What type of financial aid is available?

MAPSS offers merit-based tuition scholarships on a highly competitive basis at the time of admission.

Most incoming students also apply for funding from their undergraduate colleges, from outside scholarships, and occasionally from their home countries.

Some colleges provide fellowships for alumni who go on to graduate study elsewhere. Check with your undergraduate Career Service Office and your Dean of Students (or their equivalents).

International students should look into possible fellowship opportunities from their home governments, and review the websites of their local US consulates or embassies. The latter often list funding opportunities for study in the United States.

Last but not least, you can try searching the University of Chicago’s fellowship database.

Our Student Loan Administration may be of help in finding preferred rates or government-subsidized loans.

Is it less expensive to live on-campus?

We strongly recommend living in Hyde Park, where you will be closer to your classmates for social activities, closer to university resources, and where you won’t have to worry about on-campus parking. The University is easily accessible by foot, bicycle, university shuttle, and city bus service from anywhere in the neighborhood.

Hyde Park is normally a more economical choice than Lincoln Park, Lakeview, Wicker Park, the South Loop, Logan Square, and other neighborhoods that may be of interest. Not only are the rents lower, but you will save a considerable amount on commuting costs, not to mention the stress of traffic or finding parking spaces.

UChicago graduate students typically rent apartments in Hyde Park through private rental companies. You can find more information about Hyde Park and housing resources through UChicagoGRAD, which also offers regular webinars to help students navigate the search process.

Some students may prefer to live in University-managed buildings. There aren’t many, and the rents are comparable to the private alternatives. You can find out more by visiting the University’s Residential Properties webpage.

Can I work on-campus?

It is common for MA students to work on campus. Given the intense academic demands of our program, we recommend starting with 5 hours per week and seeing if you can handle 10.

Many students work as Research Assistants (RA) for individual faculty. The Department Administrators (not the Chairs) are your best initial contacts, to see if they know of faculty who need RAs with your methodological or linguistic skill set or fieldwork experience. 

Outside of RA work, you can search for part-time jobs through GRAD Gargolyle once you have your CNET ID and password. Part-time jobs may be available at the Regenstein Library, the Smart Museum, the Court Theatre, the Oriental Institute, the 140 Centers and Institutes on campus, or NORC (the National Opinion Research Center).

Is there funding for International Students?

International students are eligible for the same merit-based tuition scholarships that we award our U.S. students, and compete equally for them.

There are also a variety of nationality-specific fellowships for which you might be eligible:

In addition, our Office of International Affairs maintains a comprehensive list of funding available to international students.

Over the years, a number of international students have been selected as Graduate Fellows at the University’s International House, which can further reduce your housing costs. Contact the International House for more information.

The Office of International Affairs (OIA) is your best resource for any questions about on-campus employment, off-campus employment, optional practical training (OPT), and other visa-related issues.

What are the costs for tuition and expenses?

For specific information regarding tuition and fees, including cost of living estimates, please visit Admissions and Financial Aid for the Division of the Social Sciences.

98% of a typical MAPSS cohort receives substantial merit aid. Your tuition award will be applied toward any amounts listed. All students can expect to defray their costs further through part-time employment on campus. It is common for our MA students to work 5-10 hours per week.