MIT Grant for Graduate Students with Children (GGSC)

GGSC amounts for the 2023-2024 academic year are:

• $6,500 – 1 dependent child
• $7,500 – 2 dependent children
• $8,500 – 3 or more dependent children

Supplemental Need-Based GGSC

The Supplemental Need-Based GGSC will award grants up to $10,000 for the 2023-24 academic year. Note that the maximum amount awarded for each individual term (fall term and spring term; summer will not have a separate award) is $5,000.

The application is now open, and closes on September 30; see “Apply” below for additional details.

All full-time MIT PhD students and MIT Master’s students who are eligible for summer tuition subsidy are also eligible to apply for the need-blind Grant for Graduate Students with Children (GGSC). In order to qualify, the student’s child(ren) must reside with them at least half-time throughout the year and be under 18 or still enrolled in K-12 education.

Students on childbirth accommodation, parental accommodation, nonresident doctoral thesis research status, and approved reduced course load are eligible to receive the grant. Students on medical leave are not eligible to apply until their return to enrolled status.

Students in the following programs identified by the Office of the Provost as professional programs are not eligible for these grants:

• Masters in Engineering Management
  • Management System Design
  • Integrated Design and Management
• Masters in Supply Chain Management
• Masters in Data Economics & Development Policy
• Masters in Real Estate Development
• Masters in Business Administration (including EMBA and SFMBA)
• Master of Finance
• Master of Science in Management Studies
• Master of Business Analytics
• Leaders for Global Operations
• Advanced Studies Program

If you are not eligible for these grants but are experiencing financial challenges with family-focused expenses for your children’s child care, health care, or housing please contact your degree program office so that an individualized assessment of your needs can be performed.

Supplemental Need-Based GGSC

Students who are eligible to apply for the need-blind GGSC and also supported by a fellowship (from either an MIT source or an external source) in the fall 2023 term may apply for the Supplemental Need-Based GGSC through a combined application (see “Apply” below).

Eligible graduate students must submit the following documentation as part of their application. If you are unable to provide a required document you must provide a written explanation.

Domestic students need to submit ONE of the following with their application:

• For Children
  • A copy of the child(ren)’s birth certificate(s) or U.S. passport(s);
  • Health insurance documents
  • Court documents showing proof of legal guardianship
  • Your federal or state tax returns if you’ve claimed the child(ren) as dependents

International students need to submit copies of ALL of the following documents:

• For Students
  • MIT Form I-20 or DS-2019
  • I-94 confirming F-1 student status or J-1 student status
• For Children
  • MIT Dependent Forms I-20 or DS-2019 for children or U.S. passport or birth certificate for children born in the United States
  • I-94 for child(ren) confirming F-2 or J-2 status of children not born in the U.S.

Supplemental Need-Based GGSC

Eligible graduate students must submit the following documentation as part of their application. If you are unable to provide a required document you must provide a written explanation.

• If you receive income other than your fellowship from any source, you must provide documentation regarding the amount.
• If your spouse or partner is employed, you must provide documentation of their income.
• If your spouse or partner receives income from a source other than their employment, you must provide documentation regarding the amount.

• Application frequency: Students are eligible for one GGSC per year, per household, and must reapply each fall. Students are eligible for the Supplemental Need-Based GGSC on a semester basis; students must apply each semester, according to their fellowship status.
• Grant processing: Grants will be processed through the student payroll system. Students must submit direct deposit information in Atlas to receive the grant via direct deposit. Otherwise they will be issued a check.
• Grant taxation: Grant funds are taxable income. You are responsible for reporting the grant income and paying applicable taxes. Depending on your tax status, taxes may be withheld prior to the grant disbursement.
• Impact on student budget: Please be aware that receipt of either the GGSC or the Supplemental Need-Based GGSC will become part of your annual student budget. This budget will also take into consideration necessary expenses for your dependents. Please contact your SFS Customer Service Counselor (scroll down; counselors are assigned by last name) to discuss your individual situation.
• Falsification of information: If you have falsified information or supporting documentation on the grant application form, the grant funds will be rescinded, and you may be referred to the Office of Student Conduct.
• Information sharing: By submitting an application, you acknowledge and agree that MIT may use the personal information contained within the application, including any private financial information or any information the student provides about others (e.g., family members, significant others), and any subsequent related correspondence with you, for the purposes of evaluating eligibility for benefits of the MIT Grant for Graduate Students with Children including by sharing it with other MIT officials involved in administering the program.

