Assistantships and Scholarships

Niagara University currently offers over 60 different assistantships, scholarships, awards, and campus employment opportunities for well-qualified, matriculated Niagara University graduate students in one of NU’s graduate degree programs. Graduate positions give students the opportunity to become engaged in the campus community, to contribute to an individual office, and to develop personally and professionally while pursuing an advanced degree. Opportunities for Niagara University graduate students may include paid positions, stipends or scholarships.

Graduate Assistantships

There are 22 graduate assistantship positions at Niagara University. Graduate assistants typically work 20 hours a week for the academic year. Graduate assistants are granted a tuition award for up to nine credit hours each semester (fall/spring) and a stipend of $6,000 for the academic year. To be considered for an assistantship, you must be enrolled full time (nine credit hours per semester). These positions may be renewable for a second year upon satisfactory performance.
 
Niagara University offices that have graduate assistants include:

  • Academic Success Center
  • Accessibility Services
  • Athletics
  • Campus Activities
  • Career Services
  • College of Education
  • College of Hospitality and Tourism Management
  • Criminal Justice
  • Graduate Studies
  • International Relations
  • Kiernan Center
  • Learn and Serve
  • Master of Business Administration
  • Multicultural Affairs
  • NU-STEP
  • NUSGA Clubs and Organizations
  • Office of the President
  • Residence Life

Ph.D. Assistantships

Ph.D. graduate assistants typically work 25 hours a week for the academic year. Ph.D. assistants are granted a tuition award for up to nine (9) credit hours each semester (fall/spring) and a stipend of $6,000 for the academic year. Awards are made to full-time students for one year and may be renewable for a second year upon satisfactory performance.

Graduate Employment

Graduate students will work on average 10-12 hours a week. Students will be paid $10 an hour.

Dean’s Scholar Award

The four colleges (College of Education, College of Business, College of Hospitality and Tourism Management, and College of Arts and Sciences) will each grant a $7,400 tuition award spilt between the fall and spring semesters to applicants with the highest academic credentials.

Niagara Extension Scholarship

A $3,000 scholarship spilt between the fall and spring semesters will be awarded to nine academically achieving students who have been involved and contributed to the campus community as a NU undergraduate.

This award is for matriculated graduate students that completed their bachelor’s degree at Niagara University and enrolled in the subsequent year in a NU master’s program. There can be no break in enrollment between Niagara University undergraduate and graduate enrollment to be eligible for this scholarship. (Summer is not considered a break in enrollment.)

The scholarship is good for the first year of the student’s master’s program.

Departmental Scholarships

  • College of Education — Four $5,000 awards will be granted yearly and split between fall and spring semesters for graduate students who accept the required 15 hours per week of service to the department.
  • College of Business Administration — Two awards that provides part time tuition scholarships (six credit hours in the fall, six credit hours in the spring) and a third award that provides a full tuition scholarship (12 credit hours in the fall, 12 credit hours in the spring) for students in the MBA program who accept the required hours per week of service to the department.
  • College of Hospitality and Tourism Management — One $5,000 award will be granted yearly and split between fall and spring semesters for graduate students who accept the required 15 hours per week of service to the department.
  • College of Arts and Sciences — One $5,000 award will be granted yearly and split between fall and spring semesters for graduate students who accept the required 15 hours per week of service to the department.

Research Council, Student Research Assistant

Five awards available. Graduate students conduct research with a faculty member, totaling 200 hours of work on a selected project. $2,000 of tuition credit is available for each recipient. Faculty apply to host these research assistants on a yearly basis.

How to Apply

Applications for the Graduate Assistantship, employment and scholarship opportunities should be submitted for immediate consideration by April 4. Applications will continue to be accepted until all positions are filled. Many positions require an interview. Interviews are scheduled by the departments offering the position. (Departmental Scholarships are awarded on a rolling basis, and may be awarded after April 4.) For more information, go to www.niagara.edu/gradaid.

Items Needed for Applying

  1. Professional cover letter which includes the following:
    • Contact information (Full name, current mailing address, email address, phone number, etc.).
    • Niagara University graduate program for which you will apply or in which you are currently enrolled.
    • Undergraduate major or degree, under-graduate institution, and GPA.
    • Identify the opportunities in which you are interested in.
  2. Resumé: Include transferable skills both inside and outside your field of study.
  3. Two page double spaced essay addressing:
    • Commitment to Niagara’s Vincentian mission.
    • Contribution to NU’s academic environment and intellectual culture.
    • Impact of assistance (financial need, etc.)

Policies

  • Students need to reapply annually for positions and assistantships.
  • Not all graduate employment positions are available every year.
  • Typically, employment positions are awarded on an academic year basis. However, when circumstances warrant, one semester positions can be made.
  • Graduate assistants and other graduate positions are employees of NU.
  • Applicants are precluded from receiving funding from more than one institutional funding program.
  • Graduate assistants must be matriculated students at the start of the appointed academic school year (fall/spring) and enrolled at least full-time (minimum of nine credit hours). A graduate student who withdraws or reduces enrollment may jeopardize their stipend and tuition scholarship.
  • To receive full compensation, graduate assistants must complete 300 hours of work per semester.
  • Maintenance of good academic standing and progress, course completion, and satisfactory work performance is a requirement for continuation and/or renewal of positions for a second year. Renewal decisions will be made by June 15 for the upcoming fall semester.
  • International students who are, or will be, attending Niagara University on an F1 visa (with an I-20), including those from Canada, should contact the Niagara University Records Office (www.niagara.edu/international-students-contact/) to determine their employment eligibility according to visa regulations prior to applying, or accepting, a graduate assistantship or any employment position.

Army ROTC Scholarships

Graduate students can apply for full tuition Army ROTC scholarships including books ($1,200 yearly) and stipend ($4,500 first year and $5,000 second year). Scholarship recipients are required to attend the four-week leadership training course prior to beginning their programs at Niagara. For more information contact the ROTC department at rotc@niagara.edu or 716.286.8235/8230.

Religious Reduction

Tuition discount offered to members of a Roman Catholic religious order (priest, brother, nun). For more information, contact the Financial Aid Office at finaid@niagara.edu or 716.286.8686.

Federal Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant

Application Procedure

The FAFSA is available on the web at www.fafsa.gov. Students must apply annually.

Method of Selection of Recipients and Allocation of Awards

Students enrolled in program of study designated as TEACH Grant eligible. Eligible programs at NU are those that prepare a student to teach in a high-need field in a school serving low-income students. Applicants must also meet stringent academic requirements set by federal regulations.

Award Schedule

Awards may range up to $4,000. Recipients must sign an Agreement to Serve and Promise to Pay with the U.S. Department of Education. If teaching service requirements are not fulfilled, a recipient must repay the grant as a Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan, with interest accrued from date grant funds were first disbursed.