RISD : Rhode Island School of Design : FOR GRADUATE STUDENTS

Financial Aid is available to graduate students in the form of assistantships, graduate fellowships and awards made through RISD’s Financial Aid Office (first floor, 20 Washington Place).

CONTACT
Financial Aid Office
Rhode Island School of Design
Two College Street
Providence, RI 02903-2784
telephone: 401 454-6661
fax: 401 454-6412

ASSISTANTSHIPS
You may apply for an assistantship by completing the required information on the application form. Since assistantship awards are based primarily on ability as opposed to need, you do not need to send in financial statements. Students awarded assistantships will be assigned to a particular job by the department head in exchange for the award, which will be paid in equal installments and is subject to federal and state income and withholding taxes. The division of Liberal Arts also offers a number of teaching assistantships.

FINANCIAL AID
Funds are awarded to graduate students through the Financial Aid Office, primarily in the form of the Federal College Work Study (CWS) and Federal Stafford Loan Programs. If you are interested in applying for this type of assistance you must file a Free Application for Student Aid (FAFSA) no later than February 15. This form is available through high school guidance offices, libraries, and college financial aid offices and information is available on-line at www.fafsa.ed.gov. Notification of awards is generally sent with the decision regarding admission. Details about these types of aid are in our catalogue.

WORK-STUDY
You may apply for work-study jobs in the Financial Aid Office. For more information RISD’s work-study program, follow this link to student employment. This form is available online at www.fafsa.ed.gov.

PRESIDENT’S SCHOLARS
The President’s Scholars Program offers additional scholarship opportunity at the graduate level. This program provides half-tuition scholarships for eight graduate students annually for the duration of their studies at RISD. The highest priority for this award is given to African Americans, Asian Americans, Hispanic Americans, Native Americans and others significantly under-represented in academic and professional fields, as an incentive to make their commitment to careers as artists, designers, or educators. Applicants are nominated by the department to which they are applying and recipients are chosen by a committee of faculty members and staff. Follow this link to read profiles of President’s Scholars Adrienne Noelle Werge and Victor de la Rosa MFA.

AWARDS OF EXCELLENCE
Grants are awarded each year to students in the MFA, MIA, MID, MLA, MA and MAT programs. These awards are based on merit, and require and artist’s statement and slides or video of artwork accomplished while at RISD. Candidates are juried by the Graduate Studies Committee and the chosen recipients receive the award in the form of tuition reduction.

GRADUATE MATERIALS GRANTS
A number of local merchants — Contenti Company, Faces Typography, ImageMakers, Old Harbour Framing, Picture This Framing Center and Gallery, Practical Imagery, Studio Goddard & Partridge, and the RISD Store — support these grants, which are awarded annually.

Graduate Students are routinely informed about available competitions and grant opportunities through a joint effort of the Career Services Office and Graduate Studies Offices. In addition, the Financial Aid Office has a listing of general funding sources available for graduate students.

TUITION + FEES
Tuition and fees for the 2009-2010 academic year total $36,659.

INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS
Once approved for admission, you will be required to certify that you have sufficient funds available to cover all your expenses before we can issue documents to attain your visa.