Graduate Student Short-Term Emergency Fund

Graduate Student Short-Term Emergency Hardship Funding is available to help graduate students to cover unforeseen, essential expenses. It is intended to be a resource for students experiencing one-time, unavoidable financial emergencies when they have exhausted all other resources. The Fund can help cover or subsidize expenses such as those related to emergency housing issues, travel related to family emergencies including illness and death of a family member, emergency medical issues, natural disaster, or expenses directly related to COVID-19.

Costs incurred during initial relocation for enrollment at MIT, vacation-related travel, conference expenses, and holiday travel are not eligible for reimbursement. 

If your request is related to computers/electronics, please reach out to your advisor and department/program first regarding financial support.

You will be contacted regarding your application within 5 business days depending on the urgency of your situation and the current volume of submissions. Each request will be considered individually, and decisions will be made on a case-by-case basis. The amount granted is based on the applicant’s demonstrated need and the short-term nature of the financial hardship. Misrepresenting your situation may result in disqualification of your current request, and of any future hardship requests. A GradSupport staff member will review your submission and may ask to meet with you for additional information or documentation. Your advisor or department may be contacted to request cost-sharing of expenses or to corroborate information as needed.

Graduate students with families who need additional support should contact gradfamilies@mit.edu.

Application

Apply for the Graduate Student Short-Term Emergency Fund.

Eligibility

  • Students must be currently registered in an MIT doctoral program or Master’s Program. Sloan graduate students apply for the Sloan Immediate Needs Fund.
  • Visiting students and students on leave from MIT are not eligible to receive the award.

Eligible funding requests 

  • Unanticipated or unavoidable expenses that may have a negative impact on the student’s educational experience and well-being. These expenses most commonly include basic living necessities and expenses due to family emergencies.
  • Costs must have been incurred or become due while continuously enrolled during the current academic year.

Application requirements

  • Completed application questions
  • Documentation of expenses, other financial concerns, or life events is required as appropriate

Students may not receive funds if it is determined that other resources can be utilized to fulfill the need, or that the request is related to a voluntary obligation. In such instances, students should contact the Office of Graduate Education to explore whether alternate resources may be available.