MSFS Financial Aid
Financial Aid and Funding
Students are expected to participate in graduate education and research throughout the year, including summers. Generally, degree completion is expected to take 5 semesters, including summer.
Graduate assistantships with stipends are available on a limited basis for MSFS students, with fewer than half receiving awards. Graduate assistantships in the MSFS program are primarily based on grant funding, which fluctuates from year to year. Other sources of support, such as teaching assistantships, have been available in the past, but are not guaranteed for MSFS students.Financial aid may also include tuition remission for supported students, but this depends on the nature and source of funding. Upon arrival on campus, all funded students must complete paperwork in order to receive a paycheck. Contact Student Employment Services arrange to complete these forms. US citizens or permanent residents will need to present a Passport or Social Security card, along with a current Driver’s license or State ID. Students must provide an I-9 form (eligibility to work in the US) and a Tax Withholding form.
All funded students must register for at least 8 credits in fall and spring semesters and 6 credits in summer semesters, in order to be full-time and, therefore, receive a stipend. Failure to maintain those credit levels may result in cancellation of financial support. Although the school administration checks on registration, it is the student’s responsibility to make sure that they are properly registered by the start of each semester.
Being awarded a stipend involves a commitment (i.e. teaching, research, or service) to the University. Please be aware that failure to perform any required duties at acceptable levels will result in the termination of funding, regardless of the source of that support. All students are evaluated on an annual basis in order to determine if funding is to be continued for the coming year. Any student not making substantial progress towards the completion of their degrees may be dismissed, regardless of the funding situation.
Residency Requirements
US citizens or permanent residents who are not residents of Ohio must apply for Ohio residency for their second year in their programs if they are receiving scholarships. Scholarships for non-resident fees cannot be provided after the first year for students eligible to become Ohio residents. This process is handled through the office of Registration and Records. Visit “Ohio Residency for State Subsidy and Tuition Surcharge Purpose” for more information.
Graduate Assistantships
Graduate students with service assistantships (i.e., teaching, research, or housing) work a maximum of twenty hours per week (or the standard hours outlined in the contract) during the contracted period. Graduate Assistanships
Programs may offer students funding for up to two academic years (24 consecutive months) at the Master’s level and up to four years (48 consecutive months) at the doctoral level. Programs may offer students funding for up to 3 academic years (36 consecutive months) if the student is enrolled in a dual master’s degree program or two concurrent master’s degree programs at BGSU. Click here for Graduate College policies on assistantships and tuition scholarships.
Graduate teaching assistants (TAs) and research assistants (RAs) are required to be on campus during the entire time specified in their contract, unless an exception applies and has been approved in accordance with the Graduate Assistant Work Location Guiding Principles. Graduate assistants are required to work during the entire time specified in their contract. Contracts generally start one week before and end one week after the beginning and end of Fall and Spring semesters. Any student who leaves campus before the end of the contract period AND the completion of all assigned work (including coursework and exams, as well as RA, TA, or TI duties) may have scholarship and/or graduate assistantships terminated and pay prorated.
To retain an appointment, graduate assistants must be regularly enrolled as degree-seeking students, must make satisfactory progress toward a degree, and must perform duties satisfactorily according to the terms of the appointment.
Graduate students are typically required to be registered full-time (8 or more credit hours per semester) to be eligible for graduate assistantships. Advanced graduate students who are close to graduation may be eligible to request a Graduate Funding Exception to enroll below full-time while retaining their graduate funding. In such a case, the student should talk to their Graduate Coordinator about their options and eligibility.
Additional requirements are listed in the Graduate College Assistantship Policy on the Graduate College website. A student’s funding is terminated if they are suspended for ethical or legal misconduct as specified in the Student Code.
Visit the Graduate College for the current academic year policies. Click here for Graduate College policies on assistantships and tuition scholarships.
Pay Schedule
Most GA contracts are paid on the Biweekly pay schedule defined by Human Resources. Please be aware that if your contract begins with the academic calendar, you may not receive your first full paycheck until September; you also may not receive a full paycheck during winter break, depending on the type of contract you have or dates of your contract. Talk to your graduate coordinator or GA supervisor for more information.
Graduate students at BGSU may be eligible for additional campus employment through Student Employment Services, not to exceed 28 hours per week. International graduate students should check with International Programs and Partnerships about their visa regulations as to eligibility for additional work on or off campus.
Tuition Scholarships
Tuition scholarships are awarded separately from any GA stipend position. Scholarship dollars can be used for tuition payment and may never be used as compensation for services. Scholarships can be used towards graduate credit hours that satisfy requirements for the degree. Tuition scholarships do not cover any student fees.
Any student who leaves campus before the end of the contract period AND the completion of all assigned work (including coursework and exams, as well as RA, TA, or TI duties) may have scholarship and/or graduate assistantships terminated and pay prorated.
Oral Proficiency for Graduate Assistants/Fellows Who Provide Classroom-Related Services and Whose Native Language is Not English
All graduate assistants who serve in instructional capacities (teaching, tutoring, laboratory sections, etc.) who are not native speakers of English must demonstrate that they are orally proficient in the English language prior to working with students. Prospective graduate assistants who fulfill the above listed instructional responsibilities (here forward referred to as teaching assistants) can demonstrate this proficiency by either providing an appropriate TOEFL iBT score or by completing the ESOL Program’s Spoken English Test (SET).
It is the responsibility of each department to ensure that all non-native English-speaking teaching assistants receive clearance before beginning their assistantship duties and that all teaching assistants who are required to take ITA classes do so in the appropriate semesters. Departments should refer to the procedures posted on the ESOL Program’s website. Click here to access links on the ESOL Program’s website.
Online Teaching Resources
Bowling Green State University offers graduate students the opportunity to prepare for teaching online courses through a self-paced, online teacher-training course specifically designed for future online instructors. This non-credit training is available at no cost. By completing this course prior to your first online teaching assignment, you will gain essential skills in online course design, facilitation, and best practices, ensuring you are fully prepared to deliver high-quality remote instruction. Graduate students interested in teaching online in the future are strongly encouraged to complete this training. Contact teachonline@bgsu.edu to receive a link to enroll in the course.
GA Supervision
The Assistantship Supervisor is assigned by the graduate coordinator or other designated supervisor (such as Department Chair or Course Instructor). The Supervisor will monitor the weekly completion of responsibilities. At the end of each semester, the GA shall receive an evaluation of performance from their supervisor.
Updated: 07/28/2026 07:27PM