Graduate Emergency Fund
The Graduate School of Arts and Sciences has access to funds to support GSAS students who are experiencing financial hardship due to an unanticipated event.
The Graduate School of Arts and Sciences has access to funds to support graduate students who are experiencing financial hardship due to an unanticipated event. A student is typically eligible to receive funding once per academic year. These funds do not need to be repaid and are distributed on a case-by-case basis. Funds will be made available as soon as possible and are generally limited to $400.
Examples of such events might include, but are not limited to:
- Travel expenses due to a serious illness, death, or emergency in the student’s immediate family
- Essential dental work or eyeglasses
- Unforeseen personal medical expenses
- Replacement of essential personal belongings due to fire, theft, or natural disaster
- Safety needs, such as winter clothing for students from warm climates
- Note: routine expenses such as car repairs are not generally approved for Graduate Emergency Funds.
To be eligible for these funds, an individual must be a current domestic graduate student in the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (GSAS), be enrolled for the term in which funding is requested, and not yet have received the $400 maximum from the Graduate Emergency Fund in the current fiscal year (June - May). Unfortunately, due to visa restrictions, international students on the F-1 and J-1 visas are not eligible for emergency funds.
The Graduate Emergency Fund may not be used to cover charges from Bryn Mawr, or items already calculated in a student’s financial aid cost of attendance (such as tuition, room and board and fees, and books). Because these emergency funds are limited, we also encourage students to pursue other institutional financial resources, including student loans, before applying to receive funds. The amount given is determined by the need and subject to the availability of the funds.
Award Terms and Maximum
Funds are generally limited to $400 and are distributed on a case-by-case basis. If approved, the funds will be processed as quickly as possible. The payment date will be communicated to the student.
Graduate Emergency Funds may be taxable and should be reported on the recipient's year-end taxes.
Apply
Please click on this link to apply for funding from the Graduate Emergency Fund. You may be contacted to meet with a staff member of GSAS to discuss your circumstance and then they will consult with campus partners, including the financial aid office.
Students should contact Meghan Hall in GSAS (gsas@brynmawr.edu) to discuss their specific situation.