Scholarships & Financial Aid

Undergraduate Financial Aid Policies

Graduate Financial Aid Policies

The Office of Music Admissions and Financial Aid (MU101) is the source to which students and faculty should go for information concerning financial aid from the Jacobs School of Music. The school administers merit-based aid in four different categories: scholarships, associate instructorships, graduate assistantships, and graduate fellowships.

Scholarships are awarded to incoming undergraduate and graduate students based on the strength of the audition/interview/dossier in the major field and on the specific needs of the School. Scholarships typically serve as a recruiting tool to attract excellent students in areas in which the school has a need. Outstanding students in any area are considered for scholarships. Policies on scholarships are established by the Financial Aid Committee. Award amounts are determined by the director of music admissions and financial aid in consultation with department chairs and the Financial Aid Committee. Once awarded, scholarships are renewed typically through the fourth year of undergraduate study, the third year of doctoral studies, and the second year of masters or diploma studies. Students will lose scholarship funding as a result of academic probation or other conditions set forth in their award letters. The funds for scholarships come from a variety of sources, mainly private donations from gifts and bequests through the Indiana University Foundation, although a certain percentage comes from the general funds of the University. In addition to Jacobs School of Music scholarships that are based on merit, students may be eligible for general university need-based financial aid in the form of grants and guaranteed student loans. These are administered by the university Office of Student Financial Assistance (Franklin Hall). The music financial aid office works with the university office in designing the complete financial aid package. Graduate assistantships (GA-ships) and associate instructorships (AI-ships) consist of a stipend and a fee remission and are used to support the teaching mission of the school, and additionally to recruit and support qualified graduate students. A graduate assistant is assigned to non-instructional work in the School, such as clerical assistance in an office, for a specified number of hours a week. An associate instructor is assigned to assist with the teaching of a class or, under faculty supervision, to carry out a teaching assignment for either performance or class instruction. To be eligible for scholarship, a GA-ship or an AI-ship, a student must be enrolled full time and have at least a 3.0 gpa. Failure to maintain the 3.0 gpa in any semester or probation for any reason will result in a loss of the aid. Graduate fellowships are awarded to new and continuing students based on the strength of the audition/interview/dossier in the major field and on gpa. These awards vary in size and most do not include fee remission. Special multi-year awards (Chancellor’s Fellowships) are given to outstanding new doctoral students who have at least a 3.75 gpa. These awards include fee remission, a stipend, an additional fellowship award, and include teaching duties. University fellowships are awarded each year as “dissertation year fellowships” to Ph.D. students who have completed doctoral coursework and who are completing doctoral research. To be eligible for a fellowship, a student must have a gpa of 3.75 for all graduate work. Dissertation year fellowships require a cumulative graduate-level gpa of at least 3.75. Complete information on dissertation year fellowships is available from the director of music admissions and financial aid, from the chair of the Financial Aid Committee, and from the chairs of the music theory, musicology and music education departments. GA-ships, AI-ships and fellowships are important factors in graduate recruiting. It is important that these very limited funds to be used to the greatest benefit possible. For this reason, a limit of five years (10 regular fall/spring semesters) has been determined as the maximum number of years a graduate student may receive financial aid. This is specifically set at two years for diploma and master’s programs and three years at the doctoral level. Some departments within the school place even more stringent limits on the length of time a student may hold an ai- or ga-ship. As important as it is not to promise admission to any student, it is even more important to avoid giving the impression to a prospective student that financial aid is certain. No department or program can be guaranteed a certain number of assistantships or fellowships because the school’s needs are constantly changing. However, if you find an excellent candidate, let the music admissions office know so that official contact with the student can be maintained while decisions about aid are being considered. Applicants who audition on or prior to the final audition weekend in March are given priority consideration for financial aid. Students auditioning later may be awarded aid, but chances are less favorable. This is a useful piece of advice you could give to students who inquire. Graduate applicants for ai-ships in the academic departments are required to complete an interview in order to be considered. Departments should put their recommendation for ai-ships and ga-ships in writing and submit them to the music admissions office. Decisions concerning appointments are normally made before April 1. Any correspondence from departments to prospective students before actual contracts are sent out should be written in conditional terms, such as: “You have been recommended by the xxxx department to receive an appointment as associate instructor for the academic year 20xx-20xx. If this recommendation is approved, you will receive a contract…,” etc.

Copies of Jacobs School of Music policies for all forms of undergraduate and graduate financial aid are available from the director of music admissions and financial aid,  from the chair of the Financial Aid Committee, and online from the Office of Admissions and Financial Aid’s home page.