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External Sources of Financial Aid

Numerous other programs administered outside the university may be used to fund graduate study here. For a full listing, potential students should consult any of several reference works that roster financial aid programs for graduate students available at career planning and placement offices of universities and at many university and public libraries. While the major programs fund most of those who receive aid, many smaller programs have such narrowly defined missions, or are so poorly publicized, that they may have no applicants. The applicant who identifies such a program has a very high probability of obtaining aid.

Among the externally administered financial aid programs of greatest interest to our applicants are:

Academic Common Market . Under this affiliation of fourteen southern U.S. states, residents of Georgia, South Carolina and West Virginia are eligible for in-state tuition rates while studying for the M.S.P. degree and residents of Alabama, Kentucky, Louisiana, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia are eligible for in-state tuition while studying for the Ph.D. degree at Florida State University. These students need only contact the Academic Common Market coordinator in their state and request participation in the program or contact our admissions assistant.

Residents of other southern states are potentially eligible as well, but must have a judgment made by the ACM Coordinator in their state as to the inclusion of our degree program. Such judgments are simple to initiate, but the request must come from an applicant for admission, or enrolled student at Florida State . The Admissions Assistant of the Department can provide applicants with the name and address of the ACM Coordinator in their home state.

American Planning Association Minority Fellowships . Provides tuition and stipend for minority American students who are studying toward PAB-accredited master's degrees in planning. For information contact the American Planning Association, 122 S. Michigan Ave., Suite 1600 , Chicago , Illinois 60605 Attn: Margaret Morrison or visit their web site at http://www.planning.org/educ/schlship.htm

Aylesworth Marine Policy Fellowships . Supports selected graduate students studying toward marine policy careers at Florida universities. Applications are due in September and must be submitted by the department. For information, contact Florida Sea Grant College Program, Building 803, University of Florida , Gainesville , FL 32611 or visit their web site at http://www.flseagrant.org

Environmental Protection Agency Graduate Fellowships. Supports graduate students studying for careers in environmental protection and public health. For information contact the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, Research Triangle Park , NC 27709 or visit their web site at http://es.epa.gov/ncerqa/fellow/

McKnight Black Doctoral Fellowship Program . For newly enrolled black American students who intend to study through the doctorate. $11,000 stipend plus tuition waiver and other assistance. Completed applications are due by January 15 for subsequent fall enrollment. For information contact Florida Endowment Fund, 201 E. Kennedy Blvd. , Tampa , Florida 33601 or visit their web site at http://www.fl-educ-fd.org/mdf.html .

National Science Foundation Graduate Fellowships. A generous but very competitive program for U.S. citizens who are beginning full-time graduate work. Completed applications are due by mid-November for subsequent fall enrollment. For information contact the National Research Council Fellowship Office, 2101 Constitution Avenue , Washington , DC 20418 or visit their web site at http://www.nsf.gov/home/students/start.htm#grad .

International Linkage Institutes. The Florida State University System maintains relationships with various foreign universities under which selected nationals of certain foreign nations may obtain tuition assistance at FSU. The nations or regions involved at the present time are: Brazil, Canada, the Caribbean, China, Costa Rica, Eastern Europe, France, Israel, Japan, Mexico, and West Africa. For detailed information concerning a specific nation contact the DURP Admissions Assistant, or see the University Office of Financial Aid Financial Information web page.

Women’s Leadership Scholarship. A program supported by the Channel Foundation of Seattle for women from indigenous groups or developing countries who have at least three years of professional experience in human rights, sustainable development, and/or public health and are applying for their first master’s degree in a field that will enhance their abilities to continue that work in their native country. Up to US$25,000 per academic year for a maximum of two years. Pre-applications due by March 14. For information see http://www.nativeleaders.org/info.html.

In addition to formal financial aid programs, M.S.P. students at Florida State may wish to consider part-time work with government agencies, consulting firms, or non-governmental organizations in the Tallahassee area. Such positions are widely available to our students and can provide valuable professional experience. A list of selected recent internship agencies appears in this Guidebook. A more comprehensive listing may be obtained from the Department's Internship and Job Placement Coordinator.