Applicants to MIT graduate programs who seek financial support from any of the fellowships, traineeships, or scholarships administered by MIT, including those granted by national agencies and foundations, should check the appropriate items on the online Graduate Application, and contact the graduate administrator of the department to which they are applying to explore financial aid opportunities. Additionally, prospective and current students may refer to the “Student finances” section of the OGE website. After admission to an advanced degree program, applicants are considered for any awards for which they are eligible.
MIT will not allocate financial aid to prospective students until they have been accepted into a graduate program. Final decisions on MIT financial aid are usually made between January and early May, when the announcement of awards by the national agencies and foundations is also made.
A student who wins a fellowship through a national competition is not usually considered for a simultaneous award by MIT. Occasionally a student who holds a fellowship or scholarship award from a non-MIT source may receive a supplementary stipend from MIT. Normally the amount of the combined stipends should not exceed the “take home” stipend of a full time research assistant.
Additionally, a fellowship student who holds a full-time paid internship over the summer may be asked to forfeit their summer fellowship stipend. The student should check with their department and with the Graduate Fellowships Manager to ensure compliance with the terms of their particular fellowship.
Pursuant to US Internal Revenue Code, that portion of such grants which exceeds tuition and direct educational expenses is subject to income tax. Stipends received by legal residents of Massachusetts are subject to state income tax. Additional fiscal information for graduate students can be found from the Office of the Vice President for Finance.
