Financial Information

Tuition and Fee Schedule

Graduate student tuition and fees per quarter for the 2003-2004 academic year (Autumn, Winter, and Spring Quarters) are:

The *technology fee* is included in the following tuition rates.
Credits	Resident	Non-Resident
Full time (7-18 credits)	$2,257	$5,598

Summer Quarter attendance is optional for SMA students. Tuition is always subject to change.

Cost of Living

Living expenses vary widely among individuals. In general, however, graduate students should budget approximately $1,447 per month for living expenses (books, room and board, personal items and transportation) for 9 months. International students should plan for $39,078.00 per year which includes tuition, fees and living expenses for four quarters (summer included). In addition, another $8,423.00 should be budgeted per year for a dependent/spouse and $3,470.00 for each child.
Quoted amounts are subject to change and one should be prepared for adjustments without notice.

The University offers a variety of housing facilities and meal plans, including double-occupancy rooms with minimum board, unmarried student shared apartments and studio apartments, and family housing. Costs are subject to change. A wide selection of housing units at competitive rents are available in the surrounding community.

Assistantships, Scholarships, Internships, Fellowships & Financial Aid

There are a variety of ways students can earn money and gain professional work experience while attending the School of Marine Affairs (SMA). Described below are several helpful methods and resources. Initiative counts! Experience has shown that students who take initiative in creating or securing positions are often rewarded for their efforts.

Assistantships

Research and Teaching Assistantships (RA or TA) are established university positions with various ranks, pay scales and rules, which are predetermined by the University. RAs are most often built into research grants secured by particular professors, but sometimes are funded by the University itself with state, gift or other funds. Also, students who qualify for work-study can receive a RA where the costs are shared between the federal work-study program and a departmental source of funds (grant, gift or state funds). RAs and TAs receive a tuition waiver and a monthly stipend.

Every year, we have several RA positions awarded to entering students, based on merit. We also have between five and ten RAs as part of research grants generated by faculty members. These are usually filled by second-year students. RA positions that become available during the school year are publicized via email to all students. Responsibility for awarding RA and TA positions rests with individual faculty members or the SMA Director. Experience has shown that student initiative is the main driving force in securing these positions. SMA faculty recognizes this and encourages student inquiries and initiative about positions. For more information about faculty members and research opportunities, consult your application packet or check out the faculty bios on the SMA website.

Scholarships

SMA rewards three scholarships to outstanding students each year.

The Wedell O. Foss Fellowship awards one student a year who is studying maritime commerce and industry. The recipient receives about $3500 during the quarter they are completing the thesis.
The Alan Blankenship Memorial Scholarship awards one student a year that is actively involved in the field of marine recreation and tourism. The recipient receives $1000 during Spring quarter.
The Donald L. McKernan Award is awarded each year for an outstanding thesis in Marine Affairs. The recipient receives $500 during Spring quarter.

Internships and Fellowships

Internships are positions in organizations that are designed to give the student professional experience that prepares or advances his or her career. We encourage students to seek internships, especially in the summer between their first and second years in order to gain valuable work experience. As mentioned before, internships are posted in Marine Studies 101 and are also publicized via the SMA-JOBS listserv.

Usually the supervision and salary for these positions is managed by the organization. At times the funding for the student intern comes through the University and the student will receive pay from UW. Please note that internships can include earning University credit through an Independent Study course with a professor, if a specific academic product results.

The three following internship and fellowship programs are worth special mention because they are unique and valuable work opportunities for SMA students. For more information on each of these opportunities, check out the Career Services page.

The Knauss Sea Grant Fellowship matches highly qualified graduate students with hosts in the legislative branch, the executive branch, or appropriate associations/institutions located in the Washington, D.C. area for a one-year paid fellowship. Each year about two SMA students become Knauss Fellows.
NOAA Coastal Services Center Coastal Management Fellowship provides professional on-the-job education and training opportunities for post-graduate students in coastal resource management and policy. Fellows are placed with state hosts around the U.S. in state coastal zone management programs. For two years, the recipient will work on substantive state-level coastal resource management issues that pertain to federal management policies and regulations. Usually one SMA student per year becomes a Coastal Management Fellow.
The Presidential Management Internship (PMI) is designed to attract to the federal service outstanding graduate students from a wide variety of academic disciplines who have an interest in, and commitment to, a career in the analysis and management of public policies and programs. All cabinet departments and more than 50 federal agencies have hired Presidential Management Interns. SMA usually has one graduate a year who receives the PMI.

Other Employment

On occasion, SMA also receives grants that facilitate placement of interns. Faculty, or the School itself, can hire students on an hourly wage basis. The rate paid and the tasks are flexible and need not be directly related to career development.

Career Services

The career services coordinator posts new job and internship openings in Marine Studies 101 and via the SMA-JOBS listserv every week. The listserv is open to current students and alumni. The career services coordinator is available to assist students and alumni with resume and cover letter writing, job hunting strategies, interviewing, salary negotiation, networking and other career development skills. Check out the Career Services page on the SMA Website. After you've had a chance to surf the site, please direct further questions to:

Career Services Coordinator
phone: 206-543-0106
email: uwsma@u.washington.edu

Financial Aid

The SMA office does not handle financial aid. Loans and work-study, based on financial need, are coordinated by the Office of Student Financial Aid.

You may contact the Office of Student Financial Aid at ofsa@u.washington.edu or get more information from their Website at www.washington.edu/students/osfa/how.apply.html
You can also fill out the FAFSA online at www.fafsa.ed.gov
You must list the "University of Washington-Seattle" Code 003798 in Step 6.

Please note: for priority consideration of financial aid, applications must be mailed by February 15, 2004, and dated as received by the Federal Processor by February 28, 2004. It is advised that you to apply for financial aid even if you have yet to hear about your admission to SMA.

Admissions Procedure | SMA Masters Program | Degree Requirements | Financial Information | Additional Information

UW School of Marine Affairs
3707 Brooklyn Ave. NE
Seattle, WA 98105-6715
uwsma@u.washington.edu