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5-YR MIA Funding

Master of International Affairs 5-year (3+2) Degrees

Funding & Cost - MIA 5-Year

Overview | Cost | Funding | Return on Investment

The funding available for students admitted to the 5-year MIA program is different in the student’s fourth and fifth years at Texas A&M University. It is important students are aware of the following differences prior to applying so they can prepare financially.

Funding for Year 4 at Texas A&M (Year 1 for the 5-Year MIA Degree)

The student is still classified as a senior (U4), charged undergraduate tuition rates, and awarded a Bush School Scholarship of $1,000 for the year.

ATTENTION – Five-year MIA students intending to receive federal financial aid!
In your fourth year at Texas A&M (first year in the MIA), you will still be classified as a U4 student and will enroll in 12 credit hours in the fall/spring semesters. However, only 18 credit hours of the 24 will double count toward your undergraduate and MIA degrees, leaving you with 6 credit hours that only count toward the MIA. For this reason, you will be considered enrolled “full-time” in one semester, but only “half-time” in the other semester. Half-time status can cause issues qualifying for federal funding. You are strongly encouraged to work with the Texas A&M Financial Aid Office to see how your federal financial aid (such as PELL, federal loans, etc) will be impacted before applying to the 3+2 program.


Funding for Year 5 at Texas A&M (Year 2 for the 5-Year MIA Degree)

Shortly before the student’s second year of enrollment at the Bush School (fifth year at TAMU), the student is re-classified as graduate (G7) student and is charged Bush School graduate tuition and fees. At this point, all 24 credit hours completed in the student’s second year will count toward the MIA degree only.

In the student’s second year, if the student has a 3.25 GPA or better, students are eligible to receive a higher, competitive, merit-based Bush School Scholarship. Upon admission into the 3+2 MIA program, the student will receive their admissions offer letter indicating the $1,000/year scholarship they receive in their first year of the program and the scholarship they’ve been awarded for their second year of the program (as long as they meet minimum GPA requirements).

We recommend applicants submit and complete their application by the priority deadline to ensure their application is considered for all available Bush School funding opportunities.

While Bush School funding can help with some of the cost, students usually take out loans, work, or receive funding elsewhere to cover the rest. We strongly encourage applicants to apply for any outside funding opportunities they may qualify for. Refer to the sections below for more information:

Link these bullets to the respective sections below on this page.

MIA 5-YEAR Highlighted Funding

  • Competitive Bush School Scholarships – 

  • In the first year (fourth year at TAMU), the student will receive a $1,000 Bush School Scholarship.

  • In the second year (fifth year at TAMU), as long as the student has a 3.25 GPA or better, the student is eligible to receive a higher, competitive-merit based Bush School Scholarship ranging from $1,000 to $15,000 a year and does not require a work commitment.

The scholarship amount for the second year is determined by the Admissions Committee at the time of the student’s admission into the 5-year program and is based on merit. The Admissions Committee evaluates every aspect of the student’s application, including their academic performance, experiences (professional, educational, and international), statement, interviews, recommendations, and more.

  • Non-resident Tuition Waivers – These waivers are automatically granted to second-year non-resident and international students who receive a competitive Bush School Scholarship, which allows them to pay in-state tuition rates. The waiver is currently worth approximately $12,700 per year in a 12 credit-hour per semester course load.

Other Funding Opportunities:

  • Internship Scholarships
    Students who do not secure paid internships, or opt to complete a language immersion for the MIA, can apply for a scholarship to help offset their summer living costs. Scholarships for internships are provided by the Career Services Office and awarded to those who attend a number of career workshops during their first year of study in the 3+2 MIA degree program (year 4 at Texas A&M).
  • Socio-economic Disadvantage/Hardship
    We may have additional funds available to those who face a socioeconomic disadvantage or hardship; this unique funding opportunity will require applicants to submit a short essay via their application to be considered.

Graduate Assistantships

Through the Bush School: Available to second-year MIA students and include both research (GAR) and non-teaching (GANT) opportunities. They are awarded based primarily on a Bush School student’s first-year grades and qualifications. Graduate Assistants work with faculty or staff for 20 hours per week, earning a stipend, 9 hours tuition, and insurance help. Some GA positions are tied to our fellowships, but others are open to successful MPSA and MIA students heading into their second year.

