligibility of $20,000 and can only borrow up to that amount.
William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Programs
Eligible students filing the FAFSA will be considered for the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Programs. Upon verfication of eligibility, completion of a Master Promissory Note, and Entrance Interview (if a first time borrower at Miami), the loan funds will be disbursed to the student's Bursar account.
Eligibility for a Federal Direct Subsidized Loan is based on financial need as determined by federal regulations. With a Federal Direct Subsidized Loan, the interest is paid by the Federal government while a student attends school at least half-time (6 graduate credit hours per semester) and during grace or deferment periods. Graduate or professional students may borrow up to $8,500 in subsidized loans per academic year.
Need is not a factor in determining eligibility for a Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan. With a Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan, interest begins to accumulate on the day the loan is disbursed to a student's account and continues until the loan is paid in full. Repayment of the interest can de deferred while a student is in school and attending at least 6 graduate credit hours per semester. Graduate or professional students may borrow up to $12,000 in unsubsidized loans per academic year.
The maximum total debt aggregate limit for a graduate student is $138,500 (including undergraduate study and only $65,500 may be in subsidized loans). For the 2006-2007 academic year, the interest rate for both subsidized and unsubsidized loans was fized at 6.8%.
To be eligible for the Federal Direct PLUS Loan for Graduate and Professional Students, you must be enrolled at least half-time (6 graduate credit hours per semester) in a Master's degree or professional program and meet all general eligibility requirements for Federal Student Aid. In addition, you must not have an adverse credit history (a credit check will be done). Interest begins to accumulate on the day the loan is fully disbursed to a student's account and continues until the loan is paid in full. There are no set annual or aggregate limits on the PLUS loan amount. However, you may only borrow up to your cost of attendance (COA) minus any other financial aid you receive. For the 2006-2007 academic year, the interest rate for the PLUS loan was fixed at 7.9%.
Information on the deferment provisions and interest rates may be obtained by phone from the Federal Direct Loan Services at 1-800-848-0979 or at www.dl.ed.gov.
Private Loans
Private loans are not federally guaranteed and do not require filing the FAFSA. For more information on obtaining a private loan, visit www.muohio.edu/loans for links to the websites of Miami's preferred lenders.
Campus Employment
The Office of Student Financial Assistance coordinates all student employment on campus. Graduate student wages may vary according to skills or responsibilities. You can look for a campus job at www.muohio.edu/studentemployment. A brochure, Working on Campus, is available at the Office of Student Financial Assistance.
If you hold an assistantship and want to work on campus, you must first get approval from the Graduate School.
Notification of Awards
Students filing their FAFSA by the filing deadline of March 15 should receive their award notification on or before June 1.
You must notify the Office of Student Financial Assistance of any additional awards you are receiving (e.g., graduate assistantship, outside scholarships, dissertation scholarships, fee waiver, tuition assistance, etc.). These additional awards may impact your Federal Direct Loan eligibility.
Students with significant changes in family income after filing their FAFSA — death, disability, divorce, or other extreme circumstances — may request a special circumstance review.
Veterans
Veterans who intend to enroll at Miami should contact the Veterans Affairs (VA) Administration at 1-888-442-4551 to obtain their GI Bill eligibility. To apply for benefits, complete the online application at www.vabenefits.vba.va.gov/vonapp. You also need to submit your enrollment to the VA Coordinator at Miami which can be completed at www.muohio.edu/financialaid.
To be assured of advance payment, initial paperwork should be submitted to the Veterans Affairs Administration 45 days before classes begin. Veterans receiving education benefits from the VA must immediately report any changes of program and/or registered classes (adds, drops, or withdrawal) to the VA Coordinator in the Office of Student Financial Assistance. For more information or to contact the VA Coordinator at Miami visit www.muohio.edu/financialaid/, email veterans@muohio.edu, or call 1-513-529-8772.
Additional financial assistance is available to most veterans through programs described in this section.
International Students
International students are not eligible for financial assistance from Federal sources. Contact the Graduate School of the appropriate academic department for information on the types and amounts of specific aid available for international students.
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