Graduate study is a major investment in your personal and professional future. At the UVA School of Data Science, we encourage you to explore all funding options for your M.S. in Data Science (MSDS) degree: loans, fellowships, external scholarships, work-study positions, on-Grounds employment, and more. For more information, review the sections below, and visit Student Financial Services.
Federal Financial Aid
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 loan options.
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.
SDS Fellowship Awards for MSDS Students
At the School of Data Science, we recognize the value and impact that financial support offers to members of our community who have demonstrated financial need. We offer need-based scholarships, called fellowships, to students in the MSDS programs on a limited, rolling basis. They are primarily need-based; recipients will be notified of the award in their offer letter. Fellowship awards 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) at least two months prior to the start of your intended entry term. To apply for a need-based fellowship:
- Complete the required questions related to the fellowship on your MSDS program application.
- Submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
Fellowships are applied directly to your account toward tuition and fees each term and do not need to be repaid. After accepting your offer of admission, no further action is needed to accept the fellowship award; however, fellowship awards may be reduced due to changes in enrollment status, third-party funding, or external scholarships.
MSDS Online:
Admission to the MSDS Online program is rolling, and fellowships are awarded on a rolling basis. We encourage you to submit your FAFSA before submitting your application for admission for timely review of eligibility; recipients will be notified in their offer letter. If you accept your offer and submit your FAFSA at a later date, email sdsadamissions@virginia.edu after you submit it for your next steps.
MSDS Online fellowships are distributed over the five semesters of the program, contingent upon continuous enrollment in nine credits in your first term and six credits for the remaining four terms, and remaining in good academic standing.
MSDS Residential: Apply during the Priority Round
Need-based fellowships are awarded to eligible students admitted to the MSDS Residential program during the Priority Round. Fellowships are for the first two terms in the program; half will be applied for the fall semester and half will be applied in the spring semester pending your full-time enrollment, completion of the previous term, and remaining in good academic standing.
Applications received after the Priority Round may still receive fellowship consideration, pending available funds; recipients will be notified in their offer letter.
External Scholarships
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
Jobs for Current Students
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.
Employer Benefits
Your employer may have education benefits; contact your HR office for details. Payments would be made to Student Financial Services. If your employer is providing full tuition and fees, please reach out to sdsadmissions@virginia.edu to request a deposit waiver.
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.
Military/Veteran Benefits
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. Note we can waive the enrollment deposit for those receiving military-related benefits, including for civilians who will be receiving military employer benefits.
Payment Plan Option
Students may pursue a semester-based payment plan, offered through Student Financial Services.
Information for International Students
International Students Interested in the MSDS Residential Program
International students seeking an F1 Visa to study in the U.S. 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.