Financial Resources
Prospective Students
Current Students
Income Tax Information
IR/PS Tuition and Fees
Prospective Students
Need-Based Aid
U.S. Citizens and permanent residents are eligible to apply for need-based financial aid. Financial aid is funding provided by federal and state governments and the University of California to help pay your educational expenses during the 9 month academic year.
Visit the UC San Diego Financial Aid web pages for information about financial aid, the types available, eligibility requirements, and filing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). For a step-by-step financial aid application checklist visit the site's Financial Aid Timeline for Graduate/Professional School Students.Merit Awards
IR/PS provides approximately $1.2 million in merit scholarships to approximately 25% of the incoming class. Merit funding is awarded based on undergraduate academic performance, chosen areas of study, and personal and professional accomplishments. The amount of aid awarded and the criteria for selection are dependent on the specific funding source. Merit awards are typically made for both years of the MPIA for those quarters the student is enrolled for 12 units or more. Incoming students will receive a scholarship application immediately after they receive an offer of admission to IR/PS
Current Students
Summer Internship Funding
IR/PS Career Services provides partial financial support to students who undertake unpaid internships during the summer between their first and second year. A funding application is required, and attendance at the Summer Internship Funding Workshop, held during the Winter Quarter, is strongly recommended. Funding applications are available for download in February.
Conference/Professional Development Funding
A limited amount of money is available to students to offset the cost of attending conferences and other professional development programs. For more information about obtaining funding, download the Conference Funding Guide. To apply, download and complete the application form.
Dean's Fellow Stipend
Each year, approximately 10% of outstanding continuing students are recognized as Dean’s Fellows. The Dean's Fellow designation is determined by selection from a list of students nominated by the IR/PS community: faculty, alumni, staff, students, or friends. Those selected receive a small stipend. See the IR/PS Dean's Fellows page for more information.
Academic Appointments
Due to the rigors of coursework in the MPIA program, students are strongly discouraged from undertaking academic appointments during their first quarter of graduate studies.
During the fall quarter, IR/PS Academic Affairs presents a short seminar regarding academic appointments that provides information about available opportunities, minimum requirements for positions, payroll and personnel policies, and the application process. IR/PS does not provide employment assistance prior to the seminar in an effort to comply with the department policy of discouraging students from undertaking academic appointments during their first quarter of graduate studies. Academic appointments are limited to 21 quarters for Ph.D. students in the joint IR/PS-political science program.
IR/PS departments and centers that may offer opportunities are: IR/PS Learning Center, Career Services, External Relations, Admissions, Center on Pacific Economies, Center for U.S.-Mexican Studies, Institute for Global Conflict and Cooperation.IR/PS teaching assistants are typically offered a salaried equivalent of up to 25%-50% full time employment (approximately 10-20 hours per week). Graduate students with academic appointments totaling 25%-50% time or more are entitled to full graduate student health insurance (GSHIP) remission and a partial fee remission. Teaching assistants are also eligible for fee deferments and temporary loans.
IR/PS students have also served as teaching assistants and readers in other academic departments. These departments include, but are not limited to the history department, the literature department, and the undergraduate college writing program.Graduate Student Researchers
Graduate student researchers (GSR) at IR/PS are appointed on the basis of the student’s experience and expertise relating to the project for which funds are available, as well as the appropriateness of the project to the student’s research interests. GSR appointments may be awarded at various percentage levels. Appointments greater than 25% time are entitled to a GSR tuition/fee remission (excludes professional fees). Students interested in a GSR position should contact their professors for research opportunities.
Readers and tutors who are appointed to a minimum of 25% time for the quarter also eligible for TAHI/TAFE; however, payment is issued as a refund after the end of the quarter. Refunds are coordinated between the hiring department and OGS.
External Fellowships
UC San Diego maintains a central repository for funding announcements that contains information on local, regional, and intramural programs.
The Scholarship Connection Database: Over 400 scholarship opportunities for graduate students.
The United States-Indonesia Society: Awards grants of up to $2000 to fund travel to Indonesia or to the United States.
American Association of Japaneses University Women: Offers scholarships to outstanding female college students.
Charles B. Rangel International Affairs Graduate Fellowship: Award up to twenty (20) fellowships of up to $32,500 annually for a two-year master’s degree.
Shui Kuen and Allen Chin Scholarship: One scholarship of $1,000 is offered each year.
Joseph Naiman Graduate Fellowship: Applicants can apply for up to $10,000 to support research and study on Japan.
Visit the Fellowships list maintained by IR/PS Student Affairs.
Income Taxes
The Tax Reform Act of 1986 deems most graduate student support as taxable income. Students appointed as teaching assistants and graduate student researchers will complete the W-4, Tax Withholding Allowance Certificate to indicate the amount of federal and state taxes to be withheld from monthly salary payments. Visit the Office of Graduate Studies website for more tax information.
U.S citizens and permanent residents:
Fellowship and stipend funds used for registration fees, books, supplies, and equipment required for courses of instruction are non-taxable. All remaining fellowship stipend funds are taxable.
Taxes are not withheld from stipend payments and students should submit quarterly tax payments for federal (1040 ES) and state (540ES) taxes.
International students:
Fee and tuition payments from scholarships, fellowships, traineeships, research assistant tuition and fee remission, teaching assistant health insurance/fee remission, and in-candidacy fee offset grants are non-taxable.
Salary and stipend payments require federal tax withholding unless the provisions of an income tax treaty cover the income. Tax treaties do not apply to California state taxes.
Visit the International Center page taxes for international students for more information.
