The Law School does not award need-based grants to LLM students. However, there are a limited number of fellowships and scholarships available to LLM students at the Law School, awarded by Graduate Admissions.
If you are an International applicant to the LLM degree program, inquire about financial aid directly through the International Graduate Programs Office.
Fellowships and Scholarships
The following fellowships and scholarships are available to graduate law students. If you wish to be considered for any of these fellowships, submit a letter of interest to the appropriate admissions office at the time application is made. The application for admission as well as all supporting documents must be received by the relevant deadline in order for you to be considered for a fellowship.
- Randolph C. Shaw Graduate Fellowship
Randolph C. Shaw (LLB 1915, LLM 1923) established a fellowship for those pursuing an advanced degree in law. The Shaw Fellowship for full tuition is reserved for a student in the Environmental Law Program who will assist the director of that program on a part-time basis throughout the academic year.
- Faculty Research Fellowships
The Law School has limited funds available to assist graduate students who work with faculty on research and other projects during the academic year in exchange for tuition remission. The amount of individual awards varies.
- Thomas Buergenthal Scholarships
Thomas Buergenthal Scholarships, which cover full or partial tuition, are awarded on the basis of academic merit and financial need to non-U.S. law school graduates. The amount of the award is determined by the International Graduate Programs Office. Contact the LLM Admissions Office to apply for a Buergenthal scholarship.
- Momsen, Leonardos Scholarship for Brazilian Law Graduates
The Momsen Scholarship provides tuition assistance to Brazilian graduate law students with a special interest in U.S. constitutional law or intellectual property law. The amount of the award is determined by the International Graduate Programs Office. Contact the LLM Admissions Office to apply for Momsen, Leonardo scholarships.
- The Honorable Gerald J. Mossinghoff Fellowship for Graduate Research in Intellectual Property Law
The Mossinghoff Fellowship is awarded annually to either an LLM or SJD degree candidate. Preference will be given to a candidate who is specializing in the pharmaceutical field.
Scholarship Forms may be obtained from the LLM Admissions Office.
Please pay careful attention to all e-mail messages that you receive from GW Law, and be sure to let the Law Financial Aid Office know of any changes in your e-mail address.
2013-2014 Cost of Attendance, LLM Program*
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Nine-Month Academic Year Costs
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Full-Time LLM (12 credit hours per semester)
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Part-Time LLM (5 credit hours per semester)
|
|
Books and Supplies
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$1,102
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$870
|
|
Health Insurance
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$2,000
|
$2,000
|
|
Personal Expenses
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$3,200
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$3,200
|
|
Room and Board
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$18,900
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$18,900
|
|
Transportation Allowance
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$2,000
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$2,000
|
|
Tuition and fees
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$42,072
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$17,530
|
|
Total
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$69,274
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$44,500
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1) The LLM tuition is charged at a per-credit rate of $1,753.00.
2) For planning purposes, LLM students should expect an annual increase in tuition of at least 5%.
3) Students studying with permission at another law school are charged a $35 continuous enrollment fee per semester. The cost of attendance provided by the host school is used by the GW Law Financial Aid office to determine loan eligibility.
4) SJD tuition is charged at the full-time JD academic year rate applicable to the year in which the candidate is admitted, and then divided over four semesters. For example, S.JD candidates admitted in either fall 2013 or spring 2014 pay the full-time JD tuition for 2013-2014, $49,840, divided into four equal payments of $12.460, one for each of the first four semesters of their enrollment in the SJD program.
Required Course Loads for Federal and Private Loans
LLM students must be enrolled at least half-time (5-8 credit hours) in each semester for which they are requesting loans. Any enrollment change may result in financial aid changes.
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LLM
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Full-time
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Part-Time
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Fall/Spring semesters
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9 or more credits
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5-8 credits
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|
Summer semester
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5 of more credits
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3-4 credits
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Federal and Other Student Loans
Federal Direct Student Loans
For details on the terms of these loans and eligibility requirements, refer to the pages on Federal Direct Stafford Loans and Federal Direct GradPLUS Loans.
To have your eligibility determined for Federal Direct Loans, you must submit:
1) The 2013-2014 Free Application for Federal Student Aid FAFSA with your (and your spouse's, if applicable) information.
2) The GW Law Financial Aid Request Form [pdf]
Federal Direct Stafford Loans
All students who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents may borrow up to $20,500 each year in the Federal Direct Stafford Loan, regardless of credit-worthiness. Currently, the interest rate on the Federal Direct Stafford Loan is fixed at 6.8%, with up-front fees charged of 1%. Unless an extended payment plan is chosen, the Federal Direct Stafford Loan must be repaid within 10 years. The aggregate maximum a student can borrow through Federal Direct Stafford Loans is $138,500.
