Home >> Admission and Finances>> Financial Aid: Merit and Need Based Aid

Academic departments of Syracuse University and the Graduate School grant 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 that are made in cases of demonstrated financial need and not based solely on academic merit. (See the Need-Based Financial Aid section below.)

Prospective students may apply for merit-based University graduate fellowships, University African American graduate fellowships, Graduate School scholarships, and graduate assistantships and scholarships by checking the appropriate boxes on the admission application form. A candidate’s complete application package of transcripts, admission test scores, letters of recommendation, and application with statement of  purpose is carefully evaluated during the awards process. Applicants who believe they may qualify for assistantships with academic units at the University other than the one to which they are applying should contact those units directly. Assistantships are often listed during the spring semester at: www.sujobopps.com.

Students are also 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 fields 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.

Deadlines

Students applying for graduate awards are urged to submit complete admission applications as early as possible. Applications received complete can be processed many times faster than those received in separate mailings. Deadlines for various kinds of awards vary by academic department, but the deadline for the Syracuse University Graduate Fellowship competition and the University African American Fellowship competition will be no later than January 10. Applicants should consult the application instructions for further information.

A limited number of awards are available and late applicants will be considered only if funds and appointments remain. All parts of the application package must be received by the University for a candidate to meet deadlines. Recipients of graduate awards will be notified as soon as possible by the Graduate School or the department to which they have applied.

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This page current as of: August 13, 2004