Funding Your Graduate Degree

March 1 is the priority FAFSA filing deadline for Fall term federal financial aid.

Student Loans are a major part of financing your graduate education. The Student Financial Services Office has a helpful chart explaining Direct Unsubsidized, Direct Graduate Plus, and private loans’ eligibility, interest, and application process. 

Federal Work-Study (FWS) is financial aid that is based on financial need and must be earned through student employment. To be considered, you must indicate your interest in Federal Work-Study in your FAFSA application. The annual award amount is up to $5,000 for graduate students but the actual amount depends on the hours worked each week, and the pay rate established by the hiring manager. Currently, FWS is available only for MSDS Residential Students. All available work-study jobs are posted on Handshake, which is the career management system for UVA Career Center and student employment. 

Note that all graduate students are considered independent from their parents when submitting the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). 

For questions about financial aid options, visit UVA Student Financial Services or contact the Assistant Director of Student Financial Services, Debbie Davis.

The Quantitative Fellowship Foundation offers need-based scholarships, called fellowships, to students in the MSDS programs. They are primarily need-based; recipients will be notified of the award in their offer letter. Fellowship are typically up to 10% the total cost of attendance. Reach out to Student Financial Services for questions related to federal aid. 

To qualify for the fellowship, you must submit the FAFSA (U.S. Citizens or eligible non-citizens). To apply for a need-based fellowship: 

• Complete the required questions related to the fellowship on MSDS program application. 
• Submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).  

MSDS Online:  
Admission to the MSDS Online program is rolling, so email Assistant Director Degi Betcher once you have submitted the FAFSA. She will follow up with you are eligible to receive a need-based fellowship. MSDS Online fellowships are distributed over the five semesters of the program, contingent upon continuous enrollment in at least six credits per semester. When possible, complete the FAFSA soon after you complete your application for admission. 

MSDS Residential: Submit the FAFSA by March 1
Need-based fellowships are awarded to eligible students admitted to the MSDS Residential program during the Priority Round. The fellowship is outlined in a students' offer letter; it is split between the first two semesters, fall and spring. The deadline to submit the FAFSA is March 1.
 

Students may apply for external scholarships to aid in funding their graduate degree; some of the options are listed below. 

STEM Scholarships 
DOD Science, Mathematics, and Research for Transportation (SMART) Scholarship 
Labroots STEM Scholarship 
ABC Women in STEM Scholarship 
ACM SIGHPC Computational & Data Science Fellowships
17 Data Science STEM Specific Scholarships 

Current or Previous UVA Students 
Office of Citizen Scholars 
UVA Alumni Association Scholarship Guide  

Additional Scholarships 
American Association of University Women (AAUW) 
Korean American Scholarship Foundation - Eastern Regional Chapter 
Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowships 
 

The School of Data Science hires MSDS students as Instructional Assistants and Graders each semester. The hiring deadline for these positions is mid-July for the fall semester and late October for the spring semester; learn more on the Instructional Support page. MSDS students may also apply to be Student Ambassadors, or pursue a range of other opportunities at the University of Virginia. Part-time research opportunities vary year to year.

Jobs for students typically range from 2-20 hours per week, depending on the position. These are paid positions with an hourly wage, do not result in tuition remission, and are not guaranteed. Incoming students may apply for them in the weeks preceding the start of classes. 

Your employer may have education benefits; contact your HR office for details. Payments would be made to Student Financial Services. 

Current UVA employees should visit UVA HR for more information. At this time, the University does not offer discounted tuition rates for faculty or staff.

Educational benefits are available for veterans, family members of veterans, and active-duty military personnel. These programs have different benefits packages and eligibility requirements; reach out to Student Financial Services for more information. 

Students may pursue a semester-based payment plan, offered through Student Financial Services.

International Students Interested in the MSDS Residential Program

International students seeking an F1 Visa to study in the US are not eligible for federal financial aid, federal work study, or need-based fellowships. However, the F1 Visa does permit part-time UVA-based employment for full-time students in the MSDS Residential program, such as a Student Ambassador, Grader, Instructional Assistant, etc. These are positions paid an hourly wage and do not result in tuition remission. Any employment would be secured after you begin classes and would not be outlined in your offer letter.

There are also several external scholarships and funding options available to international students, some of which are listed below.

Aga Khan Foundation 
Institute of International Education (IIE) Database 
International Education and Financial Aid (IEFA.org) Guide to Scholarships and Loans 
PEO International Peace Scholarship Fund for Women 
Loans: MPOWER, Prodigy Finance, and The Rowe Fund  

Fee Waiver Eligibility for International Students

Fee waiver eligibility information for international students is under "Application Requirements - International Students" on our MSDS Admissions page. If you are applying from one of the qualifying countries listed, your application fee will automatically be waived by the system. We do not grant fee waivers outside the options listed.