Fellowships and Financial Aid

Student Services
GC Building, looking up at flags, Photo Credit: Chris Cooper
Student Services
Contact Information
Room 7201.12
Contact Information
Room 7201.12

At the CUNY Graduate Center, master’s and doctoral students alike engage in exciting opportunities for innovative research, rigorous scholarship, and collaborative and interdisciplinary learning.

Consistent with the University’s mission, we strive to provide access to graduate education for diverse groups of highly talented students, including those who have been underrepresented in higher education. Our cost of attendance remains low and affordable compared to other world-class graduate programs in New York City.

Through the Office of Fellowships and Financial Aid, you will be able to identify, secure, and manage funding from a variety of different sources — from fellowships to scholarships, the Federal Work-Study program, and Federal Direct Loans.

Due to an Outlook email migration at the CUNY Graduate Center, there may be a delay in our ability to receive and respond to emails. If you haven't received a response to an email you sent within 1-2 business days, please resend your request. We will respond to all emails we receive as soon as possible. Thank you for your understanding.

OFFICE Hours

Effective August 15, our in-person hours will be Monday–Thursday, 9 a.m–5 p.m. Appointments are recommended. Please email financialaid@gc.cuny.edu to schedule an appointment. We will continue to serve you remotely Fridays.

The best way to reach us is financialaid@gc.cuny.edu. Our chat function is also available from 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Please use our Virtual Drop Off Service. Use your Graduate Center credentials to log in.

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Doctoral Funding

Your Ph.D. is covered

Nearly all entering doctoral students in the humanities, social sciences, and sciences receive a five-year fellowship package. Every package includes tuition coverage, and many also include a stipend and health insurance. The Graduate Center also offers a wide range of scholarships, dissertation fellowships, grants, and assistantships to current students.

Learn more about doctoral fellowships
Teacher with High School Student

Masters Funding

Finance your M.A. or M.S.

While the Graduate Center does not currently offer full-tuition scholarships or additional stipends for living expenses, master’s students can typically cover the full cost of tuition by combining Federal Direct Loans with funds earned from Federal Work-Study

Financing Your Education

The Graduate Center is committed to providing all students with the financial resources they need to complete their degree.

90%

Incoming doctoral students who recieve five-year fellowships

$16 million

Received by The Graduate Center in research funding annually

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Research Funding

The Graduate Center channels its support of student research into two robust programs.

Early Research Initiative

The Early Research Initiative (ERI) connects Level II and III doctoral students with opportunities to advance their research projects through internal and external grants and fellowships.

The Initiative offers students the opportunity to articulate and clarify the aims of their research projects, cultivate their grant writing skills, and prepare for external award applications.

Office of Research and Sponsored Programs

The Office of Research and Sponsored Programs (RSP) helps students, faculty, and staff at the Graduate Center identify, acquire, and manage outside funding for their research projects. The office is the central administrative unit for overseeing Graduate Center applications for — and awards of — governmental and foundation funding.

Student Emergency Grants

The Graduate Center has established a set of quick-response funds (in amounts of up to $2,000) to support students who are facing short-term unexpected financial emergencies. We aim to help students complete their degrees rather than take a leave of absence or withdraw from school.

We invite you to apply for grants to meet such emergencies as:

  • Unexpected COVID-19-related expenses
  • Medical and dental bills for uninsured non-elective procedures
  • Assistance in paying for food, transportation, and basic necessities due to recent financial difficulty
  • Emergency child care for legal dependents
  • Travel home for illness or death in the immediate family
  • Overdue utilities bills and shut-off notices
  • Rent in arrears, at risk for eviction
  • Housing assistance for homelessness
  • Destruction of living quarters due to fire or other natural disaster
  • Theft of computer, books, clothing, or other essential belongings
  • Legal representation (landlord disputes)
  • Personal debts

Apply Now

The Graduate Center's student emergency grant funds consist of:

  • The Carroll and Milton Petrie Student Emergency Grant Fund, made possible by generous support from The Carroll and Milton Petrie Foundation
  • The Doctoral Students Association Medical Emergency Fund
  • The Graduate Center Student Emergency Fund, which is supported through the generosity of our alumni, faculty, staff, students, and friends