Graduate Summer Session

Many graduate students take advantage of the opportunity to attend Summer School.  Some use it to shorten the length of their program, to catch up on missed classes or to actually begin a new program.  When a graduate student attends summer school, many changes can occur to their financial aid eligibility. 

Graduate students can either have two different loan “years”—a Standard Academic Year (SAY) consisting of the fall and spring semesters with a trailing summer term, or a Borrower Based Academic Year (BBAY) consisting of at least two semesters.

For Standard Academic Year (SAY), a student may have attended the fall and spring semesters, and then decided to go to summer school.  Most likely, the summer term will be a continuation of the loan “year” if the student has remaining eligibility for Federal financial aid. 

For Borrower Based Academic Year (BBAY), a student may begin in the summer and complete the year in the fall. A new loan “year” will begin with the spring semester. The student will receive new loan eligibility with the new loan “year.”

Once the student completes the FAFSA and the University Financial Aid application, Student Financial Services will determine if the student should be awarded using SAY or BBAY year.  This determination will establish the student’s financial aid eligibility.  A graduate student is considered at least half time by taking at least six (6) credit or non-topical research hours in the summer. 

How to Apply

1. Apply for a U.S. Department of Education personal identification number (PIN) if you don't already have one. Your PIN will allow you to electronically "sign" financial aid applications and federal loan promissory notes. Apply for a PIN online at pin.ed.gov.
   
   
   
2. Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
   
   For the quickest and most accurate processing, students are encouraged to complete the FAFSA online.
   
   The University of Virginia's school code for the FAFSA is 003745.
   
   
   
3. Submit a University of Virginia Financial Aid Application. 
   
   This application is available on-line in the Student Center of the Student Information System.   Students are encouraged to print out and complete the Graduate Financial Aid Application Worksheet to assist the student in completing the on-line application.
   
   Access to the system is available through the Student Portal.  You will receive an e-mail from the Graduate School to which you have applied supplying your log in instructions.  Once you have received that information, log in using your University computing ID, and the password you created.  Once in the system, click on Self Service.  Then click on the link to the Student Center.   Go to the Finances section and find the link to "Apply Financial Aid for 2012-2013". 
   
   
4. Some students will be notified by e-mail or in writing that they have been selected for verification. 
   
   Please check your SIS Student Center “To Do” list for requested information. If you have been selected for verification our office is required to verify the information you reported on your FAFSA. To complete this process, please submit the Graduate Verification form to our office as soon as possible.
   
   2011-2012 Graduate Verification Form
   
   
   
5. Submit signed copies of your 2011 tax documents (Form 1040 with attached schedules, 1040A, or 1040 EZ; W-2 forms) ONLY IF you were selected for Verification. Otherwise you do not need to send them.  Independent students are required to submit both their spouse's (if applicable) and their income tax documents.
   
   If you or your spouse are not required to file an income tax return, please indicate that on your University Financial Aid application or Graduate Verification Form.
   
   
   
6. Once you have enrolled for Summer School, the financial aid section of your Student Center will be updated with your financial aid awards.  You will need to accept any new loans.  Work Study is not available for the summer.