MIT makes financial support available to graduate students from a variety of sources and in several different forms. Many forms of support are granted solely on the basis of merit; others are granted on the basis of financial need, a combination of merit and need, or on other factors. Neither departments nor the Institute has the financial resources to provide support for all deserving students. Thus, it is important that prospective students explore sources of aid available outside MIT to find means for financing their graduate programs.

In general, for graduate students, a fellowship or traineeship is an award to an undergraduate or graduate student that covers tuition, partially or fully, and provides a stipend to help defray living expenses.  Typically, funding includes tuition and a monthly stipend, although some fellowship resources specifically include required fees.

For graduate students, a scholarship is an award that provides partial or full tuition only.  

A grant may include one or more of the following: tuition support, stipend, travel expenses, fees, books, room and board.

Information on various financial aid resources is available from the web pages below. Contact individual departments and visit the GSO for additional information (available in hard copy only).

Graduate

External fellowships :   Many outside organizations fund fellowships for graduate students.   The "external fellowships" page provides a partial listing as well as some additional sources of information, and is divided into two sections.   The first section lists the fellowships for which Brima Wurie in the Graduate Students Office serves as the fiscal agent.   The second section includes many fellowships for which MIT students have applied in the past.

Internal fellowships :   Generous donors have provided MIT with permanent funds in support of fellowships, many of which have unique restrictions. The Graduate Students Office administers a number of these endowed fellowships through an annual competition.

Undergraduate and graduate

Study abroad grants :   The "study abroad grants" page lists some opportunities for study outside the United States.   The level of support ranges widely.

Scholarships and fellowships :   This site provides information for MIT undergraduate and graduate students wishing to compete for prestigious awards, including many for foreign study. The site includes descriptions of the internal MIT selection process, as well as general advice and links to other resources.  

Center for International Studies (CIS) funding opportunities : For funding in the field of international studies, note the CIS databases.