Current Students

Financial Aid: Eligibility Requirements for Graduate Students

Learn what you need to do to be eligible to receive and keep post-graduate financial aid.

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In the right place? If you're an undergraduate student, see Eligibility Requirements for Undergraduates.

Graduate Student Eligibility Requirements

  • Be enrolled and admitted to a degree program at UCSD.

    Your financial aid funding is limited to a certain number of quarters, depending on the type and availability of aid, and the degree or certificate program you're in. For example, a Ph.D. student is eligible for all types of financial aid for 18 quarters, plus 3 additional quarters of limited funding.

  • Be a U.S. citizen or an eligible noncitizen.

    You're eligible if you're a:

    • U.S. citizen
    • U.S. national (includes natives of American Samoa and Swain's Island).
    • U.S. permanent resident who has an I-151, I-551 or I-551C (Alien Registration Receipt Card)
    • Student who has an Arrival-Departure Record (I-94) from the INS with one of the following designations:
      • Refugee
      • Asylum Granted
      • Indefinite Parole and/or Humanitarian Parole
      • Cuban-Haitian Entrant (Status Pending)
      • Conditional Entrant (valid only if issued before April 1, 1980)

    You are not eligible for federal financial aid if:

    • You have only a Notice to Apply for Permanent Residence (I-171 or I-464).
    • You're in the United States on an F1 or F2 student visa only.
    • You're in the United States on an J1 or J2 exchange visitor visa only.
    • You have a G-series visa.

  • Be in good standing with satisfactory academic progress.

    Note: The requirements for satisfactory academic progress for financial aid recipients may differ from the requirements for UCSD's minimum progress policy.

    You must maintain progress toward a degree to receive and remain eligible for financial aid.

    This progress includes a 3.0 cumulative GPA and credit for 36 units during the academic year. You can't receive more than 8 units of "U" (unsatisfactory) grades.

    • For more details and requirements, read UCSD's Graduate Satisfactory Academic Progress Standards for Financial Aid Eligibility (PDF).
    • If you don't meet the Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) standards:
      • The first time, you'll be given a one-time only financial aid probationary year.
      • During this period, you must maintain SAP standards and must also meet with an academic advisor for a progress plan at the beginning of the year.

      • If you fail to meet SAP standards at the end of the probationary year, you will lose your financial aid eligibility.

  • Not be in default on federal education loans, or owe any federal grant money to any institution.

    "Default" means a failure to make loan payments or otherwise honor a loan's terms. Loan defaults are reported to credit bureaus and can influence future credit and your ability to receive financial aid.

  • Register with the Selective Service, if you are male.

    If you're a male U.S. citizen (or eligible noncitizen) between the ages of 18 and 26, you must register with the Selective Service. Register in one of the following ways:

  • Be enrolled in at least 6 units per quarter.

    Before funds can be disbursed, you must be enrolled in at least 6 units per quarter and 8 units during Summer Session.

    • Even though your financial aid awards may be disbursed while you're enrolled in only 6 units per quarter, you must still meet the Satisfactory Academic Progress guidelines, which require you to receive credit for 36 units per academic year.

Questions?

Contact the Financial Aid Office, (858) 534-4480.