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Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences

What is Financial Aid?

Financial Aid is defined as assistance to pay for your educational expenses at your degree-granting institution. These expenses, referred to as your Cost of Attendance (COA) budget, include tuition, fees, books, supplies, transportation, and living expenses while in school.  Any assistance received by you to help you pay for these expenses is considered “financial aid” regardless of the source. These sources are:

  • Grants  Funds from Federal and State sources that do NOT require repayment
  • Scholarships  State, Institutional and Organizational funds that do NOT require repayment
  • Loan Programs Money that must be paid back. May consist of Federal/Private loans
  • Fellowships/Stipends Assistance received while in school
  • Departmental payments Assistance with tuition/fees while in school
  • Hazlewood Act  For Texas Veterans who have exhausted their eligibility for federal benefits

Please note that students who receive financial assistance from another source (other than through the Veteran Services and Financial Aid office) will have their federal/state aid adjusted in such a way that the combined amounts for financial assistance and federal or state financial aid do not exceed a students cost of attendance budget.  This could result in a charge to your student account so please notify our office as soon as you receive notice you will receive additional assistance.

What is my Cost of Attendance (COA) Budget?

When estimating your COA budget for the aid year we attempt to reasonably estimate the actual costs you will pay for tuition and fees and health insurance (based on UT Health San Antonio health insurance prices).   Book allowances are determined by your department.  Allowances for transportation, miscellaneous expenses, and housing\food are based on the number of months you will actually be enrolled in school.

Examples of additional items that can be included in your COA are your one-time purchase of a computer, expenses related to third-party care of your dependents (children or parents),  catastrophic car repairs, and tuition paid for courses which count towards your UT Health San Antonio degree program. See our Budget Adjustment form for additional details here.

For Cost of Attendance information for your particular school, click here.

UT Health San Antonio Scholarships

Scholarships are awarded based on need, merit, or a combination of the two.  Scholarships do not need to be repaid but may have specific criteria for you to remain eligible (such as your grade point average).  Search online as scholarships may also be obtained from outside entities such as corporations, foundations, and/or organizations.  Don’t forget to check with your community church, hospitals, bank, businesses, or other health-care providers too. Avoid scholarship applications that require an upfront fee while promising results that may not be legitimate.

For UT Health San Antonio scholarships, students will apply online through My Student Center once each aid year. For additional information about the scholarship application process please click here.

Disbursements

Financial aid disbursements occur on or about 10 days prior to the first class day, provided that day is not a weekend or UT Health San Antonio holiday, the student is enrolled, and any outstanding requests for action have been completed (first-time participants in the William D. Ford Direct Loan program at UT Health San Antonio will need to complete an Entrance Counseling Session and a Master Promissory Note).

NOTICE – Prior to disbursing aid for the fall term, all spring grades must be posted to properly evaluate the student’s Satisfactory Academic Progress during the prior academic year.

Financial aid disbursements are posted directly into your student tuition/fee account here at UT Health San Antonio.  Refunds of any credit balance will be sent to you by one of the following methods:

  • Paper Check – checks are usually delivered to your home address within 3 to 5 business days during the first disbursement day and census day for the current term.  Checks are then processed twice a week (Tuesday and Friday) until the next disbursement cycle begins.  This change is effective October 13th, 2014.  Your banking institution may place up to a 10-day hold on your check.   During the Winter Holiday’s, student’s electing to receive paper checks may wait an additional 3 to 5 business days to receive their funds due to bank/post office/university closures.
  • Direct Deposit – direct deposits are usually received within 1 to 2 business days. You must sign up for this service through My Student Center at least 10 days before your scheduled disbursement.

For a complete listing of disbursement dates please click here.

Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Standards

To maintain eligibility for financial aid, a student must make academic progress towards their degree.  Once the requirements have been met for the student’s degree, that student will lose eligibility for further funds, even if they choose to stay in school for additional semesters and not graduate.

Our office will measure your academic progress annually after the spring semester grades have been posted as mandated in Federal Regulation HEA 484(c). Failure to meet the Satisfactory Academic Progress Standards (for all terms enrolled, not just those terms that aid was received) may result in loss of financial aid eligibility.  For additional information on this topic please go here.