Teaching Assistantships are available on a limited basis in most graduate
programs. Also, many faculty members have research projects which provide
Research Assistantships. These Teaching and Research Assistantships normally
involve half-time employment and are awarded on the basis of merit. Students
holding these assistantships must be enrolled for a minimum of nine semester
hours for each regular semester in which the assistantship is awarded. The Dean
of each school designates the minimum semester hours for a summer session. A
student on a Teaching/Research Assistantship who is enrolled in the minimum
number of hours and wishes to drop a course must obtain the signature of the
Dean of Graduate Studies. Students on probation will not be supported on an
assistantship. Applications should be made to the appropriate Graduate Program
office at least 60 days prior to the date of registration.
Prior to their appointment as Teaching Assistants, international students
must meet the English requirements described in the �English Requirements for
Teaching Assistants� section. All TA�s are required to attend TA Orientation
held immediately prior to fall and spring semesters.
The Student Financial Aid Office is available to assist students in
obtaining funds to attend the university. Aid is available in the form of
loans, grants, and part-time employment or any combination of those programs.
Limited numbers of scholarships are available. The total amount of aid the
student receives depends on the level of financial need, submission of
appropriate financial information and applications, academic records, and the
availability of funds.
Students are encouraged to contact the Financial Aid Office to obtain
appropriate application materials and to determine eligibility for the various
forms of aid available. The Financial Aid Office is located in the lower level
of McDermott Library.
Students may also apply for financial aid, check the status of their
application, or contact the Financial Aid Office through our website.
Most of the aid listed in this catalog is awarded on the basis of financial
need. Students are encouraged to determine the amount of resources that they
can provide toward their education and to compare it with the average cost of
attending the University. Student budgets are reviewed annually in accordance
with federally accepted guidelines. Federal guidelines outline what can be
included in student budgets. The costs of tuition, fees, books, supplies, room
and board, in-city transportation, and a limited amount for other personal
expenses are the basic components of student budgets. Unusual expenses, such as
childcare costs or the student�s medical disability, will be considered when
they have been properly documented.
Financial need is defined as the difference between the cost of attending
the university and the amount a student and family can reasonably provide. The
amount of the expected family contribution is based on federal guidelines
reflecting total family income, assets, and number of dependent children
currently attending post-secondary educational institutions. Family
contribution is expected unless it is clearly established that the student is
independent of any family support.
In determining whether a student is considered independent or
self-supporting, the Financial Aid Office adheres to the standards set by the
Department of Education to establish an applicant�s dependency status. Students
24 years or older are considered financially independent. Students under the
age of 24 are considered financially dependent unless they are orphans, wards
of the court, veterans, graduate students, married, or unmarried but with legal
dependents. Both self-supporting and dependent students must submit a Free
Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form in order that a determination
can be made of the expected resources available to the applicants.
Male students between the ages of 18 and 26 must be registered with
Selective Service to qualify for Federal student loans or grant programs. This
includes College Work Study, Federal Stafford Student/Plus Loans, and Federal
Perkins Student Loans. The Selective Service requirement also applies to
Students subject to selective service registration will be required to file
a statement that the student has registered or is exempt from selective service
registration in order to be eligible to apply for federal financial aid. In
addition, effective
The course load requirement for students receiving each type of aid is at
least one-half the normal course load. Graduate students must be enrolled in no
less than 5 credit hours during any term of enrollment. Teaching Assistants and
Research Assistants, however, must maintain a course load designated by the
Dean in the school to which they have been assigned. Aid recipients should not
reduce their course loads below the qualifying minimum hours as it may affect
receiving financial assistance at a later date.
The aid package awarded to a student may consist of a loan, grant,
scholarship, part-time job, or any combination of these programs. The total
amount of aid the student receives depends on the level of financial need,
submission of appropriate financial information and applications, academic
records, and the availability of funds.
The
Generally, the student is expected to remain in good standing by the
satisfactory completion of a minimum number of credit hours, based on a
percentage of the credit hours attempted and completed. This completion rate
may vary depending on the student�s academic level and credit hour load. In
addition, graduate students must maintain a GPA of 3.0 or above. For online
information on the Satisfactory Academic Progress policy, visit the financial aid site and link to �ELIGIBILITY�. For more detailed
information the student should contact the Financial Aid office. A copy of the
Satisfactory Academic Progress policy is made available to all recipients of
financial aid and is available online on our web site.
For a student to be considered for a renewal of financial aid, a new Free
Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and supporting documents must be
submitted for each academic year. The awarding of renewal aid is subject to the
same considerations used in awarding all previous financial assistance.
Financial aid packages are reviewed by the Financial Aid Office and canceled
if the student fails to maintain a satisfactory record of academic progress or
to enroll for and maintain the minimum number of course load hours. Aid
packages may also be revoked because of changes in financial status. Partial or
full repayment of awards may be required. In some instances, immediate
repayment may be required.
Any change in a recipient�s financial situation, such as additional
scholarships, loans, or change in employment status, must be reported to the
Financial Aid Office, because compliance with federal regulations may require a
revision of awards.
Following is a summary of the types of assistance that are available to
graduate students at The University of Texas at
An act of the 64th Texas Legislature established a grant program to provide
financial assistance to students. This program is funded through appropriation
of a portion of the tuition charge for resident and nonresident students.
