Undergraduate

Graduate

Programs of Study

Degrees

Approved Educator Preparation Programs

Financial Aid

Q&A with Financial Aid Director Joseph Stein

Requirements

Opportunities

International Students

Policies

Part-time Study for Working Professionals

Resources

Questions

Part-time Study

Meet Us

Request More Information

Applying to SED

Centers & Institutes

Tuition

Life in Boston

Professional Development

Contact: Joe Stein Office of Graduate Financial Assistance School of Education, Room 115 Two Silber Way Boston, MA 02215 617-353-4238 Fax: 617-353-8937 sedaid@bu.edu

Financial Aid Policies

School of Education Financial Assistance Policy
Because both federal and University financial assistance funds are limited, it is not possible to offer campus-based aid funds to all applicants. Campus-based funds are distributed according to the type(s) of aid the applicant specifies on the School of Education Graduate Application for Financial Assistance. Whenever possible, University and federal funds are combined to meet the applicant's financial need. Preference for scholarship funds is given to entering students who intend to enroll full time both semesters of the academic year and who demonstrate the greatest academic and professional potential. Continuing students are eligible to apply for scholarship aid for full-time studies for just the fall semester if they plan to graduate in January. Only very limited scholarship funding is available to continuing graduate students. Scholarship funds are disbursed as credit toward tuition only. Perkins Loan and Work-Study funding are allocated according to the applicant's financial need and available funding. Academic and professional potential is evidenced by academic transcripts, letters of recommendation, a letter of application or statement of Qualifications and Objectives, and other materials submitted for review; financial need is determined by the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). Input from academic departments is considered in the evaluation process.

Financial aid applications are reviewed as candidates are accepted for admission; therefore, the complete Application for Graduate Admission, along with supporting credentials, should be submitted at least four weeks in advance of financial aid application deadlines. Unless otherwise indicated, all application materials for SED and federal funds should be sent to the SED Office of Graduate Financial Assistance, Two Silber Way, Room 115, Boston, MA 02215. It is the student's responsibility to make certain that all application materials are received in the office by 5p.m. on the appropriate application date.

Almost all funds are awarded for use during the full academic year. Financial assistance is not automatically renewed; students must reapply each year for which they are eligible. Applicants are advised to complete all application materials for campus-based aid programs in advance of the appropriate application deadline, and to pursue all other financial assistance programs for which they qualify, including sources external to the University. Because of eligibility requirements for federal funds, international students in the School of Education are eligible to apply for SED scholarships and assistantships only. Students must be enrolled in good standing by maintaining a 3.0 grade point average in order to be an eligible recipient of federal and school-aid funds. Financial assistance programs are contingent upon continued budget authorization. University regulations define full-time study as 12 or more credit hours taken in one semester. Part-time study is registration for 11 credits or less per semester. Federal assistance requires registration for a minimum of 6 credits per semester.

Note: Students who are required by law to register with selective service must do so in order to qualify for institutional funds.

Federal Financial Assistance Policy
The major federal funds available to graduate students are the Federal Work-Study, Perkins Loans, and Federal Direct Stafford/Ford Loans. Eligibility is limited to students enrolled at least half time in courses required to complete a degree/certificate program, who are American citizens or who hold a permanent resident visa, who are not in default on former education loans, who do not owe a refund on a Pell Grant, Supplemental Grant, or a State Student Incentive Grant. Eligibility for Perkins Loans and Work-Study funds extends to students who demonstrate financial need, who are enrolled at least half time. Any student who has been excused by court-declared bankruptcy from repaying Perkins, NDSL, or graduate/federally insured student loans is not eligible for campus-based federal funds. Federal law requires that applicants for financial aid derived from Title IV federal sources establish their eligibility by submitting certification indicating compliance with the registration requirement of the Selective Service law or establishing a legally valid reason why the requirement does not apply.

When a student receives Work-Study, Perkins Loan, and/or Federal Direct Stafford/Ford Loan funding, the total of all aid received cannot exceed his or her financial need. Funds received from any Boston University source are regarded as aid. Students must also report any outside assistance. Need is equal to the costs of education minus family contribution plus financial assistance and is calculated by using the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Other education loans can then be added as additional resources, in general, up to the student's cost of education. Some students applying for federal assistance may be required to provide a signed copy of their previous year's U.S. Income Tax Return filed with the Internal Revenue Service in order to comply with federal requirements for validating income information.

Policies for Scholarships
Scholarships are not available for the summer term. Federal loans and Federal Work-Study are available to qualified U.S. citizens/permanent residents. Scholarships are awarded on a year to year basis. You must re-apply for financial assistance if you wish to be considered for scholarship assistance beyond your first year of full-time study.

If you are granted financial assistance and choose to defer your admission, you must contact the Graduate Admissions Office to re-activate your admission and you must re-apply for financial assistance to be considered for the semester in which you wish to begin your studies. The deadlines remain the same. Scholarships are applied directly to a student's account, and require no service in return by the recipient.

Scholarships and loans require the recipient to be making satisfactory academic progress. Students must be enrolled in appropriate graduate level courses that count toward degree completion.