A variety of forms of financial assistance, including merit-based tuition scholarships, are available from the university to help students—including online and international students—offset the cost of tuition and fees.
It is not necessary to have an admission decision to begin the financial aid process. The Office of Financial Aid can answer questions about applying
for financial aid, calculating the overall cost of attendance, and billing and payment options.
Scholarships & Fellowships
New School Tuition Scholarships
All graduate students in the School of Media Studies, including certificate students, who indicate on the application their interest in these awards will be considered for a competitive tuition scholarship. Awards are based on the strength of the application
(Statement of Purpose; letters of recommendation; portfolio, if applicable; and prior academic performance) and the contributions the admission committee believes the applicant can make to the School of Media Studies community. No additional application
components are required for most university scholarships. Scholarships cover up to 75 percent of tuition. A large proportion of admitted students are offered merit-based tuition scholarships. Merit-based tuition scholarships are available to students
pursuing full-time or part-time study, on campus or online.
Public Engagement Fellowship
The Public Engagement Fellows Program is a two-year fellowship for incoming leaders committed to addressing equity, inclusion, and social justice (EISJ) challenges while pursuing a master's degree at The Schools of Public Engagement (SPE). Through the fellowship, we aim to recognize incoming students who have demonstrated commitment to effecting positive change in New York City and around the world. The Public Engagement Fellowship will place each fellow in one of our college’s centers, programs, institutes, and labs to further the work of the various EISJ initiatives of that entity. Students who are selected for the fellowship receive $5,000 each year for two years. Students are eligible for fellowship funding in combination with merit-based scholarships, not to exceed the cost of tuition. For more information on how to apply, visit the Public Engagement Fellows Program website.
Impact Entrepreneurship Graduate Fellowship
The Impact Entrepreneurship Graduate Fellowship is designed to attract and support high-potential leaders from diverse backgrounds who are committed to creating positive social impact through entrepreneurship while pursuing a master's degree at The New
School. Fellows participate in a cohort-based experience that includes mentorship, workshops, networking opportunities, and the chance to apply for a Venture Lab in the second year of their program. Students who are selected for the Fellowship receive $5,000 each year for two years. Students are eligible for fellowship funding in combination with merit-based scholarships, not to exceed the cost of tuition. For more information on how to apply, visit the Impact Entrepreneurship website.
Deanna Kamiel Fellowship
The Deanna Kamiel Fellowship honors the legacy of Deanna Kamiel through a scholarship program that benefits students with financial needs in the Documentary Studies Certificate program. Each year, one eligible student will be selected for the Fellowship and receive an award of $5,000 toward tuition. This award comes in addition to any merit-based scholarship the students may receive from the program. All new applicants to the Documentary Studies Certificate program are automatically considered for the Fellowship. For questions regarding this fellowship, please contact Amir Husak, Assistant Professor of Media Studies.
Bishwanath and Sandhya Sinha Memorial Endowed Fellowship
This annual fellowship will fund a research assistantship in the area of digital media studies, with an emphasis on migration and creativity. The Sinha Memorial Fellowship is meant to promote excellence in media studies as a field of critical reflection and practice. The one-year fellowship is available to second-year MA students who have maintained a GPA of 3.7 or higher. Apply here for this fellowship.
Special Programs & Recognition
The School of Media Studies gives additional consideration for merit-based awards or special recognition to those applicants who have actively participated in professional or academic or service programs, such as the Paul D. Coverdell Fellowship Program
and the Fulbright Program. Also, as a veteran-friendly institution, The New School invites veterans and their dependents to apply to our graduate programs; they may be considered for special recognition awards. To learn more, visit the
Student Veteran Services website.
Paul D. Coverdell Peace Corps Fellowship Program
The New School is one of the few universities eligible to enroll students who have been selected to receive graduate fellowships through the Paul D. Coverdell Fellows Program. Our mission
of social responsibility, our master's degree programs, and the unique environment at The New School have made the university attractive to Paul D. Coverdell Fellows.
