Financial Aid Descriptions and Requirements

Financial Aid Application Form

Financial aid includes teaching assistant positions (GAT), Out-of-State Tuition and In-State Registration Fees, and the Unrestricted Fellowship. GATships are subject to passing the University of Arizona ESPE test, and waivers and fellowships are subject to Graduate College approval.

Graduate Assistant Teaching (GAT) Teaching Assistant Positions

Under ordinary circumstances, GATs in EAS will be funded at .25, .33, or .50 FTE (full-time equivalency). The GAT salary is determined by the Administration. The GAT award includes out-of-state tuition. Eligibility requires that the student be currently enrolled in a graduate degree program at the University of Arizona, enroll for a minimum of six units of graduate credit (audit courses are not included) while classes are in session for Fall and Spring Semesters (maximum enrollment limitations depend on total hours worked), and maintain a 3.0 cumulative GPA for all the University of Arizona graduate credit courses.

All new graduate assistants in teaching who have instructional duties or direct student contact are required to participate in the Board of Regents mandated orientation. International students are also required to have a TOEFL score of 550 or higher or 213 or higher on the computer-based total (CBT) or 80 for the Internet-based test (iBT) or a degree from a US institution and take & pass the ESPE test given at the University. TOEFL scores are considered valid if the test date is within two years of the intended term of enrollment.

GAT Work Loads and Enrollment

The chart below indicates the Graduate College regulations regarding these appointments:

EAS GATs funded at .50 FTE are not permitted to have other jobs in addition to their GAT responsibilities.

All language GATs are required to enroll in EAS 579, Issues/Methods in Post-Secondary Foreign Language Teaching/Learning, no later than their first semester as a GAT.

Out-of-State Tuition

Waiver of nonresident tuition only (does not include Recreation Center Fee, Financial Aid Trust Fee, or Registration fees). A limited amount of money is provided to the department each year for awarding in the next academic year. Eligibility requires the student to be admitted to regular graduate status in a graduate degree program, be a nonresident of Arizona, have a minimum GPA of 3.2, be in good academic standing, and be enrolled in three or more graduate units per semester. Based on the current non-resident tuition rate, the value of the scholarship corresponds to the number of units in which the student is enrolled.

In-State Registration Fees

Waiver of registration fees only (does not include Recreation Center Fee or Financial Aid Trust Fee). A very limited amount of money is provided to the department each year for awarding in the next academic year. Eligibility requires the student to be admitted to regular graduate status in a graduate degree program, have a minimum GPA of 3.5, be in good academic standing, and be enrolled in three or more graduate units per semester. Based on the current registration fee rate, the value of the scholarship corresponds to the number of units in which the student is enrolled.

Graduate Fellowships (Unrestricted Fellowship)

One $10,000 Graduate Fellowship has been available to EAS in some years but not for the past two years. (We do not know until we receive our budget allocation if we will be granted a fellowship for the following year.) A full fellowship carries one waiver of non-resident tuition. The award is normally divided between two students. Eligibility requires the student to be admitted to regular graduate status in a graduate degree program at the University of Arizona, have a minimum GPA of 3.2, be in good academic standing, and be enrolled in nine or more graduate units each semester during the fellowship period.