Program Costs
Funding your graduate education is a significant undertaking, but it is one that will yield significant benefits for your professional and personal development. The cost of the program for students, including tuition, living expenses, and health care, is the student’s responsibility. The Office of Financial Aid maintains current estimates for the cost for graduate students to attend the University of Michigan. More details about additional fees and how tuition is calculated can be found on the Registrar’s website.
Funding for Students
As is typical for terminal master’s degrees in the United States, the TCS program’s ability to provide financial support for our students is quite limited. While the vast majority of our students are entirely self-funded, there are some opportunities available through the program and elsewhere in the University of Michigan to help defray the cost of your graduate education.
- Transcultural Studies Research Grants These need-based grants of up to $1000 are intended to help offset research expenses for students in the graduate portion of their degree program.
- Internship Grants TCS students who identify a relevant, part-time work opportunity while enrolled as Rackham students are eligible to apply for a cost-sharing grant from TCS.
- Rackham Master’s Awards Admitted students that are U.S. citizens and permanent residents from underrepresented backgrounds in graduate school or in quantitative finance may be eligible for nomination to the Rackham Master’s Award (RMA) competition at the time of admission. Though students cannot nominate themselves for this award, we encourage you to review the eligibility criteria and to be sure to highlight your eligibility in your personal statement. As an RMA recipient, your funding offer will include two semesters of full support (tuition, health, and dental benefits, and a generous stipend) provided in a collaboration between the TCS program and Rackham Graduate School.
- CEW+ Scholarships CEW+ offers opportunities for scholarships, emergency grants, sponsorships, fellowships
- Rackham Graduate Student Research Grants The Rackham Graduate Student Research Grant is designed to support Rackham graduate students who need assistance to carry out research that advances their progress toward their degree.
- Rackham Conference Travel Grants The Rackham Conference Travel Grant is intended to provide opportunities for Rackham graduate students to become familiar with, and participate in the life of, their academic professions.
- Additional Rackham Graduate School Funding Opportunities offers opportunities for travel support and other funding opportunities, which we encourage our students to explore.
- Foreign Language and Area Studies Fellowships FLAS provide tuition and a stipend to students studying designated foreign languages in combination with area studies or international aspects of professional studies.
- Graduate Student Instructor (GSI) Appointments GSI positions allow graduate students to share their academic discipline expertise with undergraduate students. They are employed to teach in classrooms and office hours. For information on available positions, visit the Careers website (career interest “Graduate Student Instructors (GEO)”). TCS students have often been successful in applying for these positions.
- Graduate Student Staff Assistant (GSSA) Employment GSSA appointments are a graduate student position involving administrative or research-related work that supports a university department, program, or unit. Unlike Graduate Student Instructors (GSIs), who primarily focus on teaching, GSSAs focus more on programmatic and operational support. For information on available positions, visit the Carers website (career interest “Graduate Student Staff Assistants (GEO).
- University of Michigan Financial Aid Financial aid for graduate students is limited compared with what is available for undergraduates. Most aid administered by the Office of Financial Aid is in the form of loan and Work-Study programs. Apply for financial aid by submitting a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for each year that you attend and need aid.
- International Institute International Research & Internship Funding Opportunities The International Institute and its centers offers generous support to U-M students conducting research abroad and participating in international internships.
- U-M Library Funding for Students Research Guide Find scholarships, fellowships, and research grants to fund your U-M education--a guide aimed at undergraduate and graduate students.
- Additional Employment Resources
- Student Employment Office The Student Employment Office maintains listings for part-time Work-Study and regular (non-Work-Study) jobs for both University and non-University employers. Students can search the listings and apply for jobs on the website.
- Temporary Staffing Services Temp Services fills positions that are limited in duration—ranging from a half day up to one year—and cover situations such as special projects, events, workflow peaks, unscheduled absences, scheduled leaves or vacations, and pending recruitment for regular positions.
- U-M Family Helpers The Family Helpers program connects members of the U-M community who want to offer occasional/short-term/part-time services with members of the U-M community in need of assistance. Services may include child care, tutoring, elder care, house sitting, yard work, running errands, pet care, and housekeeping. Access is limited to current U-M students, benefits-eligible retirees, and current faculty and staff members. Individuals offering services must pass a State of Michigan background check before their profiles are posted. Family Helpers indicate the services offered and their general availability, and U-M faculty, staff, and students can log in to view profiles and contact potential Family Helpers. Faculty, staff, and students may also post a Help Wanted Ad, and Family Helpers are encouraged to check these job opportunities frequently. Rate of pay and other details are negotiated between the client and the Family Helper.
