THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO
Student Resources
The Division of the Social Sciences offers tuition scholarships at the time of admission, and the majority of admitted students who request scholarship consideration receive scholarship aid. Admitted students can also apply for additional funds after receiving their offer. Funding consideration is most generous during our Early Action round. We encourage prospective students who would need scholarship aid to enroll to apply during Early Action or Round 1.
Requesting consideration for scholarships does not have an impact upon consideration for admission.
Dean’s Opportunity Scholarship
After receiving an offer of admission, admitted students can apply for a limited number of full-tuition scholarships. The Dean’s Opportunity Scholarship is intended for exceptional students for whom the cost presents a substantial barrier to enrolling in the program. Low-income students and students who were the first in their family to attend college are particularly encouraged to apply. These awards are limited and extremely competitive, but we encourage all interested admitted students to apply.
Note that Round 2 applicants are not able to participate in this competition. Individuals who would need full tuition support to enroll should apply during Early Action or Round 1.
The estimated tuition cost for full-time enrollment for one year (three courses, three per quarter) can be found on the Bursar’s website. Further explanations of how to calculate tuition and fees can be found on the Division of the Social Sciences website. Enrolling in a program of study includes additional costs beyond tuition. For a full list of direct and indirect expenses associated with the cost of attendance, please visit the Cost of Attendance page of the Graduate Financial Aid Office website.
Most incoming students apply for funding from their undergraduate colleges, from outside scholarships, and occasionally from their home countries. Some colleges provide fellowships for alumni who go on to graduate study elsewhere. Check with your undergraduate Career Service Office and your Dean of Students (or their equivalents). The University of Chicago’s fellowship database also lists scholarship opportunities available to master’s students and can be a useful resource.
Student loans are also available, both through the University and through private lenders, but international students should note that many US lenders will not issue a student loan without a US cosigner.
International students should look into possible fellowship opportunities from their home governments, and review the websites of their local US consulates or embassies. Funding opportunities can also be found through EducationUSA. There are also a variety of nationality-specific fellowships for which you might be eligible:
Students from Asia and Oceania
Students from Europe and Eurasia
Students from the Middle East and Africa
Students from North and South America
In addition, our Office of International Affairs maintains a comprehensive list of funding available to international students
It is common for MA students to work on campus. Graduate students at UChicago cannot work more than 20 hours per week, though we recommend students work 10 or less given the demands of graduate study. Incoming students may be able to begin a student employment position prior to the start of Autumn quarter with the permission of the Dean of Students Office.
Many students work as Research Assistants (RA) for individual faculty, but positions are not typically arranged until shortly before the start of fall quarter. The Department Administrators (not the Chairs) are the best initial contacts, to see if they know of faculty who need RAs. Outside of RA work, incoming students can search for part-time jobs through GRAD Gargolyle once they have a CNET ID and password. Part-time jobs may be available at the Regenstein Library, the Smart Museum, the Court Theatre, the Oriental Institute, the 140 Centers and Institutes on campus, or NORC (the National Opinion Research Center).
Academic and Professional Support
The Griffin Department of Economics has a team of 15 Instructional Professors (IPs) who provide academic support to students in Master of Arts in Economics. Our team of IPs has expertise across the multiple subfields within economics (view profiles). IPs help students craft a course plan tailored to their specific professional and academic interests. IPs also serve as mentors of “ECMA 39700: Reading and Research”, a course designed for students interested in pursuing a quarter long individual research project.
In addition, MAE students have access to the exceptional career services office of the Division of the Social Sciences, whose team is dedicated to assisting MA students with their post graduate academic and professional plans. Learn more about SSD MA Career Services.
Dean of Students Office
The Dean of Students Office provides administrative support for graduate students in the Division of the Social Sciences. Students should contact the Dean of Students office with questions about funding, billing, enrollment status, course registration, graduation, disability accommodations, and Divisional policies. The Dean of Students office also creates important initiatives and programming to further diversity and enhance equity and inclusion within the Division. Students can also contact the Dean of Students office to have a conversation about any issue that's troubling them - academic or non-academic - and to discuss the Division's grievance policy.
STEM OPT
Please address any questions about this timeline or MAE requirements Student Affairs Administrator, Emma Rubenstein, at emrubenstein@uchicago.edu.
Graduation Deadlines
International students on F-1 or J-1 student visas who complete the Master of Arts in Economics may be eligible for employment benefits associated with their respective visa type. The MAE is listed as a STEM designated degree by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security for the purposes of the STEM OPT extension allowing eligible students to apply. However, approval for STEM OPT is at the discretion of U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services. However, approval for STEM OPT is at the discretion of U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services. To learn more visit our Office of International Affairs website.
Is there a better city in the United States? We don’t think so. The architecture, the lake front, the restaurants, the art scene, the night life, the parks, the museums, and our sports teams are world class.
The city lives on a residential scale, with 77 diverse neighborhoods, each with distinct cultures, attractions, and points of interest.
Visit this tourism page and this guide to Chicago attractions for a sampling of what the city can offer. For an inside look, try the Chicago Tribune or Time Out Chicago.
As you’ll soon discover, this is a campus that takes “the life of the mind” seriously. The sheer variety of lectures, workshops, invited speakers, and other campus events is astounding. Even more impressive is the intellectual commitment that all UChicago members bring to their work – from first-year undergraduates to our most senior faculty.
You can get a feel for campus life by strolling through a virtual display of campus architecture, checking out our neighborhood attractions, downloading a campus map and walking guide, and arranging for a campus tour.
Not in Chicago? Don’t worry, you’ll have the chance to visit campus and meet the MAPSS team during Admitted Students Days in April.
Hyde Park is a beautiful, leafy, residential neighborhood that houses nearly 60% of UChicago faculty. Walkable, diverse, and with an important history, it features a wide array of restaurants, museums, excellent public and private schools, and historic architecture. 53rd Street is the vibrant center of the neighborhood, with hotels, shops and dining, and 57th Street remains a hub of campus activity.
For more on the neighborhood, check out the Hyde Park Historical Society. For updates on the latest shopping and dining, visit the 53rd Street Blog.
Hyde Park is normally a more economical choice than Lincoln Park, Lakeview, Wicker Park, the South Loop, Logan Square, and other neighborhoods that may be of interest. Not only are the rents lower, but you will save a considerable amount on commuting costs, not to mention the stress of traffic or finding parking spaces.
Graduate students typically rent apartments in Hyde Park through private rental companies. You can find more information about Hyde Park and housing resources through UChicagoGRAD. The University does not have on-campus housing for graduate students.