Temple University is one of the most affordable graduate film school programs in the country, providing extensive funding opportunities for our graduate students as well as publicly-subsidized rates of tuition and fees. Many forms of financial aid are available competitively to students admitted to the MFA program. (Matriculated enrollment on a full-time basis is required during the period of any grant, assistantship, or fellowship.)
Each year, University and Future Faculty Fellowships are awarded to several of the incoming first year graduate students. Fellowships are based on academic, creative and professional credentials and include three-years of support in the form of a monthly stipend, full tuition remission and health insurance benefits. Fellowship students are supported by Graduate School fellowship funds for the first year and half of the third year, and are support by FMA department teaching assistantships for the second year and half of the third year, during which time they teach in exchange for support.
All incoming applicants to the department are considered for Presidential, Conwell, and University Fellowships. Students-of-color who have expressed interest in college-level teaching are also eligible for consideration for Future Faculty Fellowships. No additional application is neccesary. Nominations are made by the FMA Department MFA Admissions Committee, and the applications of selected candidates are forwarded to the Temple University Graduate School. Final decisions are made by the Graduate School.
Graduate Assistantships in the Film and Media Arts Department are available to many qualified second and third-year students. This assistantship comes in the form of a Teaching Assistantship or Research Assistantship and carries a monthly stipend, tuition remission and health insurance benefits. Full-time Teaching Assistants provide 20 hours of work per week to the University, typically assisting in the teaching of two courses. Graduate Assistants are eligible to join TUGSA, the graduate student worker's union, and enjoy union protections and the benefits of collective bargining. All Temple University Teaching Assistants must have sufficent English-language skills to conduct class. The total number of assistantships available is subject to the level of annual funding from the School of Communications and Theater, and can vary from year to year.
Teaching Assistantship awards and positions are determined by the MFA Committee, usually midway through each semester, planning for the following semester. Interested graduate students (who are not on fellowship) should apply using the TA Assistantship form available in the Office of the Dean, Room 344, submitting the form to the FMA Graduate Director by March 15.
Graduate students from any year may be eligible for an assistantship in another department (depending on the individual's background and experience in other fields). Contact that department directly for information on possible teaching or research assistantships.
Adjunct teaching positions may be available for graduate students who are not on fellowship or teaching assistanceship, at any point in the program. Adjunct Professors are paid a monthly stipend, but do not qualify for tuition remission, health insurance or union membership.
Students interested in being considered for an Adjunct teaching position should submit a cover letter and résumé to the FMA departmental Chair.
Federal Student Loan and Work-Study programs are available under various governmental and university programs. The first step in applying for any form of U.S. government-based financial aid is to file the U.S. Department of Education's FAFSA.
Additional information and application forms are available from the Temple University's Office of Financial Aid.
Funding for graduate studies is available from many outside sources. The Graduate School has a webpage on external funding to help you begin a search for available programs.