How to Read
this Catalog

Graduate and
Professional Degrees

Scholarships and
Financial Aid

Catalog Search

Scholarships and Financial Aid

On the page

Eligibility	Satisfactory Academic Progress
College Policies	Application
Scholarships	Grants
Loans	Work-Study
On-Campus Employment	Revision and Cancellation
Repayment of Student Aid

Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid 713/743-1010

The university has established the Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid to provide assistance to students through a program of scholarships, grants, loans, and employment. The aim of this office is to offer financial assistance to students who would otherwise be unable to attend the university as well as to encourage students of above-average scholastic ability.

The university recognizes that students and family situations are unique, and in this light the office carefully analyzes and considers every application and financial statement. The office treats all financial information with complete confidentiality. For more information contact:

Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid
University of Houston
Houston, Texas 77204-2160
713/743-1010

Satisfactory Academic Progress

Federal and state regulations governing student financial assistance require that an institution develop both qualitative and quantitative standards by which to measure a student's reasonable progress toward a degree objective.

A student not making such reasonable progress, even if deemed needy, is not eligible to receive student financial assistance.

Graduate students are required to maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average of at least a 3.00 (A=4.00) for all course work attempted at the University of Houston to be considered as having demonstrated academic progress for student financial assistance.

Law students who have previously attended the University of Houston are required to maintain at least a 2.00 (A=4.00) cumulative grade point average to be considered as having demonstrated academic progress for student financial assistance.

Professional students in the Colleges of Optometry and Pharmacy who have previously attended the University of Houston are required to maintain at least a 2.00 (A=4.00) cumulative grade point average to maintain academic progress for student financial assistance.

Postbaccalaureate students who have previously attended the University of Houston are required to maintain at least a 2.00 (A=4.00) cumulative grade point average to maintain academic progress for student financial assistance.

Incoming students who do not have a University of Houston academic history will be considered as having shown academic progress if they have been regularly admitted to the university.

In addition to maintaining an acceptable grade point average, a financial aid applicant must demonstrate acceptable progress toward a degree or certificate objective.

Hours completed do not include the following:
I (incomplete), U (unsatisfactory), or W (withdrawal).

The university will count credit hours for courses that have been repeated as hours attempted for each enrollment and will consider them as hours completed where grades other than I, U, or W have been assigned.

Classification	Total Hours	Completed Hours: Attempted Hours
Graduate and Professional (excluding Optometry)	100 hours beyond the B.A	75%
Optometry	200 hours beyond the B.A.	75%
Postbaccalaureate	100 hours beyond the first B.A.	75%

To obtain additional information on these regulations or to appeal a denial of assistance, contact the Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid.

College Policies

Policies included in this section of the catalog are minimum university standards for graduate programs. Colleges and departments may set standards that are higher than those of the university, but they may not set standards that are lower. Student who cannot enroll in a given semester must apply to their college for a leave of absence in order to remain in good standing.

It is also the obligation of students to see the appropriate college or department advisor for information regarding college and departmental policies.

Application

All students who wish to apply for financial aid must complete the following by the April 1 priority deadline:

1. Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), which may be obtained from:

   Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid
   University of Houston
   Houston, Texas 77204-2160

2. A separate scholarship application for scholarship consideration only, which may be picked up from the Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid, 26 Ezekiel W. Cullen Building, or requested by mail or phone.
3. A separate application is necessary for consideration for a Federal Stafford Student loan or a Parent Loan. Applications for loans through Texas lenders are available from the Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid.

Students who receive correspondence from the Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid should respond as soon as possible to avoid delays in the processing of their application. In some cases, the office may require other information after application forms are submitted, such as financial aid transcripts from previously attended postsecondary institutions, special scholarships, supplemental loan forms, or tax forms. The processing period for an aid application is approximately 6 weeks.

Scholarships

These are gift aid awards which are based on past academic performance or on expected college performance and are provided in three ways:

1. Campus funds, for which the campus scholarship committee chooses the recipients.
2. Funds provided by outside donors, for which academic departments choose the recipients.
3. Funds provided by outside donors, for which the donors choose the recipients.

To be considered for scholarships awarded by the scholarship committee and based on academic ability only, students must submit a separate scholarship application prior to February 1. For the exact deadline date, contact the Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid. Applicants to a graduate or professional studies program should attach a copy of their most recent transcript. To be considered for scholarship based on academic ability and financial need, students must complete financial aid and scholarship applications and submit the proper academic credentials.

Academic Competitive Scholarship Waiver

International or nonresident students who hold competitive scholarships of at least $200 for an academic year or summer session are entitled to pay resident tuition and fees provided they compete with other students, including Texas residents, for the scholarship. The scholarship and waiver must be awarded by a scholarship committee officially recognized by the university.

Stella Ehrhardt Fellowship and Cullen Scholarship for Graduate Study The Stella Ehrhardt Fellowship/Cullen Scholarship will be awarded to outstanding entering graduate students. Nominations must be initiated by the interested department or college.

