Instructional Design, Development and Evaluation
Financial Support for Graduate Students
The purpose of the IDD&E Financial Aids Committee is to serve as a facilitator for IDD&E students seeking financial support and as a liaison between these students and assistantship sponsors. Upon determining qualifications from a sponsor, the Committee forwards names of applicants to this sponsor, who then interviews the student and makes the financial aid decision independently.
The following list gives several well-known and available sources of financial aid, but other sources exist. Applicants are encouraged to consult faculty advisors about these and other opportunities for support and to seek out grants, fellowships, and assistantships independently.
Need-Based Financial Aid | Merit-Based Financial Aid
Need-Based Financial Aid
Many graduate students nationwide rely on one or more forms of need-based financial aid to help meet the costs of their studies. Need-based aid at Syracuse is primarily in the form of loan programs and college work-study. Those in professional master's degree programs, in particular, may find the investment made in their education is returned in greater opportunities upon entering or returning to the job market.
Syracuse University encourages all graduate students to apply for any types of aid for which they may be eligible. Students sometimes find that although they were not eligible for need-based aid as undergraduates or previous graduate students, they qualify in subsequent years.
Descriptions and guidelines for all financial aid programs are subject to change at any time as a result of new or amended state or federal legislation or changes in Syracuse University policies. Graduate students who are U.S. citizens may inquire about need-based financial aid through the Office of Financial Aid, 200 Archibold North, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY 13244-1140 or call 315-443-1513.
Applying for Need-Based Financial Aid
To apply for need-based financial aid, applicants must first fill out a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Syracuse University does not accept the Graduate and Professional Student Financial Aid Service (GAPSFAS) form. The FAFSA is available from the financial aid offices of most colleges and universities, as well as most high school guidance offices.
The FAFSA should be filed as soon as possible after January 1 for summer or fall applicants. Applicants should not wait for an admission decision before filing.
After the financial information from the FAFSA has been received by the Office of Financial Aid, further instructions will be sent to the applicant's permanent address. Also in this packet will be special instructions for applying for summer aid.
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Merit-Based Financial Aid
The Graduate School and The Instructional Design, Development and Evaluation program grants merit-based graduate awards and appointments to their most outstanding students. These awards including fellowships, scholarships, and assistantships, are highly competitive. They should not be confused with financial aid awards, which are made in cases of demonstrated financial need and are not based on academic merit. (See Need-Based Financial Aid below).
Students are encouraged to apply for the numerous scholarships and fellowships available from foundations and other privately endowed sources. State and federal awards are also available to students in various field of graduate study. Sources frequently consulted can be found in most libraries and college placement offices and include the following:
Annual Register of Grant Support Peterson's Grants for Graduate Study; and The Grants Register
A candidate's complete application package of transcripts, admission test scores, letters of recommendation, statement of purpose, and supplementary items is carefully evaluated during the awards process.
Deadlines:
All completed doctoral applications (application form, transcripts, letters of recommendation, academic goal statement, and fee submitted to Central Applications Processing) are due at December 15th. To be eligible for scholarships and fellowships (deadline date for these is February 1st). Decisions will be made no later than January 15th for admissions for the following fall semester.
There is no specific deadline for Masters application. We review them on a continuing basis for fall, spring, and summer semesters. However, February 1st is the deadline for scholarships that are awarded for the fall semester.
The school has a limited number of scholarships and assistantships available, and late applicants will be considered only if funds and appointments remain. Therefore, students applying for graduate awards and appointments should check the program information provided in the application or contact us directly.
Notification:
Recipients of graduate awards will be notified as soon as possible by the Graduate School or the department. In most cases, such correspondence will follow official notification of the applicant's admission to Syracuse University.
Types of Awards and Appointments
University Graduate Fellowship
These awards, only a few of which are available each year, support graduate training for those presenting truly outstanding qualifications and the potential to make significant contributions to their future professions.
The Dean of the Graduate School, upon recommendation of a faculty advisory committee, selects University Fellows.
Graduate students in all fields at the University who possess the necessary qualifications are eligible to hold Syracuse University Graduate Fellowships. They consist of an academic stipend and full-tuition scholarship of up to 30 credits for the academic year. Where appropriate, fellowships are awarded for more than one year and typically include a year of fellowship, followed by a year of teaching or research appointment, followed by a third year of fellowship support. University Fellows must pursue graduate study and research full-time. They are not required to work or teach on campus, nor are they permitted to do any work for pay.
Further information about these awards is available from the Graduate Awards Coordinator, Graduate School, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY 13244 or call 315-443-4492.
University African American Graduate Fellowship
The Graduate School annually awards up to six University African American Graduate Fellowships upon the recommendation of the faculty of the African American Studies program. These awards support graduate training for full-time matriculated African Americans who demonstrate outstanding qualifications. It consists of an academic stipend and full-tuition of up to 30 credits for the academic year. Fellows must pursue graduate study and research full time. They are not required to work or teach on campus, nor are they permitted to do any work for pay. Each fellow is required to enroll in one three-credit African American Studies graduate course. To apply for a University African American Graduate Fellowship, students should submit applications for admission to the University and the required credentials in the usual manner, indicating interest in this award by checking the appropriate box on the application form.
Graduate Scholarships
These awards support graduate training for students with superior qualifications. Recipients are selected upon the recommendation of the academic units. In most cases, the award provides full tuition for the academic year. Because the scholars are studying full-time, they may hold no other appointment except, in some cases, an assistantship, associateship, or internship related to the program of study. Awards are granted for one academic year.
Graduate Assistantships
Graduate assistants are appointed to assist in instruction or research. Their responsibilities to the University require 10 or 20 hours a week, and they devote the remainder of their time to their course of study. This combination of service, study, and research is a full-time assignment. The assistant is expected to do no other work for pay and may hold no awards other than a scholarship. Graduate assistantships carry a stipend, which may vary. They may also receive a Graduate School tuition scholarship of 12 or 24 credits. The spouse of a graduate assistant is eligible for remitted tuition benefits of up to six credits.
This information was taken from Syracuse University's Graduate Study Guide and is subject to change at any time.
Questions about Syracuse University's graduate financial support are often best directed to your faculty advisor, graduate program director, or department chair. However, if after reading this document, you believe that the Graduate School may be of assistance in this matter, please contact them at 303 Bowne Hall or 443-3426, or send them email at gradsch@syr.edu