Undocumented or DACAmented MSW Applicant & Student FAQ

Yes. Undocumented or DACAmented students may qualify for in-state tuition rates if you can demonstrate that you attended an accredited Michigan high school and accredited Michigan middle or junior high school within 28 months of enrolling at U-M. In state residency is determined by the Registrar's Office. Please see the University of Michigan Guidelines for Qualifying for In-State Tuition for details.

Yes; however, there are very few full tuition awards available for any MSW student. The majority of School of Social Work merit-based awards cover only partial tuition amounts.

MSW applicants/students with DACA are eligible to apply for merit-based financial aid, SSW special programs (Child Welfare Scholarship Program, Community-Based Initiative in Detroit, Geriatric Scholarship Program, Global Activities Scholarship Program, Integrated Health Scholarship Program, Jewish Communal Leadership Program, National Community Scholars Program, and New Leaders in African-Centered Social Work Scholarship Program), as well as graduate student assistant (GSA) positions.

SSW merit-based and special programs financial awards (Child Welfare Scholarship Program, Community-Based Initiative in Detroit, Geriatric Scholarship Program, Integrated Health Scholarship Program, Jewish Communal Leadership Program, National Community Scholars Program, and New Leaders in African-Centered Social Work Scholarship Program) are available. Students without DACA, however, are not eligible to be appointed into graduate student assistant positions.

Check out the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund's (MALDEF) Scholarship Resource Guide, which includes scholarships

Graduation student instructor (GSI) and graduate student research assistant (GSRA) are not available to MSW students; however each year MSW students are employed by other departments and offices on campus.  Please visit the U-M Careers at the U website for a listing of graduate student appointments throughout the University.

GSI, GSRA and GSSA (collectively referred to as GSA) positions typically include a monthly salary as well as full tuition (for appointments of .25 or higher) health insurance (including dependents) and dental insurance (Option 1) at no cost to the student.

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Yes. The student must reside within the U.S. and meet criteria for one of the following paths:

• Advanced Standing (you earned a BSW degree with a 3.5 GPA or higher)
• MasterTrack 
• U-M Sociology and Social Work
• UM-Dearborn Human Services and Social Work

No. Students are not eligible to work without a valid EAD. Students cannot obtain a new GSI, GSRA or GSSA appointment without a valid EAD.

All graduate students appointed as graduate student instructor (GSI), graduate student research assistant (GSRA), or graduate student staff assistant (GSSA) positions (collectively referred to as GSA) positions are required to pass a background check. As part of the background check process, you will be required to provide personal identifying information including your name, date of birth, address and social security number. If you do not have a social security number, you may provide another unique identifier (e.g., USCIS#, Alien #) in order to complete the background check process. This

Students are not eligible to work without a valid EAD. If your EAD expires in the middle of the semester, an e-mail notification will be sent to the Human Resources contact person in your program and your appointment will be terminated. There are significant financial implications of a GSA position terminating in the middle of semester including rescinding the tuition payment, no additional salary, and canceling your health insurance. Please contact the Human Resources contact person in your program for next steps.

Students with DACA are hired and appointed using the standard process for graduate students.