Financial Assistance

In addition to the full tuition scholarships all ISM students receive, awards are given to a small number of students selected by the faculty. Depending on the resources of the Institute, these scholarships and awards are renewable for students who remain in good academic standing. These scholarships and awards require no application or service to the Institute.

U.S. citizens and permanent residents may also apply for federal loans and work-study, which are awarded on the basis of need as determined by federal methodology. The Institute of Sacred Music participates in the Federal Stafford Loan program, both subsidized and unsubsidized. U.S. students, if eligible, may borrow directly through Yale or a local lender. U.S. citizens or permanent residents who wish to be considered for a Federal Stafford Loan and/or Work Study must complete and submit the following:

1. Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) on the Internet at www.fafsa.ed.gov. Please use federal code 001426.

2. Signed 2007 Federal Tax Return and W-2 form(s)

3. 2007–08 Verification Worksheet for Independent Students:
http://ifap.ed.gov/vgworksheets/attachments/0607VerWkshtIndepend.pdf

The FAFSA may require a few weeks to be processed; therefore, applicants are advised to complete their tax returns as soon as they receive their W-2 forms so that they can use them to complete the FAFSA on the internet. Late receipt of the required financial information may jeopardize the timely processing of the applicant's loan. All required materials must reach the Institute by May 1.

An application must be made each year to renew the Stafford Loan. Laws governing these loans are under frequent review by the U.S. Congress. Applicants should be aware that awards might need to be revised if major change is mandated by government regulations.

Federal eligibility may also be reviewed during the academic year if a student's financial circumstances change substantially; additional scholarship or award support from the ISM is not available. Students must notify the financial aid office of all additional awards or sources of support, such as that received from denominational agencies, outside grants and scholarships, and parental contributions.

Financial Aid for International Students

International students also receive full tuition scholarships and may be eligible for other awards through the Institute of Sacred Music. No application is needed, nor is service to the Institute required to receive the scholarship or award. International students are not eligible to participate in U.S. government-funded loan programs unless they are permanent residents; therefore, every effort should be made to obtain financial assistance from the applicant's government. Such assistance should be reported to the Institute's Financial Aid Office. The Institute cannot subsidize transportation to and from the United States. Please note that international students may be eligible for a Yale loan. Please contact the financial aid office for more information.

Employment

Qualified students have the opportunity to audition for paid positions in Marquand Chapel at the Divinity School as chapel organists, chapel ministers, and section leaders in the chapel choir. A paid position as assistant choral conductor for the chapel choir is awarded to a choral conducting major. Other paid positions are available as organists, conductors, and singers both at Berkeley Episcopal Divinity School and at Battell Chapel. Part-time positions abound in the libraries, dining halls, and the various offices of the University.

Institute students are encouraged to seek part-time employment in the ministry of churches in the New Haven area. Such work might include roles as organist and/or choir director, assistant for Christian education or youth work, pastoral assistant, or coordinator of arts programs in a church or the community. Institute and Divinity School placement personnel assist in locating such positions. Students generally work between ten and fifteen hours a week and are paid a salary commensurate with their experience and responsibilities.

(updated June 2008)

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