Scholarships and grants

Scholarships, grants and fellowships are types of funding you receive for your education that you don’t have to pay back. The main differences lie in the criteria used to award this gift aid and which students are eligible to receive them. In general, scholarships and fellowships are awarded based on academic merit and grants on financial need. Scholarships are awarded to undergraduate and graduate students, grants are awarded primarily to undergraduates, and fellowships primarily to graduate students. The most important thing for you to know about gift aid is how to apply for it.  

Undergraduates

You’re automatically considered for MIT scholarships and federal grants when you apply for MIT undergraduate financial aid. You have to apply separately for state grants and scholarships and outside or private scholarships. Click on a link below for more information.

• MIT scholarships
• Federal grants
• State scholarships
• Outside or private scholarships

Graduate students

For graduate students, a fellowship or traineeship is an award that covers full or partial tuition, and also provides a stipend to help defray living expenses. A scholarship covers full or partial tuition only. Although most graduate scholarships and fellowships are made on the basis of academic merit, financial need is a factor in some instances.

MIT receives funds from individual donors and corporations for fellowships and scholarships.  In addition, government agencies and foundations offer fellowships that they award either directly to outstanding students for use at institutions of their choice or, in a few cases, to institutions to administer on behalf of students.

If you’re an applicant to MIT graduate programs seeking financial support from any of the fellowships, traineeships, or scholarships administered by MIT, included those granted by national agencies and foundation, you just check the appropriate items on the regular Graduate Application for Admission and Financial Aid.  If you’re admitted to an advanced degree program, you are automatically considered for any awards for which you are eligible.

If you are a currently enrolled graduate student seeking financial support you should consult with the appropriate department.

The MIT Graduate Students Office (GSO) is the best source of information about appointments to the research or teaching staffs, internal and external fellowships, study-abroad grants, and employment as a graduate resident tutor.

If you’re a U.S. citizen, another useful source of information on external graduate scholarships and fellowships is Students.gov.

Other MIT offices

These MIT offices are resources for scholarships, grants, and fellowships for all students, although they’re primarily targeted to those already enrolled at MIT.

• The Study Abroad and Distinguished Fellowships Office has information about undergraduate study abroad funding and post-graduate fellowships.
• The MIT Careers Office (MITCO) offers information on scholarships and fellowships for undergraduate, graduate, doctoral and postdoctoral study, including study abroad.
• The Public Service Center provides grants and fellowships to help MIT undergraduate and graduate students with their community service initiatives.
• The MIT Entrepreneurship Center rewards student excellence in entrepreneurships with a range of awards and scholarships.

Offices for study-abroad funding:

• MITCO.  See description above.
• The MIT Foreign Scholarships Office in Room 26-153 helps MIT undergraduate and graduate students as well as alumni who are applying for graduate-study foreign scholarships.
• The Center for International Studies (CIS) sponsors a fellowship database that helps MIT students obtain external funds for overseas academic activities. The CIS web site includes information on funding opportunities for MISTI International Education at MIT.