Federal Direct GradPLUS Loan
All students who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents and who do not have "adverse credit" in the 90 days prior to application for the loan may borrow the Federal Direct Graduate PLUS loan in an amount up to the total cost of attendance, less all other financial aid. Currently, the interest rate on the Federal Direct Graduate PLUS Loan is fixed at 7.9%, with up-front fees charged of 4.204%. Unless an extended payment plan is chosen, the Federal Direct Graduate PLUS loan must be repaid within 10 years. There is no aggregate maximum amount for the Federal Direct Graduate PLUS Loan. Federal Direct Graduate PLUS Loans are minimally credit based. Your credit will be pulled resulting in a hard hit to your credit report. Credit decisions are valid for 90 days.
Private Loans
Although the Law School does not package financial aid with private loans, students might prefer to borrow private loans through any vendor of their choice. Your financial aid counselor will work with you and your lender to certify and disburse any private loans you wish you borrow. Private loans cannot be consolidated with federal loans, and have stringent credit requirements. It is the student's responsibility to choose a private loan product; the Law School does not recommend one program over another.
Student Loans for International Students
Students who are not U.S. citizens or permanent residents are not eligible for Federal Direct Loans. International students with need should explore private loans, which generally require a creditworthy U.S. citizen co-signer. The co-signer’s credit report will be pulled by the Department of Education, or its contractors, and a hard hit on their credit report will result. Credit decisions are good for 90 days. International students should consult with the Law Financial Aid Office for assistance.
Financial Aid Award Packages
Your application for financial aid will be complete upon submission of a completed FAFSA and, for those selected for verification, all additional required documentation, and the GW Law Financial Aid Request Form [pdf]. It is our goal to provide applicants with financial aid award notice (via the GWeb self-service system) within 21 days of GW Law's receipt of your completed financial aid application.
Please note that we will base your initial financial aid award on the information that we have at the time we make the award. As supplemental information is provided and changes occur (e.g. amended FAFSA data, federal tax returns, or other documents required in the verification process, etc.), we retain the right to modify your financial aid award.
Notification of Arrival of Funds
We will notify you via Banner e-mail when your award is ready for your review on GWeb. Once you view awards on GWeb, you will be able to accept, decline, or accept a reduced award, if desired.
From GWeb, you will be able to link directly, if necessary, to the government website for loan applications. You must fill out the Master Promissory Note (MPN) for each of the loans you wish to borrow, Federal Direct Stafford and/or Federal Direct Graduate PLUS loans. As federal direct loan entrance counseling is school-specific, you will need to complete it for GW Law. You may review whether or not you have active MPNs on the Student Loans website under the headings "My Loan Documents" and Completed MPN's where date/time stamps of each will appear if already completed.
When and How do Funds Arrive?
Federal Direct loans are issued in two equal portions, divided between the fall and spring semesters of the academic year, arriving at the beginning of each semester.
Student Account e-Refund of Excess Funds
Financial aid award funds are disbursed to your GW Law Student Account at the beginning of each semester. If the awards you have expected exceed the amount owed on the GW Student Account e-Bill system per semester, you will receive a refund to assist with your external educational expenses, such as books, housing, meals, etc. To set up your direct deposit e-refund, please register online through Student Account eBill.
Return and Refund Policies of Title IV Funds and Institutional Aid (including merit scholarships and GW Law need-based grants)
By federal regulation, the GW Law School Financial Aid Office is required to calculate a Return of Title IV Funds amount for all financial aid recipients who withdraw are dismissed, or who take a Leave of Absence during a semester. The policy applies to financial aid recipients who discontinue enrollment in all classes, on or after the first day of the semester. The earned portion of federal loan aid is calculated on a daily basis using calendar days from the first day of instruction. Any aid received in excess of the earned amount is considered unearned. Title IV funds are returned to the federal programs in the amount of unearned federal loan aid you received at the beginning of the semester.
Depending on the timing in your change in your enrollment status, the Law School Financial Aid Office will also pro-rate or revoke institutional aid depending on the timing of a change in your enrollment status. Contact your financial aid counselor for more details.
Note for Graduating Students
LLM students who will be taking their first state bar exam may be eligible to increase their Cost of Attendance and Graduate PLUS Loan eligibility for this expense. Please contact your financial aid counselor for details. Costs associated with taking the bar exam, including prep course fees and summer living expenses, cannot be included in GW Law's estimate of costs for the nine-month academic year. Creditworthy applicants may apply for a bar loan from participating lenders. Please check with your financial aid counselor for more details.
Summer Courses
Costs associated with taking a half-time or more course load in the summer may be met with private loans or Federal Direct Graduate PLUS Loans. Please work with your financial aid counselor to apply for summer funds.
GW Law Financial Aid Office
Once you have completed your FAFSA and provided all required information, the GW Law Financial Aid Office will provide information to you about the GWeb self-service system, the procedure for securing your student loans, etc. Feel free to contact the staff at any time with questions about budgeting, borrowing and making plans for the repayment of student loans.
The GW Law Financial Aid Office is located at 700 20th Street NW, Washington, DC 20052 (corner of 20th and G Streets).
The main phone number is 202.994.6592, the fax number is 202.994.3597, and the general e-mail address is finaid@law.gwu.edu.