Research and Teaching Assistantships

The MFA Program in Creative Writing is able to fund 40% of its students with Teaching Assistantships and Fellowships. These funding packages are awarded on a competitive basis. If you are admitted to the Creative Writing Program, you will automatically be considered for a teaching assistantship or a fellowship.

Financial aid information for the MFA program (PDF).

As a graduate student, you may apply for a research or teaching assistantship.

  • Research assistantships are awarded competitively. Research assistants work up to 20 hours a week and are compensated with a basic health insurance plan, a stipend and tuition remission.
  • Teaching assistantships typically require you to work 20 hours a week in support of the department’s undergraduate programs. You’ll be compensated with a basic health insurance plan, nine credits of tuition remission per term and a nine-month stipend.

Learn more about becoming a graduate teaching or research assistant. 

MFA Program Scholarships

MFA program scholarship and award recipients are selected by the department faculty each year. If you have questions regarding departmental awards, contact your faculty advisor.

Scholarships available to students in the Creative Writing MFA include the following opportunities.

  • The Frances Tebet Israel Prize in Poetry and Fiction is given at the end of every year for the best master’s thesis in poetry and the best master’s thesis in fiction.
  • The Joseph Beam Scholarship Prize is awarded annually to a student in the creative writing program who has demonstrated academic achievement and financial need, and has written an essay or literary piece of interest and importance to sexual minorities.
  • The William H. Gunn Scholarship in Creative Writing provides financial aid to graduate students enrolled in the creative writing program.

Graduate Fellowships

Fellowships are available through Temple’s graduate school for students with exceptional academic records. They include

  • presidential fellowships, which are reserved for only the most outstanding candidates; and
  • university fellowships, which are intended to support students who demonstrate outstanding potential for success in their chosen fields.

These fellowships provide a stipend plus tuition for two years. Learn more about fellowship opportunities for graduate students.

Fellowship Advising

Find information regarding fellowships on the Scholar Development and Fellowships Advising page including resources for preparing a competitive application.

If you are considering applying for a graduate fellowship, schedule an appointment to meet with the fellowships advisor.

External Funding

Certain organizations outside of Temple University provide grants, fellowships, scholarships and other awards for graduate students. Learn more about the numerous external awards and funds available to graduate students.

Federal Financial Aid

Federal Stafford Loans

Applying for federal Stafford loans requires completion of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). At Temple University, unsubsidized Stafford loans are available to full-time graduate students up to a maximum amount of $20,500 annually.

Federal Work-study

Eligibility for the Federal Work-study Program is based on the applicant’s need as determined by the information on the applicant’s FAFSA. In addition, students must be enrolled at least half time and maintain satisfactory academic progress. Students are paid biweekly for hours worked.

Learn about aid, scholarship and work-study options at Student Financial Services and find information on costs, aid and more for graduate students.

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