Newly recruited graduate students will receive a supplement to their graduate assistantship although an assistantship is not a prerequisite for the award. One-half of the award is given during fee payment for the fall semester; the other half is given during fee payment for the spring semester.

Applications for the fellowship should include:

1. A letter of nomination from the department chair and/or director of graduate studies
2. Three letters of references, at least two from the nominee's major department. If one is from someone outside the department, it is essential that the reference concentrate on the nominee's current academic record and work.
3. Candidate's statement of academic goals
4. Transcripts
5. Test scores (GRE, GMAT, LSAT, etc.)
6. List of awards, publications, and or/or examples of work where possible or appropriate.

Contact the Office of the Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs for further information.

International Education Fee Scholarship

The International Education Fee Scholarship (IEFS) was established by the Texas Legislature for all Texas universities to support opportunities to study abroad. The IEFS is funded by a $1 per semester fee included in each UH student's fee bill. Eligibility is based on personal merit and financial need. Awards are offered in two categories: basic (amounts of a minimum of $500 for short-term programs of less than one semester) and comprehensive (amounts of a minimum of $1,000 for long-term programs of one semester or more).

IEFS selections are held every fall for programs occurring during the spring semester, and in spring for summer and fall programs. Applicants must be currently enrolled at UH and have attended for at least one semester, having earned a UH GPA at the time of application.

For more information, contact the Associate Vice President for Academic Programs' office at 743-9102.

Grants

These are gift aid awards provided to students who demonstrate exceptional need. Amounts range from $80 (building and use fee exemption) to $1,500 per year, depending upon the amount of need demonstrated and the availability of funds. Awards to graduate students are limited to:

1. Texas Public Education Grant
2. Building use fee exemption

Loans

These include:

1. Federal Perkins Student Loan (formerly National Direct Student Loan)
   
2. Hinson-Hazlewood College Student Loan
   
3. Federal Stafford Student Loan (formerly the Guaranteed Student Loan Program)—Subsidized
   
4. Federal Stafford Student Loan—Unsubsidized
   
5. Health Professions Student Loans (Optometry and Pharmacy)

The maximum amount available under the long-term program is $8,500 per year. The total aggregate amount that students may borrow for graduate studies is $65,500, depending upon the guidelines of the particular program.

Loan repayment begins generally six months after graduation or when students cease carrying at least a half-time course load during the spring or fall semester. The repayment of Health Professions Student Loans begins 12 months after students cease to be enrolled on a full-time basis. The loans accrue interest at rates ranging from five percent per year of the Federal Perkins Student Loan to nine percent per annum for the Federal Unsubsidized Stafford Loan. Repayment of principal may be extended over a 10-year period.

Institutional short-term loans and emergency tuition loans are available for academic emergency expenses as long as funds permit. Such loans are given primarily for tuition and/or fees and, in some cases, books and supplies. Normally, tuition and fees or emergency cash loans must be repaid within 45 to 90 days. A service charge of $5 is assessed and collected at the time the loan is made unless otherwise designated. The current interest is 1 percent per month; both the service charge and interest rate are subject to change.

Work-Study Program

The United States government and the university provide College Work-Study Program funds for on-campus employment; the United States government and the participating nonprofit organization provide the funds for off-campus employment.

Students who apply must be:

1. Enrolled at least half time
   
2. Citizens or permanent residents of the United States
   
3. In need of earnings from such employment in order to pursue a course of study at the university.

Students must submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and a Student Data Form (SDF).

Under this program students may be employed for no more than an average of 20 hours per week during the semester with approval from the Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid and a maximum 40 hours per week during any period when classes are out for at least seven consecutive days.

Average pay rates range from $5.25 to more than $8 per hour. Students with a financial need of $1,800 or more normally receive a combination of loan, grant, and/or work-study assistance, called an aid package. For more information contact:

Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid
University of Houston
Houston, Texas 77204-2160

713/743-9507

Human Resources
University of Houston
Houston, Texas 77204-2770

713/743-5770

Revision and Cancellation

The university reserves the right to review, revise, or terminate all financial aid at any time due to changes in students' financial and/or academic status, or failure to comply with federal and/or state laws and regulations, including financial verification, audit procedures, and university policies. In addition, all financial aid is subject to revision based on the funds received by the university from the state or federal government.

Repayment of Student Aid

Students who withdraw during the first eight weeks of a term or who are not enrolled on a half-time basis for at least six semester credit hours may be required to repay part of their financial aid as shown in the schedule below:

Time of Withdrawal	Repayment
First week of class	90 percent
Second week of class	80 percent
Third week of class	70 percent
Fourth week of class	60 percent
Fifth week of class	50 percent
Sixth week of class	40 percent
Seventh week of class	30 percent
Eighth week of class	20 percent
After eight weeks of class	none

The university requires total repayment of financial aid from students who withdraw before classes begin.