FUNDING AND SCHOLARSHIPS FOR

GRADUATE STUDIES
BY FRANCIS AGGREY
FORMS OF FUNDING

• This would typically come

Internal from the department
• Includes Teaching/ Research
Funding Assistantships and
scholarships

• Sourced through organisations

that provide funds to the
Semi- department
• They come in the form of
Internal fellowships/awards
• May require additional
Funding application through the
department

• Typically provided by third

parties
• Require separate application
External with specified documents
Funding • Some of these funding sources
may be program or school
specific
INTERNAL FUNDING

SCHOLARSHIP

• An award of financial aid usually based on

merit or financial need
• Scholarship money is not required to be
repaid
• Scholarships may cover living expenses
• You need to be financially stable to sustain
yourself If scholarship does not cover all
living expenses
INTERNAL FUNDING

ASSISTANTSHIPS

• There are three types that require that you

work on campus:
• Graduate Teaching Assistantship (GTA)
• Graduate Research Assistantship (GRA)
• Graduate Administrative Assistantship
(GAA)
INTERNAL FUNDING

GRADUATE TEACHING ASSISTANTSHIP

• A GTA is a graduate student serving as

teaching assistant
• GTA’s basically assists professors
• Some acts as full tutors
INTERNAL FUNDING

GRADUATE TEACHING ASSISTANTSHIP

• You may be automatically considered for it

• You may have to state whether you want it
or not in your Statement of Purpose
• You may be required to provide an
additional application or documents.
• Often requires an English Proficiency
Exam. (TOEFL, IELTS, from your School)
INTERNAL FUNDING

GRADUATE TEACHING ASSISTANTSHIP

• You may be required to work on campus up to a

maximum of 20 hours per week.
• It doesn’t necessarily cover all expenses
• Stipends is for 9 months when school is in session.
You have to provide for yourself during the summer
• Some schools give assistantship during the summer
• You can also do internship during the summer
• Masters or Doctoral Students can apply
INTERNAL FUNDING

TYPICAL ROLES

• Teaching, marking and grading of students

• Meet with supervisors to discuss students'
grades, and to complete required grade-
related paperwork.
• Notify instructors of errors or problems with
assignments.
•  Order or obtain materials needed for classes.
INTERNAL FUNDING

TYPICAL ROLES

• Prepare and proctor examinations.

• Return assignments to students in accordance
with established deadlines.
• Schedule and maintain regular office hours to
meet with students.
INTERNAL FUNDING

GRADUATE RESEARCH ASSISTANTSHIP

• Usually Doctoral students are considered

for this position
• Masters student are sometimes
considered
• with a great component of research as
part of their course work
INTERNAL FUNDING

GRADUATE ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANTSHIP

• Masters or Doctoral students may apply

• You will be assigned to perform a variety of
administrative tasks including;
– preparation of Power Point
presentations,
– data entry and analysis,
– web site development,
– collating marketing materials and
presentations
SEMI-INTERNAL FUNDING

SEMI-INTERNAL SOURCES

• Funds set up for graduate applicants aside

the ones from the department
• Some organizations also provide this form
of funding to the department
• In the form of awards
• May require additional application through
the department
EXTERNAL FUNDING

EXTERNAL SOURCES

• Provided by third parties

• Require separate application with new sets of
documents
• Some are restricted to some programs and/ or
schools
• They have separate eligibility requirements
from that of the school.
• Some may require application fee
• The award money may be paid to you in cash or
directly to the school
EXTERNAL FUNDING

EXAMPLES OF EXTERNAL SOURCES

• American Association of University Women (AAUW)

International Fellowship
• Spencer Foundation
• P.E.O International Peace Scholarship
• IABA Scholarships
• SOA Hickman Scholar Program
• The Actuarial Foundation (Scholarship and
Reimbursement Programs and the Actuarial Diversity
Scholarship)
• The Fullbright Scholarship
• Tullow Group Scholarships
 FELLOWSHIPS

• merit-based internal or external financial

support to graduate students
• No associated teaching or research
responsibilities
• Requires strong academic records
• You get monthly stipends
• May or may not be renewable after the
period of first award
• Highly competitive
 THINGS THAT GREATLY AFFECT YOUR CHANCE OF
RECEIVING FUNDING

• General academic work

• Recommendation Letters
– Waive your right to view them before your lecturer
submits them to the graduate school
– It is better for your letters to complement each
other instead of re-echoing your skills and abilities
• GRE Scores
• English Proficiency Test score (TOEFL, IELTS)
• Your Curriculum Vitae
• Your extra-curricular activities (volunteering programs)
• Your Statement of Purpose/ Personal Statement
 TAKE NOTES OF THESE

• Always check and double-check eligibility

requirements.
– From school’s website and graduate chairs
• Eligibility may cut across nationality, gender,
program of study etc.
• Some funding don’t cover all the estimated living
expenses, so you might still need to provide bank
statement as prove of funding for what it doesn’t
cover
• Some funding covers full tuition, living expenses
and health insurance
 TAKE NOTES OF THESE

• Email Graduate Chairs and coordinators to

check for availability of funds
• You might also need to pay some mandatory
student fees when you arrive and it varies
from school to school.
• Most funding is for a year , so you’ll have to
work hard to get them renewed for the
subsequent years.
• Most deadlines for applying for funding are in
December, January and February.
 USEFUL LINKS

• http://www.internationalstudent.com/scholarships/
• http://
www.educationusa.info/5_steps_to_study/graduate_step_3_
finance_your_studies.php#top
• http://www.edupass.org/finaid/databases.phtml
• http://www.fastweb.com/
• http://www.scholarship2014.net/page/70/?
s=international+students+in+usa&sa
• http://www.scholarshipstimes.com/tag/masters-scholarship/
• http
://fundingusstudy.org/SearchResult.asp?area=1&area2=5&ar
ea3=45&aos=&com=&state=&
spon
 CLOSING REMARKS

• GAINING FUNDING FOR YOUR GRADUATE

STUDIES IS A DREAM MANY HOPE FOR, BE
VIGILANT IN THE PROCESS AND BEWARE
OF FRAUDULENT SCHOLARSHIPS
• HORSES ARE PREPARED FOR BATTLE BUT
VICTORY COMES FROM THE LORD
• GOD BLESS US ALL
THANK YOU