Emergency and Additional Support Funding

Financial Aid Office Stanford Support Programs

The University has created the following programs specifically for graduate students dealing with challenging financial situations. Please see the Financial Aid Office website for more details. 

Graduate Cash Advance Program

A cash advance is a university resource available to you, as a graduate student, to assist you with expenses before your graduate financial support is posted to your student account and/or Tuition Assistantship (TA)/Resident Assistant (RA) salary is paid. For more information including repayment requirements, visit Student Financial Services.

Emergency Grant-In-Aid

Emergency Grant-in-Aid Funds assist graduate students who experience a financial emergency or unanticipated expenses, causing financial hardship. This program is designed to assist in situations where the emergency may impede academic progress, and for those who cannot reasonably resolve their financial difficulty through fellowships, loans, or personal resources. For more detailed information and application procedures please refer to the Emergency Grant-In-Aid instructions and application form.

Graduate Family Grant Program

The Graduate Family Grant provides financial support per year per family to eligible graduate students with dependent children. Funds may be used flexibly as needed to cover expenses such as childcare, healthcare and rent. Awards will be disbursed via the student’s account and are considered taxable income. Please review the program guidelines before completing the application.

Graduate Housing Loan

Graduate and professional students who will be living off-campus may apply for loan funds to help with move-in costs, such as first and last month's rent and security deposit. Loan funds are provided by Stanford. For more detailed information and application procedures please refer to the Graduate Housing Loan website. 

Cardinal Care Subsidy

The University’s Cardinal Care student health insurance plan is managed by the Vaden Health Center . The Financial Aid Office administers an automatic University-wide subsidy program for Graduate students. Please review the guidelines and refer to the Cardinal Care subsidy website.

GSE Student Emergency Funding Program

The GSE Student Emergency Funding Program assists GSE graduate students who experience a financial emergency or unanticipated expenses* causing financial hardship. This program is designed to assist those who cannot reasonably resolve their financial difficulty through fellowships, loans or personal resources. 

Emergency funding provides grants that reimburse actual expenses. These awards are not a loan, and do not need to be repaid. Emergency funds awarded are tax-reportable income.

Eligible expenses: Unanticipated or unusual expenses (most commonly medical, dental, or legal, but other expenses can be considered) outside of the standard student budget outlined by the University that may hinder the student’s academic progress will be considered.  Costs must have been incurred while enrolled at Stanford, and costs for a previous or future academic year will not be considered.  Each case is considered on its own merits.

*Emergency funding is not intended for tuition or fees, standard living expenses, research-related expenses, travel to and from internship/practicum/research sites and conferences, or when other aid has ceased.

Limit: up to $2,000 per academic year

Process: Student submits an Emergency Grant-in-Aid application(link is external) to the Financial Aid Office (FAO). FAO reviews the application and makes the determination that the student is eligible for emergency funds. If FAO is not able to cover your expenses either partially or in-full, then you may apply for GSE Student Emergency Funds. To apply, submit the following documents to  Connie Chang, Assistant Dean for Student Affairs:

• A copy of the Emergency Grant-in-Aid application
• Include supporting documents (e.g. receipts)
• Include the response from FAO

You may receive a max amount of $2,000 in GSE Student Emergency Funds per year.