Financial Aid Packaging Policy for Graduate Students
Learn how the Financial Aid Office determines the amount of financial aid you're eligible to receive, and in what order awards are made.
In the right place? If you're an undergraduate student, see Packaging Policy for Undergraduates.
How packaging works:
Financial assistance for graduate students at UCSD is usually one or more of the following types.
- Office of Graduate Studies support (fellowships, stipends, fee awards), awarded by your academic department
- If you're eligible for financial aid and file a FAFSA. Federal Direct Loans (Unsubsidized, Graduate PLUS)
- Graduate Opportunity Grant/ Grant-in-Aid
Note: Only graduate students who received this grant in 2011-12 may be eligible for limited funding of this grant for 2012-13 under certain restrictions, including filing a FAFSA and meeting financial aid eligibility requirements.
The law requires the Financial Aid Office to coordinate your financial aid awards with all university support awarded by your department and the Office of Graduate Studies (OGS). Your university support includes any of the following awarded by your or any other department:
Assistantships (TAs, GSRs, Associates, and staff employment titles)
Fellowships and traineeships
Fee and tuition payments
Stipends
How UCSD coordinates your financial aid and other support:
After your department has determined the amount of your university support and has reported it to the Financial Aid Office: The Financial Aid Office will determine your financial aid eligibility by taking this University support into account.
Make sure you:
- Access and review your financial aid awards via the Financial Aid tool to verify the types and amounts of support listed. Incomplete or incorrect information will affect your eligibility for all or part of the financial aid awarded to you.
- Notify the Financial Aid Office about any omissions or discrepancies in the university support listed on your Financial Aid Award Confirmation. Send an e-mail, or report university support via Financial Aid tool: While on the Financial Aid Checklist page, choose the link "Reporting of Additional Resources."
- If you receive additional university support not listed on your financial aid award confirmation: Your financial aid will be reduced, requiring you to repay aid received or to return/ cancel loans.
Adjustments to your awards:
The Financial Aid Office will adjust your awards throughout the academic year as any additional university support is later reported.
Make sure you:
- Notify the Financial Aid Office immediately if the source or amount of your support changes in subsequent quarters, even if the total dollar amount remains the same.
- Ask the Financial Aid Office for advice on how your university support can affect your financial aid awards, so you can plan accordingly and avoid a financial crisis.
- Notify the Financial Aid Office about any omissions or discrepancies in the university support listed on your Financial Aid Award Confirmation.