The Peace Corps Description of Service must be accompanied by your application in order to be eligible for these competitive scholarships. This competitive award will cover 30 percent to 75 percent of tuition for either the MA in Media Studies or the MS in Media Management program, as well as mandatory fees (university services
and student senate fees).* The application fee is waived. There is no limit to the number of Coverdell Fellowship recipients admitted to our programs for a given semester.
Mayor’s Graduate Scholarship Program
The university offers competitive scholarships of up to 75 percent of tuition costs to qualified permanent New York City government employees who are entering part-time students in the school's master's degree programs.* The Mayor's Graduate Scholarship is awarded for the duration of a student's registration in the program as long as the student takes at least six credits each semester and makes satisfactory academic progress.
Applications are available from Mayor's Scholarship Program, Office of the Mayor, City Hall, New York, NY 10007. You must submit a letter of intent with your application in order to be eligible for the scholarship.
Fulbright Program
The Fulbright Program supports educational exchanges that strengthen understanding and communication between the United States and more than 140 countries. It is administered through the Institute for International Education (IIE). The fellowship is evaluated
and awarded on a case-by-case basis; the decision is informed by IIE's evaluation. For more information on how to apply, visit the Fulbright website.
Third-Party Funding
Students expecting reimbursement from their employer or a sponsoring organization can defer payment of tuition and fees upon presentation of a signed official authorization from their employer or sponsor on company letterhead and a deferment form, available
on the Office of Student Accounts website.
Assistantships for Current Students
In order to be eligible for an assistantship with the School of Media Studies, students must meet the following minimum standards and eligibility criteria in the semester for which they would like to apply:
- They must be a current graduate-level student.
- They must be registered for a minimum of 9 credits in the semester they would like to be considered for a position.
- They must be within the time limit for earning their degree.
- They must be a continuing student and have achieved a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0.
- They must not have more than 33 percent of attempted course credits as incompletes.
- They must not be employed at The New School as an administrative employee.
- If selected, they must file new hire paperwork at the university if they are a first-time student employee. International students must complete foreign national forms. Students will not be allowed to
work until all new hire paperwork is completed and approved.
- All selected students must be authorized to work in the United States and must obtain a Social Security number. (International students on F1 and J1 visas are eligible.)
- All students must adhere to the 20-hour-per-week limit. The 20 hours per week includes the total amount of time devoted to all on-campus jobs. Federal regulations limit international students to 20 hours of employment per week.
- The announcement of fall assistantships is made in April of the previous academic year. The announcement of spring assistantships is made in November.
Course Assistant
The student will support teaching and learning outcomes through non-instructional activities. Duties may include attending class, making photocopies, demonstrating use of equipment, distributing attendance sheets, proctoring exams, collecting assignments,
assisting with classroom setup (e.g., coordinating tech setup with Audio/Visual), uploading course content online, tracking students’ participation online, assisting students having difficulty with online environment, and grading.
Student Assistant Specialist
The student will carry out specialized administrative work in support of administrative or academic areas of the university. Duties may include cataloging and archiving of student and faculty projects, production of university journals or publications,
project management for university events, maintenance of technical resources for university facilities, maintenance of online and audiovisual resources, and provision of extra-classroom support for course administration.
Students must be able to commit to eight hours of assistantship work per week during the semester.
Graduate Student Teaching Program
The New School provides graduate students with employment opportunities as Teaching Fellows and Teaching Assistants. Teaching Fellows are the instructors of record for their courses and bear full responsibility for the classes they teach. Teaching Assistants
work under the direction of a course instructor to help with a range of instructional responsibilities. View the Graduate Student Teaching Program page for information on how to apply.
Research Assistant
The student will support ongoing research projects and perform substantive academic tasks associated with coursework and/or faculty research. This position is available for faculty grant projects.
*These awards are offered by the program in lieu of merit-based tuition scholarships.