Getting money back (Total amount of scholarships offered more than tuition)

[Hige]

Hi folks,

I have been accepted to an MA program that I am really excited about and have been offered 3 scholarships between the school, department and a 'center' on campus. Together, these scholarships cover the cost of tuition and leave about $3,500 plus. 

Am I correct in my thinking that I will then get that $3,500 to use a stipend (i.e. living costs)? I mean, they won't max out at the tuition and then the remainder just disappears, right? 

I have read what I can of the scholarships, but the there is not a terrible amount of fine print with them. Anyone had an experience like this?

[GeoDUDE!]

ask them.

[Hige]

I am. I have written an e-mail, but I thought it wouldn't hurt to ask on here. 

[TakeruK]

It really depends. Some scholarships have fine print that only cover amounts not covered by other scholarships. Your situation is different since it doesn't sound like an actual fully funded program (i.e. ones that cover tuition plus a livable stipend). However, in one of my past schools, I had a tuition waiver, an external fellowship and funding from the department as an internal department-wide fellowship. The department nominated me for a university-wide fellowship. I did get the university-wide fellowship and the department reduced their departmental fellowship by the same amount as the university-wide fellowship. So, if one of your scholarships has a similar condition, or if they all say the money can only be used towards tuition and fees, you might not get to keep any leftover money. Definitely ask all three sources!

[Hige]

Just to follow up in case someone else finds himself in this position.

 

It looks like I will indeed get the remainder of the money after all the tuition costs have been paid. I don't know from which scholarship, but my understanding is that any leftovers funds will be issued to me as a check a month or so after the semester starts. So yea, that is great! 

Fully funded MA's in my area are not the most common (unless you are TAing or FLASing), I am excited to be able to focus my first year on just studying and not worrying about balancing a teaching schedule, anyways, just thought I'd share. 

[TakeruK]

Yay!