MASTER OF LIFE SCIENCES
Financial Aid
ELIGIBILITY
Because our Online Studies programs are degree granting, our students are eligible for the same types of financial aid as traditional college students. However, to receive federal financial assistance, you must be registered as a degree seeking student. (Advanced Special Students are eligible to receive only alternative loans. See below for more information on alternative loans.) All students must be registered half-time.
DESIGNATION OF HALF-TIME STATUS
The graduate school uses the unit system in making calculations to determine full- or part-time student status. Please note that graduate units are different than credit hours. The number of graduate units per credit hour is calculated in the following manner:
Courses in the series: 000-399 carry two units/credit hour.
Courses in the series: 400-499 carry four units/credit hour.
Courses in the series: 500-599 carry five units/credit hour.
Courses in the series: 600-898 carry six units/credit hour.
Research course: 799 carries 12 units/credit hour.
Research course: 899 carries 18 units/credit hour.
To be certified as half-time, an online studies graduate student must be officially registered for a combination of courses equivalent to 24 units in two consecutive terms*. Audited courses do not generate graduate units and cannot be used in calculating full- or part-time status.
Since online programs operate on a term schedule outside of the University’s semester calendar, graduate students enrolled in online programs may combine units from TWO consecutive online terms (for example Fall/ Term I and Winter/ Term II) to calculate their official status.
Please note that students benefiting from financial aid programs must remain enrolled at least half time over the two terms in order for the aid to remain active. Students receiving financial aid should discuss any planned schedule changes with Dan Beaty, our financial aid representative, beforehand to ensure that their aid status will not be affected.
*For Example:
Register for one 3-credit 600 level course in Term I and one 3-credit 600 level course in Term II** = a total of 36 Units
OR
Register for one 3-credit 600 level course in Term II** and one 3-credit 600 level course in Term III = a total of 36 Units
**Note: credits for each term can only be used once for the purposes of qualifying for aid
HOW TO APPLY
If you are interested in applying for financial assistance, please visit www.fafsa.ed.gov to file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) online. The University of Maryland's institutional code is 002103. After you file the FAFSA, your file will be reviewed for federal, state and institutional aid eligibility.
ALTERNATIVE LOANS
If additional funding is needed, or if you are not a degree-seeking student, there are alternative loans available.
FINANCIAL AID CONTACT INFORMATION
If you have any questions regarding financial aid, please contact the Office of Student Financial Aid using the following information:
Telephone: 301-314-9000
Fax: 301-314-9587
umfinaid@umd.edu
0102 Lee Building
University of Maryland
College Park, MD 20742
