Graduate School
Emergency Funding Programs
Short-Term Loan
The Brown University Short-Term Loan Program is a zero interest loan made available to students to assist in emergencies. This fund has historically supported students experiencing cash-flow related situations where a buffer is needed immediately. After a request is approved, students must sign a Promissory Note/Acknowledgement and funds must be repaid according to those terms.
Short-Term Emergency Loans cannot assist with a student's costs of tuition, room or board. The maximum amount that can be requested is $500. Eligible students may complete the Short Term Loan Request Form and setup an eRefund Profile at payment.brown.edu in order to receive the funds electronically. Students must repay all approved Short Term Loans directly to the Brown University Cashier Office before the end of the current semester.
Eligibility
Students may apply remotely. Newly matriculated students who will be starting in the fall term are eligible starting in August.
Primary Contacts
PhD and MFA students - Maria Suarez, Associate Dean of Student Support in the Graduate School
All other master’s students - Shankar Prasad, Dean of the School of Professional Studies & Vice President for Academic Innovation
Graduate School Emergency Funding
The Graduate School has established emergency funding for graduate students who find themselves with an urgent, unexpected financial need. There are three separate applications: the ‘Graduate School E-Gap Fund for Doctoral and MFA Students’, the ‘SPS E-Gap Fund for Master's and Professional Students’ and the ‘Medical Student E-Gap Fund’. All applications can be found in UFunds, under ‘Graduate Student E-Gap Funds’.
Emergency support may come in the form of a cash payment (typically capped at $500), meal credits, or other support as available and appropriate. We give emergency funding requests the fullest consideration that our available resources will permit. Students can expect to receive a response to their application within 2-3 business days.
Meal Credits
Meal credits for on-campus meals may be provided to students experiencing acute food need. This form of support, the number of meals, and the period of time over which they will be provided will be determined on an individual basis after discussion between the student and Associate Dean. Because each student’s situation is different, there is no standard for when or how many meal credits are provided. See Meal Credit FAQs for more details.
Eligibility
Students should apply to the appropriate e-gap application depending on which program they are enrolled in (PhD/MFA, medical, or other master’s). Doctoral and MFA students are eligible to apply for e-gap funding once in their academic career, though additional applications from students in extenuating circumstances, particularly those related to food needs, will be considered. Students on leave are not eligible to apply.
Graduate students in their first year who received a first-year supplemental fellowship payment are generally not eligible for e-gap funding, but may be eligible for meal points. If a first-year PhD or MFA student is experiencing urgent financial need, they should contact Maria Suarez, Associate Dean of Student Support in the Graduate School.
Emergency funding is not available for the reimbursement of technology purchases. Students needing to replace or repair a computer may find the IT Service Center's loaner laptop program to be a helpful bridge (loans are up to two weeks in length). Students also have the option of a Short-Term Loan (see the top of this page).
Primary Contacts
PhD and MFA students - Maria Suarez, Associate Dean of Student Support in the Graduate School
All other master’s students - Shankar Prasad, Dean of the School of Professional Studies & Vice President for Academic Innovation
Medical students - Roxanne Vrees, Associate Dean for Student Affairs in the Warren Alpert Medical School