Application Instructions

What to know

The Graduate and Professional Student Emergency Fund (GPSEF) assists graduate and professional students at WashU with unexpected, one-time emergency expenses.

This fund is intended to provide support to students facing emergency expenses. The GPSEF is made possible by a fixed allocation; as such, support from the fund will be issued to eligible students while an amount is still available.

Please read all of the information on this page before beginning an application.

Eligibility

• To be eligible for the Graduate and Professional Student Emergency Fund, you must be:
  • Enrolled as a full-time graduate or professional student in a degree program at WashU
  • Making satisfactory academic progress as determined by their program
  • Able to demonstrate that you cannot reasonably resolve your immediate financial needs through loans, aid programs, or other personal resources
• Expenses must occur within the academic terms
  • Costs in prior academic terms or while a student was on leave are not eligible
• You may apply more than once if you have more than one eligible emergency situation, up to $1,500 of funding in an academic year. If your application is denied, you may apply again.

If you have questions regarding your eligibility, please contact us.

Important information

Eligible events

• Unanticipated, emergency medical, dental or mental health services for the student
• Major accidents or unforeseen emergency circumstances such as fire and natural disasters
• Expenses related to the death of an immediate family member

Pending final decision and availability of funds.

Students are encouraged to speak to their faculty advisors and/or director of graduate/professional study. These individuals may be able to help identify other sources of financial assistance, university resources, and/or provide useful advice.

Application process

Overview

Your GPSEF application will need to include the following:

• A brief statement describing the emergency situation, the unforeseen expense(s) and how the GPSEF could help you resolve the emergency.
• The date and time the expense was incurred.
• All necessary documentation of expense(s) in a single PDF file.
  • View the Supporting Documents section to see what documents to include
• The amount of emergency funding requested including: a list of current expenses, how the funds will be used, and your financial situation including sources of income and other available funding.

You will also need to agree to the following:

Supporting documents

We understand that it may be difficult in some situations to obtain documentation, but because the Graduate and Professional Student Emergency Fund is restricted to emergencies, applicants must verify expenses to qualify.

All documentation must be collated into a single PDF document. It can include multiple receipts/invoices/documents, but must be one document.

Monthly credit card statements and canceled checks alone will not be accepted as supporting documentation.

Documents/receipts/invoices must:

• Show the total amount and confirmation of payment.
• Show the date of purchase.
• Include the vendor or payee name information.
• Must provide details that corroborate the funding request (itemized list and/or description of purchases).
• Be in English or include an English translation. Healthcare expenses must be incurred within the United States.

Please provide the appropriate documentation for your situation:

• Emergency medical treatment or medication: insurance documentation, letter from medical provider; documentation must provide details on treatment received.
• Emergency travel: Ticket receipts and final ticket stubs. If you are applying for funding before departure, you must provide the final ticket stub within two weeks of your return date. 
• Fire, destruction, or natural disaster: If you have insurance (car, renter’s, homeowner’s), provide documentation showing your deductible; copy of your insurance claim detailing the incident.
• Replacement of stolen essential items: A copy of a police report, telephone confirmation from the police department, and a receipt for the replacement product (note: essential items may include basic household goods, laptops, or equipment necessary for academic progress).

Review and timeline

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis once submitted. Not including all required documentation causes a delay in response—please be sure to carefully assemble and review your application prior to submission.

Once your completed application has been received, decisions are made and based in part on availability of GPSEF funds. Decisions may be made in consultation with an applicant’s school. You will be notified of your application’s status and be informed of the next steps. Please be aware that funding generally can take 7-10 business days to process after funding notification.