Financial aid is assistance made available to students to help pay for their college education. Intended to allow students a choice of colleges and to enable them to complete their programs of study, financial aid may consist of scholarships, grants, loans and/or jobs. The federal and state governments, educational institutions, businesses, civic clubs, and individuals sponsor various financial aid programs.

Student Financial Aid at The University of Alabama provides counseling and information to students and parents at all income levels. The office is located in 106 Student Services Center. For more information, call 205-348-6756 or visit financialaid.ua.edu.

Teaching and research assistantships are primarily available to doctorate students. Students interested in an assistantship should contact individual faculty members. Admitted students will also be able to apply online for an assistantship the summer prior to the start of the Fall semester.

Can I get a Teaching Assistant or Research Assistant appointment during my first year as a graduate student?  It depends on the quota. Our continuing students already fill most of the Educational Psychology GTA or GRA positions for the coming academic year.

How and when will I know if I have received financial assistance from the Department or from The University?  Fellowship nomination deadlines vary and it is difficult to specify a notification date. The Fellowship Committee begins deliberations early in January and will continue until all available fellowships have been awarded. Recipients will be notified by official e-mail from either the Office of Graduate Studies or from the Department of Educational Psychology.

The department will notify students about other financial opportunities during the semester, such as summer stipends.

In response to COVID-19, most admission test scores (GRE/GMAT/MAT MCAT) have been waived for Spring, Summer and Fall 2021.

Are the application deadlines different for international students? No. The application deadlines are the same for everyone.

Are there separate application instructions for international students?  No. Both U.S. and international applicants should follow the same application instructions on our website. The only difference is that international students are required to submit valid TOEFL scores in addition to all of the other required materials (TOEFL scores are only valid for two years).

I am taking the GRE very close to the application deadline date. Will my scores make it to the department by the deadline?  It takes approximately 10-15 days for official GRE test results to be received by UA. UA Graduate Admissions will not be able to complete their review of your application materials without the GRE scores. After Graduate Admissions receives the scores, they will refer your application to the department for consideration. This can take an additional few days. These delays will cause your application to be delayed in being reviewed by your program or area of interest.

Is a teaching certificate required for admission into the program? A teaching certificate is not required, however we strongly recommend experiences working with children, youth, and families in educational, community, or clinical settings.

Do I need to have a graduate degree (M.A. or Ed.S.) to apply to the Ph.D. program?   No. In fact, the majority of students who have enrolled in the past few years have entered with only a bachelor’s degree. If you enter with a masters degree, you may be able to waive selected courses.