The Graduate Inclusion & Access Scholarship (GIA) seeks to support the growth and development of an all-inclusive, thriving graduate community across all academic programs at George Mason University.
At George Mason, an all-inclusive graduate student community is essential to enhance the quality of the intellectual environment for all our students and faculty.
This scholarship, awarded on a competitive basis, is available to domestic first-generation college students who are new, incoming fall semester, full-time doctoral degree students, and have demonstrated financial need.
Eligibility Criteria includes all the following:
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First-generation college student.
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A domestic applicant.
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Cumulative GPA of 3.3 or better for the most recent earned or in-progress baccalaureate degree and any subsequent earned or in-progress degree.
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Applying as a new, incoming, Fall semester full-time student to a George Mason University doctoral program. However, scholarships will only be awarded to those selected applicants that are ultimately offered full-time admission without provisions or conditions.
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Demonstrated financial need.
Selection Criteria includes all the following:
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A demonstrated record of professional/extra-curricular achievement and/or community involvement, as reflected on the CV and essay.
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An essay that successfully responds to the prompt as described within the application.
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The completion and submission of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) (FAFSA® Application | Federal Student Aid) to the federal processor as required by that stated deadline. Those applicants who have difficulty filing the FAFSA should contact the Graduate Division at geaward@gmu.edu. See below for more details.
Designated George Mason faculty and staff within the College/School for the respective doctoral program and across the university will review the application materials and make recommendations for GIA scholarship recipients to the Senior Associate Provost for Graduate Education.
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Scholarship recipients are eligible for up to five (5) years of renewed financial support, dependent upon the student maintaining:
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Full-time enrollment as defined by the University Catalog;
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Good academic standing each term; and
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A cumulative GPA of 3.5 for all George Mason graduate-level credit for the duration of scholarship eligibility.
Recipients will be required to hold a graduate 20-hour per week assistantship within their field of study for the duration of the scholarship. Recipients will be expected to focus on their studies and assistantship, actively engage with faculty mentors and their scholarship cohort, contribute to university-focused services, and participate in professional development and scholarship cohort activities.
GIA awarded financial support includes:
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A stipend of $36,000 over twelve (12) months:
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$27,000 for the Academic Year
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$9,000 for the Summer
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Tuition support of up to eighteen (18) credits toward their degree requirements per academic year.
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Subsidized Graduate Health Insurance, offered annually.
Financial Need:
All applicants must complete and submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) (FAFSA® Application | Federal Student Aid) to the federal processor no later than the stated deadline in the scholarship application. Please note, only the latest published FAFSA form may be submitted.
How Do I Apply?
You must be invited to apply by George Mason University. Information about the GIA Scholarship application process, including the application submission portal link, will automatically be sent to you, if you are a domestic student after you have submitted your doctoral program application. You do not need to have a doctoral program admission decision for your scholarship application to be reviewed. However, GIA scholarships will only be awarded to those selected applicants that are ultimately offered full admission without provisions or conditions.
If you have any questions in the meantime, feel free to contact George Mason's Graduate Division via email at geaward@gmu.edu