Funding Information for Applicants
Graduate students who wish to apply for financial aid have three options: through the University of Washington?s Office of Student Financial Aid, the Graduate School, and departmental research assistantships (including those offered through the Institute for Public Health Genetics).
UW Central Financial Aid Office
Like all accredited schools, the University of Washington has a central Financial Aid Office that offers loans and grants based on financial need. If you anticipate that you may have financial need, your should contact the Office as soon as possible because it takes several months to process the paperwork. The regular deadline is in January.
Information is available online from The Student Financial Aid Office, or by telephone:
- General information: (206) 543-6101
- Request application: (206) 685-9535
Filing the national financial aid form, obtainable from any college in your area, will be part of the process (and necessary for every program in the country). Should you qualify for a low-interest loan but decide you do not need it, you do not have to accept it.
Note: International students do not qualify for need-based financial aid.
Please be aware that the Institute for Public Health Genetics does not maintain information on the resources of the central Student Financial Aid Office.
UW Graduate School Financial Support Resources
The Graduate School administers a variety of financial aid programs, including fellowships, assistantships, and grants. Information about these programs is available online from the Financial Support Resources Web site.
Research Assistantships
Research assistantships (RAs) are the most common form of funding for graduate students in the PHG programs. Through their own initiative, full-time students are often able to locate a UW research assistantship. Interactive application forms are available from the Graduate School Forms Web page.
A research assistantship requires 20 hours of work per week. It covers most of a student's tuition, provides enhanced health insurance, and pays a monthly salary.
RA positions are largely funded through faculty-initiated grants. Public Health Genetics is occasionally able to fund directly a limited number of RA positions.