The Law School does not award need-based grants to LL.M. students. However, there are a limited number of fellowships and scholarships available to LL.M. students at the Law School, awarded by Graduate Admissions.
If you are an International applicant to the LL.M. 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, LL.B. 1915, LL.M. 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. Download Scholarship Application form (below) to apply for 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. Download Scholarship Application form (below) 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 LL.M. or S.J.D. degree candidate. Preference will be given to a candidate who is specializing in the pharmaceutical field.
Scholarship Application form [pdf]
Students are assigned a financial aid counselor who will assist and guide them through the loan application process. Counselor assignments are as follows:
If your last name begins with: A-I, your counselor is:
Nancy LaMotta, 202.994.3437
If your last name beings with: J-R, your counselor is:
Darshani Don, 202.994.6087
If your last name begins with: S-Z, your counselor is:
Beth Amurao, 202.994.3417
Please pay careful attention to all e-mail messages that you receive from GW Law, and be sure to let your financial aid counselor know of any changes in your e-mail address.
Estimated Cost for LL.M. Program for 2011-2012
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2011-2012 Nine-Month Academic Year Costs
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Full-Time LL.M. (12 credit hours per semester)
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Part-Time LL.M. (5 credit hours per semester)
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Books and Supplies
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$1,066
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$840
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Health Insurance
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$1,800
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$1,800
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Loan Origination and Guarantee Fees
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$1,400
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$1,400
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Personal Expenses
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$3,200
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$3,200
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Room and Board
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$18,500
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$18,500
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Transportation Allowance
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$2,200
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$2,200
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Tuition and fees
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$38,604
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$16,085
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Total
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$66,770
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$44,025
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1) The LL.M. tuition is charged at a per-credit rate of $1,608.50.
2) For planning purposes, LL.M. students should expect an annual increase in tuition of at least $1,500.
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) S.J.D. tuition is charged at the full-time J.D. academic year rate applicable to the year in which the candidate is admitted, then divided over four semesters. S.J.D. candidates admitted in either fall 2011 or spring 2012 will pay the full-time J.D. tuition for 2011-2012, $45,750, divided into four equal payments of $11,437.50, one for each of the first four semesters of their enrollment in the S.J.D. program.
Required Course Loads for Federal and Private Loans
LL.M. 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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LL.M.
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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 FAFSA with your (and your spouse's, if applicable) information.
2) Law School Financial Aid Application [pdf]
Types of Federal Direct Student Loans:
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. Of this $20,500, up to $8,500 per year may be subsidized, which means that interest does not begin to accrue on this amount until six months after completion of your course of study or after you discontinue at least half-time enrollment. Eligibility for the interest subsidy on the first $8,500 Stafford Loan is determined by your FAFSA expected family contribution (EFC). Currently, the interest rate on the Federal Direct Stafford Loan is fixed at 6.8%, with the up-front fees charged of 1%, rebated to 0.5%. Unless an extended payment plan is chosen, the Federal Direct Stafford Loan must be repaid within 10 years. The aggregate maximum a student can ever 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 GradPLUS loan in an amount up to the total cost of attendance, less all other financial aid. Currently, the interest rate on the Federal Direct GradPLUS Loan is fixed at 7.9%, with up-front fees charged of 4%, rebated to 2.5%. Unless an extended payment plan is chosen, the Federal Direct GradPLUS loan must be repaid within 10 years. There is no aggregate maximum amount for the Federal Direct GradPLUS Loan.
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 facilitate certification and disbursement of any private loans you wish you borrow. Private loans are not consolidatable 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. GW Law has limited endowed loan funds for which international students may qualify; you should also explore private loans, which generally require a creditworthy U.S. citizen co-signer. International students should consult with their financial aid counselor 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 Application [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.
Accepting 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 federal direct loan website for loan applications. If you have already signed federal direct MPNs (Master Promissory Notes) for Federal Direct Stafford and Federal Direct GradPLUS loans within the past five years, you do not need to sign them again. 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 "View Previously Completed Counseling," where date/time stamps for each will appear if already completed.
Notification of Arrival of Funds
You will be notified by e-mail of the arrival of loan funds each semester. If you do not receive notification when you expect it, check your account on GWeb, or contact your Financial Aid Counselor to check your status.
Student Account e-Refund of Excess Funds
Financial aid award funds are disbused 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)
The Law School Financial Aid Office is required by regulation to calculate a Refund of Fees and a Return of Title IV Dunds 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 return of Title IV funds is the amount of unearned aid you received at the beginning of the semester that must be returned to the federal aid programs. Any aid received in excess of the earned amount is considered unearned. The earned portion is calculated on a daily basis using calendar days from the first day of instruction. 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
Costs associated with taking the bar exam, including application 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 GradPLUS Loans. Please work with your financial aid counselor to apply for summer funds.
Guiding You Through the Process
Your assigned financial aid counselor will provide more detailed information to you about your GWeb self-service system, the procedure for securing your student loans, etc., once you have completed your FAFSA and provided all required information. You should feel free to contact your assigned counselor at anytime with any questions you have.
GW Law Financial Aid Office
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.