Merit Awards

The Literature Department offers our applicants merit awards that include tuition remission and (taxable) stipends for each of two years of full time study. The competition for merit scholarships is keen. The priority application deadline to be considered for merit awards is February 1.

Factors that contribute to selection for merit awards are an outstanding undergraduate academic record, a well-written and engaging personal statement, and most importantly a strong writing sample in one genre. Some workshop experience is also encouraged. Applicants are not required to submit GRE scores.

Students who receive partial merit awards with stipend may work editing for Folio or writing for Café Américain.

Budget permitting, we also offer a few work-study opportunities for up to ten hours a week-with the same compensation noted above-for students to serve as either teaching assistants or writing consultants. These optional hours of work provide not only further financial assistance but also valuable hands-on experience to students interested in teaching.

Need-Based Financial Aid

The University also offers need-based financial aid and assistance through various federal loans. For more information, please contact Graduate Financial Aid at 202-885-6500 or facounselor@american.edu.

Employment

Students are encouraged to contact the university's Human Resources Office (202-885-2591) for information about part-time and full-time employment opportunities on-campus. The university provides eligible faculty and staff members with educational benefits including tuition remission for graduate courses taken at American University. Note: You must have completed four months of active full-time employment before the last day of late registration for any given semester in order to qualify for tuition remission benefits for that semester. The maximum benefit available is eight credits per semester. In addition, your total credits for courses taken under the program may not exceed 20 credits per academic year. For more information, please contact the university's Human Resources Office.

For off-campus employment, consult the AU Career Center Job Listing Service (202-885-1800). Or consult JobCorps, sponsored by the university's Student Government.