M-Graduate Research Assistant Scholarship Program (M-GRASP)

Eligibility

Beginning in Fall 2017, tuition scholarships will no longer be provided to Master’s and non-PhD students supported on qualifying grants from M-GRASP with one exception.  Any Master’s and non-PhD student supported on an M-GRASP qualifying grant during Fall 2016 or Spring 2017 will continue to receive a tuition scholarship, if supported from that grant, for the duration of the grant or until degree completion, whichever comes first.

Boston University Master’s and non-PhD students in good academic standing, receiving a full weekly salary from a federal, state, or private funding source (“dash 5″ grant). The grant or contract must carry the full on-campus Indirect Cost Rate (IDC) (or the 26% rate if the funded project is classified as off-campus) allowed by the funding agency.  Hourly paid students are not eligible.

Size of the Scholarship Award

Up to full tuition plus mandatory fees during any semester in which a full stipend (defined as equal to a Teaching Fellow stipend in the student’s department or school) is paid. Continuing Study Fees may be covered for those students paid at least one-half of the RA stipend/salary.  The scholarship award may be used only for courses required by the degree program.  It does not cover the cost of undergraduate courses or audited courses.

Program Management

The program is administered by the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences (GRS). All questions concerning eligibility, size of award, and funding source approvals should be addressed to that office.

Application Procedures

Academic departments of the Graduate School will be required to complete a Departmental Aid Recommendation Form (DARF).  GRS will administer the scholarship and the stipend/salary (Unit 20 grants). The complete grant number, the amount of stipend, and Principle Investigator’s name must be present on the form for a request to be considered.  Any change to an award must be made on a Financial Aid Award Change Form.

Other schools and colleges of the University are required to complete an M-Graduate Research Assistant Scholarship Program Form.  GRS will administer the scholarship request for other schools; the stipend/salary payment is set up by the specific school (for non-unit 20 grants).  All required information should be included on the form. The source number (legacy code) must also be complete: include unit, department, object code, and source number.

Note: Awards are made for an entire semester, academic year, or summer session. If a student’s RA salary level falls below the full stipend rate which is necessary to be considered for an M-GRASP scholarship for the academic year, then it may be possible to include summer earnings in the stipend total for consideration. When this method is used for approval, it will not be possible for the student to receive an M-GRASP scholarship for the summer session.

Deadlines

For GRS academic departments, requests should be received in the GRS Financial Aid Office no later than June 15 for academic year awards and no later than April 15 for summer awards. This deadline is to allow timely notification to students of their awards for billing purposes and settlement. In the event that grant funding is delayed, please notify GRS in writing so that it will be possible for our office to contact Student Accounting to settle the students without penalty.

For other schools and colleges of the University, requests should be submitted at least a week prior to the payment deadline each term. This will ensure processing in time for settlement. It is the school’s responsibility to contact Student Accounting Services to settle their students if grant funding is delayed; GRS cannot settle non-GRS students.