# Financial Aid

**Source**: https://career.berkeley.edu/get-into-grad-school/graduate-school/financial-aid/
**Parent**: https://career.berkeley.edu/

Financial aid is available for graduate school. Most graduate students finance their education through a combination of funding sources.

## Types of Funding

- **Assistantships** are usually campus-affiliated work assignments (e.g., graduate teaching instructor or research associate) that provide an individual a stipend and often waive tuition and/or other matriculation fees.
- **Fellowships** are typically granted to individuals to cover their living expenses while they carry out research or work on a project. Awards may be single or multiyear. Awards are usually based on an individual’s merit as measured by grades, GRE scores, publications, and letters of recommendation. For more information, see our page on .
- **Grants** are most often awarded to cover expenses associated with carrying out research or other specific projects, such as travel, materials, or computers.
- **Loans** are available from the government and other private sources.
- **Scholarships** are awarded based on one or more criteria: merit, financial need, discipline of study, career goals or membership within a minority group.

## Resources

- [FastWeb: free scholarship searches & financial aid tools](http://www.fastweb.com/)
- [UCB Scholarship Connection](http://scholarships.berkeley.edu/)
- [ProFellow: directory of fully funded graduate programs and full funding awards](https://www.profellow.com/the-directory-of-fully-funded-phd-and-masters-programs-and-full-funding-awards/)
- [FinAid: the smart student guide to financial aid](http://www.finaid.org/)
- [Article – What’s the Best Way to Fund your Degree?](https://www.moneyunder30.com/paying-for-graduate-school)

## International Student Financial Aid

- [Internationalstudent.com](http://www.internationalstudent.com/international-financial-aid/)
- [Peterson’s Guide](https://www.petersons.com/college-search/international-students-guide.aspx)