The University of Alabama at Birmingham
School of Public Health
Financial Assistance and Scholarships
Welcome to the UAB School of Public Health Scholarship/Financial Assistance page. Here you will find information about our scholarships as well as other forms of financial aid and assistance available to students admitted to the School.
| Financial Assistance | General Information | | Merit Scholarship |
| Named Scholarships, Traineeships and Additional Assistance|
Financial Assistance
The purpose of financial assistance at the School of Public Health is to encourage individuals with intellectual promise and a commitment to public service to pursue studies in the field of public health despite personal financial limitations. Funds for financial assistance come from a variety of sources which include operational funds of the School of Public Health, federal traineeships, gifts and endowments from private foundations, public health organizations and the faculty. Student support funds at the School of Public Health are provided to graduates in the form of grants, fellowships, scholarships, traineeships, teaching assistantships and graduate student research appointments.
Applicants are encouraged to review the Estimated Student Expense Budget for tuition and fee charges. If necessary, applicants may also apply for extramural support by contacting national, international and private foundations directly.
The University Financial Aid Office is responsible for administering financial support loans based on need and non-need options. To apply for Federal Direct Stafford/Ford Loan (need-based), Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford/Ford Loan (non-need based), work-study money and other loans you may obtain a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by calling 1-800-4FED-AID or on their Internet website, www.fafsa.ed.gov. You may also obtain an application at the UAB Financial Aid Office located in the Hill University Center, HUC 317. You must submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or the FAFSA Renewal Application to the federal processor in Iowa City, Iowa for needs analysis (Federal School Code 001052).
Completion of the FAFSA or the FAFSA Renewal Application is required for all university financial aid programs. If you have any other questions regarding the FAFSA or the University’s Federal Financial Aid, please refer to the web site maintained by the University Financial Aid Office at Financing Your Education or call (205) 934-8223 (TTY accessible).
International Students: Since federal financial assistance programs are limited to U.S. citizens and permanent residents, most international students pay for college using personal or family funds. The I-20 student visa requires that International students provide proof that funds are available in the United States for their first year of studies. However, other sources of funding may be available. To learn more go to Financing Your Education or contact the International Scholar and Student Services Office at (205) 934-3328 or at ISSS@uab.edu.
General Information for Scholarships
Application deadlines: The deadline for submitting all scholarship applications and supporting documentation if required for:
- New degree candidates is February 1st
- Returning students if eligible March 1st
Click here to view all SOPH Scholarships
- It is very important that scholarship applicants have been officially accepted for admission in a degree-seeking program. A completed scholarship application must be received in the appropriate office (Named Scholarships and Dean’s Academic Excellence Merit Scholarships should be submitted to the Office of Student and Academic Services Office, RPHB 130) by February 1st to receive maximum consideration.
- The Scholarship Committee is responsible for evaluating applications for MPH, MS and MSPH degree applicants according to the established policies of the School of Public Health and each department is responsible for evaluating new and returning DrPH and PhD applicants.
- Scholarships are funded by several funding sources, each having its own restrictions that would make an applicant ineligible to apply. Award recipients will be notified in writing of their source of funding and will be required to sign a statement ensuring award eligibility and agreeing to all obligations specified.
- Scholarships provided by the school to graduate students are awarded on a limited basis and usually for tuition payments only. Doctoral student awards are determined by each department and may include both tuition payments and stipends.
- Should you be awarded a scholarship and at any time during the award period your income status changes, you must immediately notify the Office of Student and Academic Services. Failure to do so will result in loss of the award and you may be required to pay back previously awarded funds.
- You must reapply for scholarships prior to each academic year in which you plan to be enrolled. Renewals for continuing scholarship funds are not automatically granted.
- Submission of false information will render your application invalid and will result in the revocation of any awarded funds.
- Recipients may not be on academic probation and if placed on probation during the award period, the award may be forfeited.
- U.S. federally funded grants and loans are limited to U.S. citizens and permanent residents.
Dean’s Academic Excellence Merit Scholarship
Each semester the Dean offers first year MPH, MS and MSPH degree-seeking graduate students the opportunity to apply for the distinguished Dean’s Academic Excellence Merit Scholarship. The primary purpose of this scholarship is to award those individuals who have demonstrated academic excellence and who exemplify outstanding leadership potential to pursue studies and careers in the field of public health. Please be aware that the school is limited in the amount of scholarships that may be awarded therefore, please apply as early as possible. Due to federal and state funding regulation, first year international students are not eligible to apply for the scholarship
General Eligibility Requirements:
- Applicant must be officially admitted in good academic standing by the School of Public Health (cannot apply if conditionally admitted, probation admission, non-degree status, etc.)
- Applicant must be an out-of-state domestic citizen or permanent resident of the United States.
- Applicant must have a minimum 3.5 GPA (based on a 4.0 scale) and a minimum GRE score of 1200
- Applicant must be enrolled as a full-time student and must maintain their full-time status for the entire academic award period (Nine credit hours is considered full-time status).
- Applicant will be required to enroll in public health courses or non-public health courses that may be required for joint degree programs or which may be taken as electives.
- Applicant will not be eligible to receive a federal training grant or receive employer assistance.
- Scholarship recipients who have not yet matriculated must notify the School of Public Health within a specified period of time of their intent to enroll. If a recipient indicates intent to matriculate, he/she will be required to submit a $75 deposit (check or money order) to retain funding until the time of matriculation if you are awarded a scholarship. If a recipient matriculates, the $75 will be applied against his/her fees. If the recipient fails to notify the School of intent to matriculate, the $75 will be forfeited and the award reallocated.
If you meet the following requirements and would like to apply for the Dean’s Academic Excellence Merit Scholarship, click here to apply.