Students currently borrowing funds should contact Student Financial Services.

• If you are currently borrowing student loans (particularly Direct Loans) these grants could reduce your loan eligibility for this academic year. Please contact Student Financial Services to determine if receiving the grant will impact loan eligibility.

International students should consider the following

• Students in F-1 or J-1 student status must request a new Form I-20 or DS-2019 through the MIT International Students Office with updated funding information after they have received either grant. To do so, they should log on to imit.mit.edu and submit a request for a new I-20 form. Students will need an official letter confirming the amount of the grant received and the semester when the grant is distributed.
• Students must maintain their F-1 or J-1 student status in the United States, and their children F-2 or J-2 status in order remain eligible for the grants.
• Students in F-1 or J-1 student status may not use these grants as part of their proof of funding for bringing dependents (spouse and or children) with F-2 or J-2 status to the U.S. Information regarding funding for international students is available from the International Students Office website. 
• Students in F-1 student status on post-completion Optional Practical Training or STEM Optional Practical Training Extension, as well as students in J-1 student status on post-completion Academic Training are not eligible to apply for and receive these grants.

My costs are higher than the grant I received. What other resources are available to me?

• We do not expect these grants to meet the full costs of supporting dependents. There are other programs that can help. Please review our Families Financial Resources Page or our Wellness and Food Resources Page.
• If you need additional resources while you are a student, federal student loan programs are available for US citizens and permanent residents, and private loans are a possibility for international students. You can find more information from Student Financial Services.

Where can I get more information about taxes related to this grant?

• U.S. Citizen and Permanent Resident students who receive a scholarship, fellowship or grant from MIT will not receive a tax document reporting this income. However, students may need to self-report a portion of this income on their tax returns.  
• International students who are classified as non-resident for tax purposes may receive a 1042-S reporting this income for use in filing their federal tax returns, if the student has claimed the tax treaty benefit with MIT or had a fellowship payment without a treaty.
• See information on tax withholding and reporting provided by the MIT Office of the Vice President for Finance.

I’m a postdoc. Can I apply?

• No. Postdocs are not eligible for this program. The Office of the Vice President for Research can recommend resources for you.

I still have questions. Who can I talk to?

• The Office of Graduate Education manages this program. You may email gradfamilies@mit.edu with additional questions.

This application is open through September 30; see “Submission” below for additional details. Please email gradfamilies@mit.edu with questions.

Preparation: Gather all documents applicable to your situation. This may include your child’s birth certificate, passport page, court placement documents, or health insurance card. International students will also need to provide I-20, DS 2019, I-94, F2 or J2 status documents. 

Submission: The application for both grants is open now through September 30, 2023. There will be a second application period for both grants from February 1 through February 28, 2023. Please note, if you have already applied for the GGSC in August/September, you need not apply again in February; the second application period is for new GGSC applications and Supplemental Need-Based GGSCs for students with spring fellowships. If a child joins your family outside of fall or spring application windows, please email gradfamilies@mit.edu for to apply. The application is closed over the summer. 

Notification: Students who do not meet the requirements for either grant will be notified. Students who do meet the requirements for one or both grants should expect to receive the disbursement as detailed below.

Disbursement: GGSC recipients will receive their grant in two halves, sent in mid-October and mid-March. Fall term Supplemental Need-Based GGSC recipients will receive their grant in mid-October (maximum award $5,000); spring term Supplemental Need-Based GGSC recipients will receive their grant in mid-March (maximum award $5,000).