Funding your School of Nursing program

The UW Office of Student Financial Aid (OSFA) offers detailed guidance on finding, applying for, and receiving financial aid, including grants and work study. OSFA also administers applications for several UW graduate student fellowships.  Applicants who submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by January 15 can expect to receive their financial aid information from OSFA by early April.

We also recommend utilizing the UW’s Graduate Funding Information Service (GFIS) run by UW Libraries to identify internal and external funding opportunities.

The Office of Student Financial Aid has emergency aid and  short-term loan funds available to students who are experiencing temporary cash flow issues. You may receive up to $2,500 or $3,200 for undergraduates and graduate students, respectively.

If you are experiencing an emergency situation and you are in need of assistance, please contact the Financial Aid Office on your campus by emailing osfa@uw.edu.

The School of Nursing has several scholarships to support enrolled nursing students. Scholarship applications are accepted every Spring for funding in the following academic year (Autumn, Winter, and Spring quarters). Funding for Summer quarters will only be considered for students who are required by their degree programs to be enrolled in Summer.

The application is open from April 1 through May 1. Decisions are typically made in late summer.

Students who will present at a regional or national conference may apply for funds to help offset the expense of attendance. Awards are up to $750 per student. Eligible expenses include conference registration, transportation, and lodging.

Students may apply for travel awards at any time; applications are evaluated monthly.

• We encourage all international applicants to review the UW’s online graduate funding guide and resources for international graduate students.
• Curricular Practical Training (CPT) is an opportunity for students on F-1 visas to learn practical skills related to their majors while studying at the University of Washington. CPT serves as a work authorization as a student engages in different types of activities related to their major.
  • The School of Nursing does not require paid employment or internships for any of its degree programs. The School of Nursing does not provide internships (paid or unpaid) for undergraduate or graduate students. International students interested in applying to work under the CPT need to contact sonscholarships@uw.edu.

At the UW, there are three primary types of graduate student assistantships, also called Academic Student Employees (ASEs):

• Teaching Assistant (TA): Work with students in a classroom, lab, or quiz section setting
• Research Assistant (RA): Work on research projects; does not involve teaching
• Graduate Staff Assistant (GSA): Other types of duties such as advising or administration

At the UW, academic student employees (ASEs) are hired directly by the employing department. Each department conducts its own individual hiring process, and its assistantship job postings will state what is required to be considered for such positions.

Some, but not all, 20-hour-per-week assistantships provide a tuition waiver and health insurance through the Graduate Appointee Insurance Program (GAIP). Your offer letter from the hiring department will confirm the length of employment, salary, and benefits eligibility.

Find ASE positions open to students:

• UW School of Nursing Paid student positions
• Handshake: UW’s online job and internship database
• UWHires (filter for the category “Academic Student Employee”)
• On the Graduate Funding Information Service (GFIS) blog, GFIS maintains a blog for both UW and external funding, including job postings for assistantships.

The Post 9/11 GI Bill and other VA benefits help eligible veterans pay for graduate school. The VA certifying officials at the UW Veterans Education Benefits Office can help you navigate the different options for funding. They can guide you through the complex process of receiving your benefits — from answering questions about the various education benefits, the application and certification process, and advocating on your behalf with the VA.

Questions about other student loans (including Stafford, PLUS, and federal nursing loans) should be directed to the UW Office of Student Financial Aid.

The UW School of Nursing offers Torrance Loans directly to nursing students. Torrance Loans are $2,000 each and can be requested every quarter. The loans have a 10-year repayment period at 3% interest.

Students who would like to borrow a Torrance Loan should complete the following steps:

1. Send a message with the subject line “Request for Torrance Loan application” to sonscholarships@uw.edu. Include your legal name, student number, and UW email address in the body of the message. A loan application and instructions will then be returned to you after the UW Office of Student Financial Aid determines the eligible loan amount, which may take up to one week.
2. Complete the application and return it to sonscholarships@uw.edu. After a final review, the application will then be sent to UW Student Fiscal Services for processing.
3. Sign the promissory note. While UW continues remote operations, promissory notes will be digitally signed through DocuSign.
4. After a mandatory three-day waiting period once the promissory note is signed, the funds will be disbursed to your student account.
5. Only students on the Seattle campus are eligible for Torrance Loans. All UW SoN Seattle undergraduate and graduate students may apply.