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International Affairs

 

Funding Graduate Studies

There are many avenues through which our graduate students can find assistance in funding their education. Information about opportunities offered by the Elliott School is available through our Office of Graduate Admissions. You can also find details about loans, federal financial aid, and federal work-study through the GW Office of Financial Aid. Be sure to start your search for funding early and check often for new opportunities.

For planning purposes, you can use the Cost Of Attendance worksheet (Excel Spreadsheet) offered by the GW Office of Financial Aid to create an estimated cost of attendance based on a specific loan period, tuition rate, and campus of attendance.

If you have any questions, please contact the Office of Graduate Admissions by phone at (202)- 994-7050 or email at [email protected]. You can find information on Elliott School Graduate Tuition and Fees here. 

Please note that applicants to the JD/MA or MBA/MA will not be considered for Elliott School fellowships, but may be considered for funding from the Law School or Business School respectively. Please contact the Law School or Business School for information on funding opportunities. 

Elliott School Fellowships

Graduate Admissions Fellowships 

The Elliott School offers a number of highly competitive merit-based tuition awards to incoming full-time Master of Arts and Master of International Policy and Practice (MIPP) candidates.

Please note that applicants to the JD/MA or MBA/MA will not be considered for Elliott School fellowships, but may be considered for funding from the Law School or Business School respectively. Please contact the Law School or Business School for information on funding opportunities.  Graduate Certificate applicants do not qualify for fellowships or federal loan assistance.

A majority of our awards are partial tuition awards so students are encouraged to explore all funding resources.  

All of our applicants will automatically be considered for fellowships if received by:

  • November 1: Fall applications, Early Notification (August start)
  • January 7: Fall applications (August start)
  • October 1: Spring applications (January start)

Applicants who submit after the fellowship deadline may be considered for fellowships based on availability.

Factors considered in the fellowship selection process include:

  • Academic achievement
  • Work experience
  • Language skills
  • Preparation in relevant areas
  • Academic interests
  • A demonstrated ability to excel in a rigorous graduate program

America 2050 Fellowship

America's diversity and social mobility are among its greatest assets in engaging the rest of the world. It is imperative, therefore, that the foreign affairs establishment of the United States reflects the diversity of America. The Elliott School of International Affairs intends to be a leader in this effort by offering the America 2050 Fellowship to provide funding to students who have been historically underserved.

To be considered for the fellowship, applicants must meet the following four criteria:

  1. Be a U.S. citizen
  2. Apply before the October 1 (Spring), November 1 (Fall Early Notification), or January 7 (Fall Regular Notification) fellowship deadline
  3. Received an undergraduate degree with a cumulative GPA of 3.50 or higher
  4. At least one of the following:
    • Received their bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited minority-serving institution in the United States OR
    • Have a documented physical disability and register with GW's Disability Support Services upon enrollment OR
    • Are the first in their family to earn a bachelor's degree

Eligible applicants will automatically be considered for the America 2050 Fellowship and do not need to complete a separate application.

Elliott Equity Fund

The Elliott Equity Fund provides graduate supplementary tuition and non-tuition support to outstanding students with critical financial need and who bring the widest possible range of viewpoints and voices to the international affairs community. The fund helps make it possible for students to attend the Elliott School and take advantage of opportunities inside and outside of the classroom. Beyond tuition, learning opportunities include internship or research support, attending global affairs conferences, and more. Elliott Equity Fund Awards are available to newly admitted and current students.

To be considered for Elliott Equity Fund Awards, please submit a separate application. More information is available on the Elliott Equity Fund page.

International Women of Elliott

The International Women of Elliott awards graduate fellowships to Elliott School students committed to the advancement of women in international affairs.

To be considered for International Women of Elliott Awards, please submit a separate application. More information is available on the International Women of Elliott page.

GW Fellowships

Office of Graduate Student Assistantships and Fellowships

Assistantships are rare within the Elliott School and not included as part of the graduate admissions process. Some opportunities occasionally become available for M.A. students and would be posted on GW's Handshake system, which new students will have access to over the summer. Often assistantship positions are within institutes and with specific faculty, so connecting with faculty is always a good idea.

GW's Office of Graduate Student Assistantships and Fellowships (OGSAF) offers many additional opportunities Elliott School applicants can utilize to offset the cost of tuition. Many applications require additional application materials to be submitted by varying dates, so please review all of this information through the office's website.

Some of the most common fellowships applicable to Elliott School applicants are listed below:

We encourage you to continue to check the Office of Graduate Student Assistantships and Fellowships (OGSAF) website to find new fellowships or updated deadlines.

Additional Funding Opportunities

Funding opportunities are also available to current Elliott School students through research centers, Graduate Student Services, and several external organizations. 

Neither The Elliott School of International Affairs nor The George Washington University endorses any of these fellowships. Applicants are responsible for finding funding should apply only after reading the terms and conditions along with each fellowship/scholarship opportunity.

Third-Party Funding Opportunities

Military & Veterans

Active-duty personnel, veterans or dependents of veterans may be entitled to varying educational benefits through the Department of Veterans Affairs or Department of Defense. To be eligible, veterans must have completed at least one year of active service in the U.S. Armed Forces unless discharged under honorable conditions for medical reasons.

George Washington University is proud to participate in the Yellow Ribbon Program. For more information please visit the Office of Military and Veteran Student Services.

Loans, Student Assistance, and Loan Forgiveness

Loans

A number of federal and private loan funds provide graduate loans based on either financial need or creditworthiness. All loans must be repaid, but some loans allow you to defer payment while you are enrolled in school. GW's  Office of Student Financial Assistance has complete information on these sources of aid.

For planning purposes, you can use the Cost Of Attendance worksheet (Excel Spreadsheet) offered by the GW Office of Financial Aid to create an estimated cost of attendance based on a specific loan period, tuition rate, and campus of attendance. You can find information on Elliott School Graduate Tuition and Fees here. 

GW also provides detailed procedures for applying for student loans and federal financial aid.

Additionally, GW graduate students can apply for Federal Work Study. In order to qualify for Federal Work Study, students must:

  • Complete the FAFSA and accept the Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan offered to them
  • Demonstrate a need of at least $5,000

Please note that graduate certificate applicants are not eligible for fellowship or federal loan assistance.

Loan Forgiveness

If you are employed by a U.S. federal, state, local, or tribal government or not-for-profit organization, you might be eligible for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program. More information is available on the Federal Student Aid website.

Employment at the George Washington University

Full-time and some part-time employees at the George Washington University receive tuition remission. Students who work at GW may use these tuition benefits to greatly reduce the cost of their Elliott School graduate program.

We encourage you to explore all of the employment opportunities currently available at GW at gwu.jobs.