Are there any scholarships or assistantships available at the universities I am considering for a Master's?
Yes, master's funding typically comes through graduate assistantships offering a stipend, health insurance and a tuition waiver for 10 to 20 hours of weekly work, plus merit scholarships needing no service commitment, need based grants, and external sources such as NSF grants for STEM, decided mainly by your department.
Funding for your master's, including scholarships, fellowships and assistantships, is widely available, though how much you can access depends on your specific university, department and whether your programme is research focused or more professional in nature. Since decisions are made mostly at the department level, it helps to know exactly what to look for and who to ask.
Common Types Of Graduate Funding
| Funding Type | What It Typically Covers |
|---|---|
| Graduate Assistantships (TA, RA, GA) | Stipend, health insurance and partial or full tuition waiver for 10 to 20 hours of weekly work |
| Merit Scholarships and Fellowships | Awarded for academic excellence or background, no work commitment required |
| Need Based Grants | Based on financial background, less common at master's level |
| External Funding | Private foundations or government agencies, such as NSF for STEM fields |
How You Can Secure Funding At Your Target Schools
Because graduate funding is heavily decentralised, your specific academic department, not the central admissions office, usually controls most assistantships and departmental scholarships. Many universities also set priority funding deadlines well before the final application deadline, so missing this window can reduce your chances of landing a TA or RA role. Reaching out directly to your graduate programme coordinator to ask whether master's students are typically eligible for teaching or research assistantships is one of the most effective steps you can take.
My Advice
Start your funding search at the department level rather than the general admissions page, since this is where most assistantship and scholarship decisions actually happen. Email your graduate coordinator early, before the priority deadline, and ask directly whether a separate funding application is required for your specific programme.
Which US scholarships can you actually get?
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