Introduction
Graduate students in Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences (IAS) at UW Bothell have the opportunity to apply for funding from a number of sources that may lighten their financial burden during the program.
Below is information on funding options, as well as employment. If you have further questions, please contact IAS Graduate Program Manager Andrew Brusletten.
Tuition Assistance
Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
The FAFSA is a federal form that should be prepared annually by prospective and current graduate students to determine their eligibility for student financial aid. All students are strongly encouraged to submit their initial or renewal FAFSA by February 15 each year. Read more about the UW Bothell FAFSA process.
Graduate Tuition Assistance
IAS Graduate Programs may be in a position to provide limited funding to graduate students on the basis of academic merit. If available, this funding will be disbursed in the form of a tuition waiver. Recipients must be currently enrolled or recently admitted Washington State residents. Award amounts range from $300 to $3000 and cannot exceed the total amount due on a tuition account in any given quarter. Program faculty will make merit decisions once per academic year and make an announcement to recipients. There is no application process for this assistance.
UW Bothell Financial Aid
The UW Bothell Financial Aid Office occasionally makes funding available to graduate students. These opportunities generally combine academic merit and financial need. Contact Danette Iyall for more information.
IAS Graduate Staff Assistantship
The IAS Graduate Office staff includes one Graduate Staff Assistant (GSA) who is responsible for a variety of activities that contribute to the successful operation of the graduate programs. These activities involve spoken and written communication, web and print media, event planning, and travel to local recruiting fairs. The Assistant works closely with the IAS Graduate Program Manager, Community Relations Manager, and Program Coordinator. The position lasts for one academic year at 20 hours per week and requires occasional evening and weekend work, a Washington State driver's license, and full-time enrollment. Benefits include a full tuition waiver for one academic year, a monthly stipend, and medical/dental insurance. Preference is given to second-year Cultural Studies and Policy Studies students, and students are invited to apply during spring quarter to serve the following academic year.
UW Graduate School Opportunities
The Graduate School website contains information on various funding opportunities, including:
Fellowships - The Graduate School Office of Fellowships and Awards administers a variety of fellowships and their staff is available for consultation. If you are interested in applying for a fellowship, you need to plan ahead. Most fellowship competitions have deadlines 6-9 months prior to the beginning date of the fellowship, and usually require personal statements and letters of recommendation that may take several months to compile. Be sure to check the Funding Calendar for deadlines.
Grants and Funding Information Service (GFIS) – GFIS works to provide resources for outside funding opportunities to graduate students at the masters and doctoral level who have been admitted to or who are attending the University of Washington. GFIS offers workshops and individual consultations to help students explore resources for potential funding. Sign up for the blog to receive regular updates.
Graduate Opportunities and Minority Achievement Program (GO-MAP) - GO-MAP works to provide an innovative and inclusive graduate student community and experience. GO-MAP takes a leadership role in the recruitment and retention of minority and underrepresented graduate students and students pursuing studies in multicultural scholarship. GO-MAP also strives to improve campus climate so that all students may learn and grow through experiences rich in cultural, ethnic, and racial diversity. GO-MAP offers a number of funding opportunities, and their application processes generally require departmental nomination.
Scholarships
Information and advising on scholarships is provided by the UW Bothell Financial Aid Office and UW Bothell Career Center. Current students may consult the UW scholarship database to explore over 500 merit-based opportunities.
Conference Travel Funding
IAS Conference Travel Funding
The IAS Graduate Office has limited funding to help cover costs associated with conference travel. This funding is disbursed in the form of a reimbursement check 4 – 8 weeks after receipts are submitted.
Students are eligible to receive up to $400 in conference travel funding per academic year. Applicants must be matriculated current students and enrolled at least half-time (five credits) in the Cultural Studies or Policy Studies programs at the time of travel. Funding may only be used for conference registration, lodging, food & drink (not including alcohol), and transportation.
Funds are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Students may also be eligible for additional funding from the UW Graduate School Fund for Excellence and Innovation (see below). This funding can only be used for transportation costs, and students are only eligible if they are presenting at the respective conference.
Download and submit the Application for Travel Funding:
Cultural Studies - Policy Studies
Graduate School Fund for Excellence and Innovation (GSFEI)
GSFEI provides funding assistance in support of graduate students, graduate faculty, academic and research programs, scholarly activities, and special initiatives that support and enhance graduate and undergraduate studies at the University of Washington. As a graduate student you may consider GSFEI to fund transportation costs (up to $300 for domestic travel and up to $500 for international travel) associated with presenting your scholarly work at a conference. IAS Graduate Programs department will make the travel funding request on your behalf. Once you have been accepted as a presenter or co-presenter at an academic conference, download and submit the Application for Travel Funding (see above). Please note, only one Application for Travel Funding is necessary when applying for both IAS Conference Travel Funding and the GSFEI.
Assistantships, Jobs, and Internships
Advising
Below is a list of employment resources. Additionally, the IAS Graduate Office is available to assist students in locating career opportunities related to their areas of interest. To discuss options or schedule an appointment, contact Community Relations Manager Lisa Olason by email or phone: (425) 352-3136.
Coordinates
IAS Graduate Programs' monthly newsletter, Coordinates, features a section on career and professional development which highlights current assistantships, jobs and internships. For a sample of past opportunities, visit the Coordinates archive.
UW Research, Teaching and Staff Assistantships
Occasionally, UW professors and offices are in a position to offer Research Assistant (RA), Teaching Assistant (TA), and Staff Assistant (SA) positions to graduate students. Assistants are hired directly by the employing department and are covered by a union contract. Positions may provide tuition waiver, insurance, and/or a stipend.
While it is impossible to know what positions will become available in a given year, the IAS Graduate Office makes every effort to publish these opportunities in Coordinates. UW Employment occasionally lists campus-wide Assistantships (search under category: “Academic Student Employee”). Read more about UW Graduate Assistantships.
Work Study
Work Study is a great way to help pay for your graduate education while working part-time. The Federal Work Study and state sponsored Washington State Work Study Programs give you the opportunity to work part-time while going to school. To qualify for Work Study jobs, you must demonstrate financial need and have a Work Study award as part of your overall financial aid award.
On-campus Jobs
Various offices and centers at UW Bothell sometimes have job openings. In the past, IAS Graduate Students have supported their graduate studies through employment with the Writing Center, Quantitative Skills Center, and Information Technologies. Openings are advertised through Coordinates, the UW Bothell Career Center, and UW Employment (search under job location: “UW Bothell”).
IAS Graduate students are eligible for student jobs on the UW Seattle Campus, and positions are commonly available with Housing and Food Services. UTemp Staffing Program provides temporary employment services throughout the University of Washington to departments. UTemp positions are limited in duration–ranging from a half day to several months–and cover situations such as special projects and events, workflow peaks, unscheduled absences, scheduled leaves or vacations, and pending recruitments.
Off-campus Jobs and Internships
The majority of IAS graduate students work part or full-time while in their program. Both the UW Bothell Career Center and the IAS Community Relations Manager are available to help students explore jobs and internships (some of which are paid). Current students may also consult Husky Jobs and the UW GradStudentJobs listserv.
The following resources are recommended as starting points in the search process: