Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility Graduate Student Funding | University of West Florida
Skip to main content
University of West Florida lettermark University of West Florida logo University of West Florida logo

Graduate Student Funding

At UWF, there are a variety of funding opportunities available to graduate students.

Types of Aid

Graduate funding opportunities from the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships are limited, but there are many opportunities available from other departments on campus that students may pursue.

There are many types of Graduate Assistantship opportunities available to students pursuing a graduate degree at UWF. Each academic year, funds are dispersed from the Office of the Provost and are allocated to the various graduate academic departments. The academic departments are responsible for awarding these assistantships to high-performing graduate students. More information on graduate assistantships can be found on the Office of Graduate Studies' Assistantships webpage.

The UWF Graduate Grant is an institutional grant awarded by the academic department to graduate students who have not already earned a graduate degree. A new FAFSA must be completed each academic year in order to determine eligibility. Awards are available to a limited number of students who demonstrate financial need. Amounts can change yearly (fall, spring and summer) and are dependent on being enrolled full-time (6 graduate level hours). If interested in the Graduate Grant, students may reach out to their academic department to inquire.

Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education Grants (TEACH) are offered through the School of Education. These grants differ from other federal student grants because students are required to agree to complete a teaching service obligation as a condition for receiving the grant. If the student does not complete the service obligation, the TEACH Grant will be converted to a loan that must be repaid, with interest.

Students must apply for the TEACH Grant through their department within the School of Education. The department will inform the Financial Aid Office of who qualifies for this award.

Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans are loans available to both undergraduate and graduate students that are not based on financial need. Students will need to complete a FAFSA in order for eligibility to be determined. Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan borrowers will be charged interest from the time the loan is disbursed until it is paid in full. If a student allows interest to accumulate, it will be capitalized. The interest will be added to the principal amount of the loan and additional interest will be based upon the higher amount. This will increase the amount of money to be repaid. Students will repay less if the interest is paid as it accumulates.

To qualify for Federal Direct Unsubsidized loan funding, students need to meet the basic eligibility requirements listed below. Students must:

  1. Complete a FAFSA application at studentaid.gov in order for eligibility to be determined for either loan type. 
  2. Be enrolled in a minimum of 3 graduate level credit hours in order to be eligible (Half-time enrollment in degree applicable hours is always required to borrow federal loans).
  3. Be a U.S. citizen or eligible noncitizen.
  4. Maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress Standards.
  5. Complete the Direct Loan Entrance Counseling and a Master Promissory Note (MPN) at StudentAid.gov. Students will want to complete the correct MPN for the loan funding they plan to borrow, as there are two separate MPNs (one for Federal Direct Loans, one for Grad PLUS loans).

Note: Half-time enrollment in degree applicable hours is always required to borrow federal loans. 3 hours is considered half-time as a graduate student.

The Grad PLUS loan allows a graduate student to borrow up to the total cost of attendance minus any other financial aid. The interest rate is fixed and repayment is generally deferred while in school. Grad PLUS Loans require that you complete a FAFSA, along with a separate Grad PLUS application at studentaid.gov.

To qualify for Grad PLUS loan funding, students need to meet the basic eligibility requirements listed below. Students must:

  1. Complete a FAFSA application at studentaid.gov in order for eligibility to be determined for either loan type. 
  2. Be enrolled in a minimum of 3 graduate level credit hours in order to be eligible (Half-time enrollment in degree applicable hours is always required to borrow federal loans).
  3. Be a U.S. citizen or eligible noncitizen.
  4. Maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress Standards.
  5. Complete the Direct Loan Entrance Counseling and a Master Promissory Note (MPN) at StudentAid.gov. Students will want to complete the correct MPN for the loan funding they plan to borrow, as there are two separate MPNs (one for Federal Direct Loans, one for Grad PLUS loans).

Note: Graduate students may apply for the Grad PLUS loan separately by completing a Grad PLUS Application at StudentAid.gov. If applying for a Grad PLUS loan, students must also pass a credit check. While it is not required, it is our recommendation that you borrow your maximum unsubsidized loan limits before applying for a Grad PLUS loan.

UWF Scholarship Portal

The UWF Scholarship Portal is a resource that students may utilize to apply for additional scholarship opportunities. After completing a general application, students will then be automatically matched with scholarships they could qualify for. Students have the ability to access the UWF Scholarship Portal once their UWF email address has been activated. While many of the opportunities available through the UWF Scholarship Portal are available to students pursuing an undergraduate degree, there are still several opportunities available to graduate students.

  1. Log in to MyUWF with your UWF username and password.
  2. Search "UWF Scholarship Portal"
  3. Alternatively, you may go directly to the UWF Scholarship Portal by logging in to uwf.academicworks.com with your UWF username and password. 
  4. Complete and submit the General Application.
  5. Review your Recommended opportunities. At the top of the UWF Scholarship Application, hover over "Opportunities," and then click "Recommended."
    • Some scholarships may ask additional questions specific to that particular scholarship. Click the "Apply" button to answer any remaining questions.
    • If no action is required on a recommended scholarship, then your General Application is all that is required. 

Additional instructions may be found here.

Note: Recipients of scholarships available through the UWF Scholarship Portal are determined by individual departments or organizations. For additional information regarding eligibility criteria or the selection process for a specific scholarship, reach out to the entity that offers the scholarship directly.

Frequently Asked Questions

Graduate students may only receive federal financial aid for courses in their graduate degree program. Therefore, if a student is completing prerequisite courses at the undergraduate level for their graduate program, they would not be considered eligible for federal financial aid.

Unless considered to be an eligible noncitizen for FAFSA purposes, students will not be eligible to receive any financial aid from the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships. It is recommended to reach out to the Office of International Affairs to determine if there are any recommended scholarship opportunities from their office. Students can also reach out to their program of study to determine if they have funding opportunities that are available to international students.

UWF does not have any financial aid eligible certificate programs. Therefore, students enrolled in graduate certificate programs at UWF will not be considered eligible for federal student aid. Students enrolled in approved graduate certificate programs may be eligible for alternative loans and may reach out to the department of the certificate program if they have any questions.

Financial Aid packages are initially offered and processed for the fall and spring semesters, but students may have remaining eligibility for the summer semesters. View our Summer Financial Aid page for more information.