Student Directory
Financial Aid and Employment Opportunities
Students seeking financial assistance as they pursue graduate studies at the Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy should explore three primary funding sources at the University of Michigan:
The Ford School of Public Policy
The School offers financial assistance through merit-based fellowships. These fellowships are awarded after a student is admitted to the program. Fellowship award letters and emails will be sent a few weeks after students are admitted. All applicants to the Ford School are considered for Ford School fellowships unless they indicate on the admission application that they do not wish to be considered for funding. No separate application is required for these fellowships.
U-M Office of Financial Aid
The University of Michigan Office of Financial Aid administers all federal student assistance programs including federal and private loans, grants, and work-study eligibility. In addition, the Office administers a number of special awards (e.g. for students who majored in specific fields or who come from a particular geographic area) and students are encouraged to contact the Office about these possibilities. The programs administered by the Office of Financial Aid require specific applications.
You may also contact the office by phone at 734-763-6000 or by mail at:
Office of Financial Aid
2011 Student Activities Building
University of Michigan
Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1316
Rackham School of Graduate Studies
The Rackham Graduate School administers a number of fellowship programs with various eligibility criteria. Students should contact Rackham directly to get information about the specific programs available there. These fellowships often require a detailed application and have deadlines that precede the start of the academic year.
Students are also encouraged to seek positions as graduate student instructors (teaching assistants) or as research assistants.
Check Rackham's website the full list of funding opportunities: http://www.rackham.umich.edu/Funding/fullListing.html
Students may also contact the office by phone at 734-764-8119 or by mail at:
Graduate Fellowships Office
160 Rackham Building
University of Michigan
Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1070
Part-Time Work Opportunities
Many Ford School students seek employment opportunities that use the skills they are developing while in graduate school. There are a number of research and work-study positions available on campus. In the past students have worked at the Institute for Social Research, the Institute of Science and Technology, the Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs, the Transplant Policy Center, the Great Lakes Trade Adjustment Center, and the University’s Office of Government Relations.
In addition to working on campus, students are encouraged to consider the possibility of off-campus employment in policy-related positions. In recent years students have worked for the City of Ann Arbor, the Michigan Municipal League, Washtenaw County, the Ann Arbor Art Center, the Washtenaw Development Council, and the Non-Profit Enterprises at Work (NEW) Center.
The Ford School’s Career Services office keeps a list of local employers who, in the recent past, have hired Ford School students. This is helpful to students in making initial contact with possible places of employment.
Tuition
Tuition for the Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy is established annually by the Board of Regents of the University of Michigan , generally in the summer prior to the beginning of the academic year. The latest tuition amounts can be found on the Office of the Registrar's website: http://www.umich.edu/~regoff/tuition/
Note: Students enrolled in a dual degree program will pay tuition based upon the school in which they are principally enrolled.
Residency Requirements
Residency policies are established by the University. The criteria for establishing residency are quite complex and students should direct questions to the University's Residency Classification Office. Information is available here: http://www.umich.edu/~regoff/resreg.html