Graduate students receiving Teaching Assistantships or Research Assistantship
appointments may apply for a Texas Public Education Grant through their
academic program. Texas Public Education Grants may be awarded through the
Financial Aid Office.
Educational Assistance Grant
Funds through this program are made available through a set-aside of
Designated Tuition. Graduate students demonstrating financial aid need through
a completed FAFSA will be considered for aid. Amount of award will vary each
year based on availability of funds.
(This is a Student Loan with Cancellation Provisions for Teaching)
The purpose of this program is to encourage students to become certified
classroom teachers and to encourage these newly certified teachers to teach in
a field having a critical shortage of teachers or in communities having a
critical shortage of teachers.
Eligible students must:
The amount of this award will vary based upon the student�s anticipated
program completion date and the availability of funds.
Through the proceeds from the International Education fee, scholarships are
available for study-abroad programs. These scholarships are open to both
graduate and undergraduate students enrolled at least one-half time (six hours
or more). Graduate students should be admitted to a degree program and have a
GPA of 3.0. While abroad, the recipient of this scholarship must be enrolled in
a full-time course of study. Course work undertaken must apply to the student�s
degree program.
Certain veterans who have served on active military duty, who were residents
of Texas at the time of entry into the service, who have resided in Texas for
the last 12 months prior to the date of registration, and whose entitlement to
educational benefits under federal legislation has been exhausted, are eligible
for exemption from the payment of tuition, general fee and laboratory fees.
However, an individual who has �exhausted his/her federal education benefit� as
a result of a default on a federal or state loan may NOT receive the Hazlewood
benefit. These exemptions also apply to children of those members of the Armed
Forces killed in action, missing in action, who died while in service, or whose
death is documented to be directly caused by illness or injury connected with
service in the armed forces, and to children of those members of the Texas
National Guard killed since January 1, 1946 while on active duty. Effective
Fall 1995, there will be a maximum of 150 credit hours (including remedial
courses) of work for which a person may receive benefit under the Act. This
accrual will begin with the Fall 1995 semester. Applications are available in
the Financial Aid office.
This loan program provides a combination of federal and institutional funds
to students who qualify on the basis of financial need. High priority is given
to those students who demonstrate exceptional need.
A graduate student may borrow up to a maximum amount of $30,000 which
includes all undergraduate Federal Perkins loans.
A Federal Perkins loan bears a modest interest rate. Borrowers are required
to begin repayment of principal and interest six months after they cease to be
at least half-time students. Repayment may extend over a ten-year period;
however, there is a minimum rate of repayment.
Funds from this program are made available to the student from lending
institutions such as banks, savings and loan associations, and credit unions.
Students must qualify for a Stafford Student Loan on the basis of financial
need.
The loans are made at a modest interest rate and there exists a maximum
amount which can be borrowed for a given academic year. See the Financial Aid
office concerning the maximum loan amount. The borrower will be required to
begin repayment of principal and interest upon graduation or after he or she
ceases to be at least a half-time student. Repayment may extend over ten years,
but the program requires a minimum monthly payment.
Graduate students admitted to graduate studies as Non-degree students
because they lack pre-requisite coursework or need to take the appropriate test
(s) (GMAT or GRE) before being admitted to a UTD degree program are limited to
the following conditions:
Students needing emergency help with educational expenses may borrow from
the short-term loan fund. Loans must be repaid within 60 days from the date of
issuance or one week prior to the end of the term for which the student applied
for the short term loan, whichever comes first. A fee of $30.00 per month will
be charged, up to a maximum of $90.00 per semester. Contributions to these
funds have been made by Mrs. Lloyd V. Berkner, Mr. and Mrs. Louis Castelli, the
Kiwanis Club of Richardson, Rotary Club of Richardson, Richardson Savings and
Loan Association, the First Texas Savings and Loan Association of Dallas,
Richardson Altrusa Club, Chaparral Steel Company, and funds set aside out of
student tuition.
College work study employment is available to students on the basis of
demonstrated financial need. The acceptance of employment reduces the amount of
loan assistance a student will be permitted to accept in order to meet
financial need to cover educational expenses.
Compensation depends on the type of job, qualifications, and classification.
The number of hours and work schedule will vary depending on the position. For
information on job availability, students need to contact the
Various programs and schools of the university employ students in positions
that are not work-study positions and are not based on need. In accordance with
appropriate guidelines, pay scales depend on the type of job, qualifications,
and classification. Normally, students will be employed for a maximum of 19.5
hours per week. Students interested in these positions should contact the
Information concerning student financial aid is accurate at the time of
printing. Changes in regulations or policy on a federal, state, university,
private lending, or donor level could affect the type and amount of programs
available and/or program requirements. The Financial Aid Office has detailed
information available upon request.
Information about a variety of scholarships awarded on the basis of academic
merit and achievement is available from the Office of Financial Aid. The
In accord with Chapter 51, of the Texas Education Code, all applications for
competitive academic scholarships for graduate study are reviewed by the
Committee on Student Scholarships and/or the Graduate Scholarship Committee in
the appropriate academic unit. Award decisions are based on the same holistic
evaluation of the applications as is carried out for admission decisions.