General Information
- What is an academic year?
- An academic year is the period during which students attend an educational institution. At GSM, the academic year can start as early as the summer and end with the spring term.
Financial Aid
- How often do I need to apply for financial aid?
- You need to apply for financial aid (loans and outside scholarships) each academic year that you plan to attend your program and wish to receive aid.
- Do I have to accept all the financial aid offered to me?
- No, you can choose to accept all, part, or none of the financial aid offered.
- How can I determine how much financial aid I need?
- Start by calculating the expenses you wish to receive financial aid assistance for, such as tuition, fees, books, supplies, and living costs for the academic year. GSM programs typically charge tuition and fees on a per-unit basis, so be mindful of how these costs accumulate. Once you've calculated your total need, you can determine how much financial aid to accept for the academic year.
- Why am I not being packaged for financial aid for my entire program?
- Financial aid is offered one academic year at a time. If you're attending the summer term, you'll be repackaged in the middle of the spring term for the next academic year. If you're returning in the fall, your aid will be repackaged in mid-summer.
- What scholarships and gift aid can I apply for?
- Your application for admission is also your application for institutional gift aid. The UC Davis GSM admissions team evaluates applicants for merit-based scholarships. No additional application is required. For outside scholarships, visit our scholarship page to find opportunities that match your qualifications. You can also explore teaching assistant positions, which may offer tuition remission, by checking Handshake once you're enrolled.
Billing and Payments
- Where can I view my billing information?
- You can view your billing history on the Student Accounting portal, MyBill.
- What will happen if I do not pay the balance by the fee deadline?
- GSM students are not dropped for non-payment nor will they accumulate late fees. However, if you don't pay your fees by the deadline, you will receive email reminders. If you have an unpaid balance when registration opens for the next term, a hold may be placed on your account, preventing you from registering for future classes until the balance is paid.
Financial Aid Disbursement and Refunds
- When will my financial aid be disbursed?
- Financial aid is disbursed 10 days before the start of instruction, provided you have accepted the aid and completed all required documents by that date. Check the MyAward portal for any pending requirements.
- Will financial aid be sent to me or directly to my student account?
- Financial aid is disbursed directly to your student account. If there are remaining funds after covering fees, you will receive a refund within 5 business days.
- Why hasn’t my financial aid been disbursed?
- Financial aid is typically disbursed 10 days before the start of instruction. If that date has passed, check that you have accepted your aid, completed all requirements in MyAwards, and are enrolled in at least 6 units. If everything is in order, contact the Financial Aid office for further assistance.
- How will I receive a refund?
- Student Accounting will process a refund if there are remaining financial aid funds after fees are paid. If you have signed up for direct deposit, the refund will be sent to your personal bank account. If not, a paper check will be processed, and you will receive an email to pick it up at Dutton Hall. Alternatively, you can contact Student Accounting to request the check be mailed to you.