  • NOTE: Students are unable to double dip their Bush School funding, so students who take a Bush School GA position are replacing their second-year funding award. If a student receives $5,000 in second year funding, but then takes a Bush School GA position, that student will no longer receive their $5,000/year Bush School Scholarship. They instead receive a GA work stipend per month.

Through another department at Texas A&M University: Open to students across campus who apply through Jobs for Aggies and/or through networking. Graduate Assistants in other departments work with faculty or staff for 20 hours per week and earn additional perks.

  • Students who receive a GA position through a department outside of The Bush School receive both their Bush School Scholarship and their GA funding (they are not double dipping).

Supplemental Aid/ Loans/ Jobs

We are committed to keeping the program affordable so our students can choose the careers that matter to them without worrying about graduating from grad school with a significant amount of student debt. However, students often need additional aid to supplement the funding The Bush School awards them. Students are encouraged to apply to other funding opportunities either through the following links and/or through independent organizations that offer graduate funding.

  • Texas A&M University Scholarships & Financial Aid:
    • Federal Financial Aid – Domestic students are strongly encouraged to submit a FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) to see how much they are qualified to earn in loans. The FAFSA can be submitted at any point during the application process.
  • International Students are encouraged to submit one of the following applications to see what aid they may qualify for:
    • If you are not a U.S. Citizen, but are a Texas Resident, submit an eTASFA (Texas Application for State Financial Aid).
    • If you are not a U.S. Citizen or a Texas Resident, submit an ISFAA (International Student Financial Aid Application).
  • Texas Aggie Graduate Grant – A need-based award available for graduate students classified as Texas residents attending the College Station campus who receive less than $10,000 in scholarships per year. 5-year students can apply for this award in their second year.  Students must apply by submitting a TAGG application located on the forms page of the website above. Additional details about the grant can be found through the link above.
  • Part-time or Full-time Work –  In an optimal situation, the Bush School discourages students from trying to manage outside work obligations with rigorous class requirements, particularly during the first semester and/or year. With a typical course load of 12 credit hours and an abundance of activities to pursue, student who do juggle both must exercise careful time management. Having said that, we realize students have bills to pay and are often looking for work experience to add to their resume.
    • Students looking for a job can find a complete listing of jobs available on-campus (and some off-campus) through the Jobs for Aggies website, maintained by Texas A&M.  You will need your NetID and password to sign into the portal.
  • Military Benefits – Veterans, Active Duty Military Personnel, and their Spouses or Dependents are encouraged to check out the Veteran’s Services website to see if there are any military educational benefits they qualify for. Texas A&M University has a long-standing tradition of military support. Post 9/11, Hazelwood, Montgomery GI Bill, Dependents’ Educational Assistance Program, Yellow Ribbon Program, State Tuition Reimbursement Assistance, and more are accepted. 
  • National Scholarship & Fellowship Opportunities Awards – Aside from Texas A&M funding opportunities, a number of competitive national awards are available online. We encourage students to search for these opportunities independently and apply to those they might qualify for. 
    • Service Organization Stipend/Scholarship: Peace Corps, AmeriCorps, Teach for America, City Year, Public Policy-International Affairs Program (PPIA)
    • Charles B Rangel International Affairs Fellowship
    • Thomas R Pickering Graduate Foreign Affairs Fellowship
    • Donald M Payne Fellowship
    • McNair Graduate Fellowship
    • David L Boren Fellowship
    • Harry S Truman Scholarship
    • Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Scholarships & Fellowships
    • Women in Defense Horizons Scholarship
    • Twitter Public Policy Fellowship

For additional opportunities, be sure to search through the following websites:

  • APSIA (Association of Professional Schools of International Affairs): Contains a comprehensive list of over 110 scholarships, some of which are highlighted above. Look at least a year out so you have time to apply.
  • Scholly: Platform used by students and family to find scholarship money.

International Student Funding

We do not offer full-ride scholarships with teaching and graduate assistantships. Therefore, international students must have some funding of their own to afford tuition, cost of living, health insurance, and other additional fees. Seeking financial support from independent agencies like Fulbright or government sponsorships is strongly recommended. International students seeking additional financial support can refer to the following websites for helpful guidance and opportunities: