HDS - Financial Aid

Financial Aid

Grants

Eligibility for Grant Support

The Office of Financial Aid provides available scholarship support to qualified candidates in the master of divinity (MDiv), master of theological studies (MTS), and doctor of theology (ThD) programs. In order to make funding available to the widest range of students in entry-level programs, scholarship aid for master of divinity and master of theological studies candidates is awarded on the basis of demonstrated financial need and academic merit. Individual awards are not renewed automatically and may vary from year to year because of changes in a student's resources or expenses, increased overall demands on the financial aid budget, or changes in institutional or federal financial aid policy. Please note that packaging policies are subject to change.

Students in the master of theology (ThM) program may qualify for federal funds and/or private loans, but are not eligible for HDS grant support.

Calculation of Financial Need

Each individual's financial need is calculated based on the information provided on the form(s) that make up the student's financial aid application. Financial aid awards may be subject to change if supplementary documentation (i.e., tax returns, bank statements, etc.) indicates significant changes from the information originally reported on the form. The "student contribution" derived from this calculation is then used to package grant dollars from HDS. This formula has been designed to provide an equitable system for the awarding of available institutional funds. Due to limited funding, HDS cannot guarantee to meet full need.

It is the student's responsibility to notify the Office of Financial Aid of any changes to his or her financial aid application, such as a change in marital status, change in household size, or receipt of outside gifts or awards. These changes may result in an adjustment to a student's award.

Grant Support for MDiv and MTS Candidates

Master's candidates may apply for grant support during the period in which they are being charged tuition. Students who extend their program beyond the necessary degree requirements are ineligible for institutional support. Students who extend their academic program, but who are still within the necessary degree requirements, may still be eligible for grant support; however, students receiving stipend support should note that stipends are provided only for the duration of the traditional length of their program (two years for the MTS and three years for the MDiv). United States citizens and permanent residents may apply for federal funds to assist with the added costs of extending their program.

Grant Support for ThD Candidates

Awards to doctoral students are made solely on the basis of academic merit, and doctoral applicants are not required to apply for financial aid. Beginning with the class of 2010-11 the packaging policy for ThD candidates will be as follows:

Admitted applicants will receive an award package of full tuition and fees and an academic year stipend of $22,330 (2009-10 rates) for years one and two of the program.

During the third and fourth year of their program, doctoral students will continue to receive the award package of full tuition and fees if they maintain satisfactory academic progress. Stipend support during the academic year will not be available after the second year. No institutional grant support will be available after the fourth year. In years three and four students will be eligible for teaching assistantships. Doctoral students are put on the priority teaching list and will be offered two sections per semester.

Students will also receive four summers of a research stipend.

Dissertation completion grants are available for students. The 2009-10 grant amount is $23,000

Students who began their program prior to the 2010 academic year will be packaged according to the policies at the time they entered.

Doctoral candidates are not typically eligible for federal funds during years one and two. In years three and beyond, students can apply for federal aid, but will be required to complete a FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) for that academic year.