THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO
Financial Support
The Division of the Social Sciences offers merit-based tuition scholarships at the time of admission, and the majority of admitted students who request scholarship consideration receive scholarship aid. Admitted students can also apply for additional funds after receiving their offer. Funding consideration is most generous during Round 1 and Round 2. We encourage prospective students seeking scholarship support to apply during those first two rounds.
Please note that requesting consideration for scholarships does not have an impact upon consideration for admission.
Dean’s Opportunity Scholarship
The Dean’s Opportunity Scholarship is intended for exceptional students for whom the cost of CIR presents a substantial barrier to enrolling in the program. Low-income students and students who were the first in their family to attend college are particularly encouraged to apply. These awards are limited and extremely competitive, but we encourage all interested admitted students to apply.
Note that Round 3 and Round 4 applicants are not able to apply for this scholarship.
Individuals who would need full tuition support to enroll should apply during Round 1 or Round 2 so that they can apply for the Dean’s Opportunity Scholarship.
Center for East Asian Studies (CEAS) Japan Studies Scholarship
The Center for East Asian Studies (CEAS) at the University of Chicago offers a limited number of partial-tuition scholarships to newly enrolling students in MAPSS and CIR. These scholarships, which may be applied for after admission, are for exceptional students who focus on the study of Japan and for whom the cost presents a substantial barrier to enrolling in the program. These awards are limited and extremely competitive, and Round 3 and 4 applicants may not be eligible to apply due to the application timeline for the scholarship. More information regarding eligibility and the application process will be shared with students after they have been admitted to eligible programs.
The estimated tuition cost for full-time enrollment for one year (three courses, three per quarter) for current and previous academic years can be found on the Bursar’s website. Further explanations of all UChicago tuition and fees can be found on the Division of the Social Sciences website.
Please note that enrolling in a program of study at any university includes costs beyond tuition. For a full list of estimated direct and indirect expenses associated with the cost of attendance at UChicago, please visit the Cost of Attendance page of the Graduate Financial Aid Office website.
Most incoming students apply for funding from their undergraduate colleges, from outside scholarships, and occasionally from their home countries. Some undergraduate 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).
The University of Chicago’s fellowship database also lists scholarship opportunities available to master’s students and can be a useful resource.
Student loans are also available, both through the University and through private lenders, but international students should note that many US lenders will not issue a student loan without a US cosigner.
International students should investigate possible fellowship opportunities from their home governments and review the websites of their local US consulates or embassies.
Additional funding opportunities can also be found through EducationUSA.
Finally, our Office of International Affairs maintains a comprehensive list of funding available to international students.
It is common for UChicago’s MA students to work on campus. Graduate students at UChicago cannot work more than 20 hours per week, though we recommend students work 10 or fewer given the demands of graduate study. Incoming students may be able to begin a student employment position prior to the start of Autumn Quarter with the permission of the Dean of Students Office.
Many students work as Research Assistants (RA) for individual faculty, but positions are not typically arranged until shortly before the start of Autumn Quarter. The Department Administrators (not the Chairs) are the best initial contacts to see if they know of faculty who need RAs.
Outside of RA work, incoming students can search for part-time jobs through GRAD Gargolyle once they have a CNET ID and password (which can be obtained after applicants have accepted an admissions offer). Part-time jobs may be available at the Regenstein Library, the Smart Museum, the Court Theatre, the Institute for the Study of Ancient Cultures, the 120 Centers and Institutes on campus, or NORC (the National Opinion Research Center).
"CIR provided an environment that fostered my curiosity about international security. The demanding coursework, debates with faculty and peers, and final thesis project equipped me with the tools to pursue academia with confidence. As a BA/MA student, I especially valued the opportunity to participate in advanced classes that were foundational to how I conduct research today. My experience at CIR continues to shape my scholarly approach by emphasizing the importance of reading deeply and thinking critically to tackle big questions."
Julia Lodoen, BA/MA 2020
(Political Science/International Relations)