Graduate Admissions

Graduate students (5 or more credits per semester) are eligible* to apply for the Federal Direct Stafford Loan Program and the regular student employment program. Priority for Federal Perkins and Federal Work-Study is given to undergraduate students. For more information, contact the Financial Aid Office at 973-720-2202.

International students are not eligible for federal and state financial assistance at William Paterson University. However, students possessing F-1 or J-1 visas may work part-time on campus through the University’s own student employment program. Student may work up to twenty hours per week when classes are in session and forty hours per week during breaks. For information and eligibility criteria, contact the Director of International Students and Scholars, located in Raubinger Hall at 973-720-2976.

Graduate scholarships and financing information, please click here to visit the Office of Scholarships website. 

*Please be advised that graduate non-degree students who are not matriculated into a degree, certificate or endorsement program are not eligible for financial aid, or the unemployment tuition waiver. For details regarding financial assistance, please refer to the Financial Aid Office.

What is a Graduate Assistantship?

A graduate assistantship is an academic award that carries a $6,000 stipend and a waiver of tuition and fees for the extent of the appointment. Graduate assistants are students who are matriculated and enrolled full-time in a graduate program. Graduate assistants work on campus a total of twenty hours per week.

Requirements

Graduate assistantships are awarded competitively, based on specific qualifications. In order to be eligible for a graduate assistantship, you must (1) Be accepted into, or enrolled, in a William Paterson graduate program i.e. teaching certification, endorsement, or master's degree; (2) Have completed and filed a graduate assistantship application by April 1; (3) Have an undergraduate GPA of at least 3.0; (4) Submit a minimum of two letters of recommendation from former supervisors; (5) Provide a copy of your resume; and (6) Provide a statement about your career goals.

Applying for a Graduate Assistantship

You must complete the graduate admission application for a graduate degree program. Also, you must complete the graduate assistantship application (see requirements above). Your graduate assistantship application will be reviewed by the academic departments after acceptance into a graduate program.

To apply for a graduate assistantship, please download the graduate assistantship application [pdf].

Selection Process

Once you have been accepted into a graduate degree program, your graduate assistantship application will be available for departmental review. After review of graduate assistantship applications and supporting documentation, candidates may be interviewed. Upon completion of all interviews, the departments select the person to fill their graduate assistant positions and submit their recommendations to the Office of Graduate Admissions and Enrollment Services. The Office of Graduate Admissions and Enrollment Services submits the recommendations for approval to the University administration that includes; the Associate Vice President and Dean of Graduate Admissions, the Provost, and the Board of Trustees. Appointments are finalized at that time.

For reappointment, you must submit a new application.This process includes the graduate assistantship application and a letter of recommendation from the department in which you are employed. If you are seeking an appointment to a different department, you must complete the graduate assistantship application and submit two new letters of recommendation and a statement about your career goals. These documents must be submitted to the Office of Graduate Admissions by April 1.  

Assignment

Graduate assistants are appointed to work closely with an assigned faculty, staff, or administrator in a variety of settings. Under the direction of a supervisor, you will be expected to assist in carrying out the goals and mission of the unit. You must work 20 hours per week in your appointed department. Work is to commence on September 1, or date of assignment, and end on June 30 of each academic year.

For additional information about the Graduate Assistantship process, please contact Lissette DeJesus at 973.720.3093.