RETIRED RESOURCES SECTION - Assistantships, Grants + Other Aid
Graduate students may apply for assistantships when submitting their applications to RISD. Awards are primarily based on ability as opposed to need, so there is no need to submit financial statements when applying for an assistantship. Students awarded assistantships are assigned to a specific job—as a teaching assistant, studio technician or other support staff member—within a department, division or other area or program at RISD. Awards are paid in equal installments throughout the year and are subject to federal and state income and withholding taxes. The Division of Liberal Arts also offers a number of teaching assistantships to selected graduate students.
President and Dean Scholarships
The President and Dean Scholarships program provides selected graduate students with annual scholarships for the duration of their studies at RISD. Highest priority for this award is given to African Americans, Asian Americans, Hispanic Americans, Native Americans and other candidates who are significantly underrepresented in academic and professional fields, as an incentive to make a commitment to careers as artists, designers or educators. Applicants are nominated by the department to which they are applying, show evidence of high achievement and maintain a GPA of 3.0 while at RISD. A faculty selection committee chooses scholarship recipients.
GS|Grants
Open to all current graduate students in good academic standing, Graduate Studies|Grants is a streamlined proposal process for students to seek support for new or developing work. Unlike “awards” for completed work, GS|Grants reward individual exploration and facilitate emerging and prospective work.
For pre-final year students, these grants may provide financial support for thesis development or another body of research and work. For recipients in the final year of a degree program, a GS|Grant may offer post-graduate support at a significant transitional time. The number of GS|Grants awarded in each category is proportional to the final number of submitted applications in each of three categories: Architecture, Design and Fine Arts. Each year three guest jurors from beyond RISD—well-known professionals within each category—review GS|Grant submissions and select recipients. Students may apply individually or collaboratively; grants generally range between $3,000 and $5,000 each.
Other Opportunities
Individual departments and divisions offer scholarships, project or travel grants and other forms of financial aid. Students may consult with deans, department heads and the Financial Aid Office for more information.