Graduate Student Emergency Fund

Unexpected emergency expenses can interfere with continuing in a master’s or doctoral degree program. Many graduate students rarely have the savings or family resources available to handle such emergency costs, and graduate student incomes are typically low. Common examples of these unforeseen situations are accidents, illness, death or serious illness of a family member, and fire or flooding damage.

The KU Graduate Student Emergency Fund has been established to assist graduate students affected by unforeseen financial circumstances that might prevent the successful completion of a graduate program.

With your help, we can lend a hand in emergency situations and keep graduate students on track with their academic pursuits!

Upon application by the student and review by the Office of Graduate Studies, support from the Graduate Student Emergency Fund may be applied to a range of unanticipated events, including but not limited to medical, psychological, or dental services; travel costs related to death or illness in the immediate family; safety needs (e.g., changing of locks); and costs related to childcare in an emergency situation.

Currently, enrolled graduate students on the KU-Lawrence campus who demonstrate financial hardship resulting from an emergency, accident, or other unplanned events are eligible to apply. The fund will provide up to $500 per award (one time assistance), and applications will be considered on a rolling basis. This fund is not to be a loan and does not need to be repaid.

Funds may not be used toward academic-related costs, including but not limited to tuition and fees, books, and research-related activities (e.g., conference travel). Additionally, standard living expenses such as rent, food costs, utilities, taxes, insurance, and pet-related expenses are not covered by this fund. Similarly, parking tickets or other legal/criminal fines and costs for entertainment, recreation, non-emergency travel, or other non-essential expenses are not covered by this fund.