Q: What is the difference between a graduate scholarship and a graduate assistantship

A: Graduate Scholarships (also called graduate fellowships in many schools as well as in some academic organizations) are "free money". Small graduate scholarships ( usually $500 to $3000 per year) are available in many schools but will not help you very much financially. BIG graduate scholarships ($20,000 per year or more), while possible, are highly competitive and very limited. Let's get real and face it, if you are not a sport’s star or very good at playing piano, if you do not have some talented professional skills or gifted outstanding features, then you probably only have a slim chance to get any BIG graduate scholarship, this is especially true for International Graduate Students for most (at least 90%) graduate fellowships are available only to US citizen.

Unlike graduate scholarships, graduate assistantships, open to students of all nationalities, are not "free money", assistantships actually are hard working opportunities; Usually students work with the professors in the department or other research setting, and receive a stipend (monthly salary) plus partial or full-tuition waiver. The BIG financial supports offered by schools to the majority (95%) of the International Graduate Students are NOT graduate scholarships but graduate assistantships. BIG financial support means that the total funding is BIG enough to cover at least 80% of school tuition and living costs.

Q: How much money can I earn if I get the Assistantship position?

A: It is hard to say, depends on the school and program. But generally speaking, the total amount of funding ranges from $25,000 to $35,000 per year. The funding will cover most of your school expenses (tuition & living), if not all.

Q: Can I get both a graduate scholarship and a graduate assistantship?

A: Yes, it is possible. In fact, students often receive the financial aid package, which may be some kind of combination of scholarship, assistantship, free room, ...etc.

Q: Must I have a TOEFL and GRE/GMAT to receive the assistantship?

A: No, in fact, many programs do not need GRE/GMAT at all, as for the TOEFL, it depends on your education background and the instruction language used in your university in your home country. In some schools, a phone interview may be needed to replace the TOEFL score.