Policies
Each year, Tulane Law School awards a number of partial scholarships or tuition waivers to full-time LLM candidates with superior academic credentials. Most go to international candidates enrolled in the various full-time LLM programs. The Maritime Law Center does have funding available for both U.S. and international full-time LLM in Admiralty candidates.
Funding for SJD candidates in the form of scholarships or tuition waivers is extremely limited. Because the program is a small one with already discounted tuition, additional aid in the form of a scholarship or tuition waiver is generally not available.
Scholarships and tuition waivers cover a portion of tuition. They do not cover living expenses. Scholarship and tuition waiver funding is limited, and competition for the awards is keen. In order to be considered for an award of these funds, candidates must complete and submit the Financial Aid Data and Scholarship Application Form, along with the application form for admission. Students are strongly urged to investigate alternate sources of funding early in the application process.
Students who are US citizens or who have permanent resident status in the United States may be eligible to borrow through the major loan programs available to law students--Stafford Student Loans (subsidized and unsubsidized), Law Access Loans, and Law Student Loans. Eligible candidates interested in these programs must file a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). For additional information about application procedures, see the JD Financial Aid section of this website, or contact the Law School Financial Aid office at 504.865.5931 or finaid@law.tulane.edu.
International candidates who have a US citizen co-signer may be eligible for the LawExcel Preferred Loan or other private educational loan (please see the right-hand column section entitled "Information for Applicants Who Are Neither U.S. Citizens Nor U.S. Permanent Residents"). Sources of financial aid available to international candidates might include Tulane Law School partial scholarships or partial tuition waivers (see below, under Scholarships) and numerous sources of outside funding, for example, the Fulbright Foundation, IIE, foreign governments, and other foundations. Tulane, of course, has no control over these outside funding sources. It is up to the individual student to seek out such sources.
The Law School funds a limited number of positions as research assistants or library assistants, typically at the rate of $7.00 per hour for no more than 15 hours per week. A research assistant position might take the form of doing scholarly research for an individual professor or teaching a foreign language course at the Law School or Business School. These positions must be arranged by the student directly with the library or with the faculty member in charge.
Loans
A limited number of Law School loans are made to qualified students in situations in which other loan programs may not be available. Law School Loans are based on need and availability of funds, and are generally made in amounts of $2,000 or less. A description of the terms is available from the Law School Financial Aid Office.
Also available in limited circumstances are small ($175) short-term loans designed to provide for emergencies that arise during the academic year. Repayment is required by the end of the semester in which these loans are made, and only one emergency loan per student can be made in each academic year.
Graduate students who are neither US citizens nor US permanent residents do not have eligibility to apply for US federal educational loans. However, several US private educational lenders allow application by such students if they obtain a cosigner who is a US citizen or US permanent resident. Please read the section on the right-hand side of this page entitled, "Information for Applicants Neither U.S. Citizens Nor U.S. Permanent Residents" for more information about these loans.
With a credit-worthy co-borrower, a student can borrow up to the cost of attendance. Tulane determines the borrower's maximum loan eligibility based on the Cost of Attendance, less any other financial aid received.
Scholarships
Applicants to the various LLM programs who demonstrate particular academic strength may be awarded scholarships or tuition waivers of between $5000 and $20,000 toward tuition and fees at Tulane Law School. Most offers are made to international candidates, although scholarships to the LLM Admiralty program are made to U.S. candidates as well as international candidates. Scholarship offers are generally made at the same time the offer of admission is extended, or shortly thereafter. The exception to these general rules is that scholarships to the LLM in Admiralty program, including the Maritime Law Fellowship, are generally made in the late spring after offers of admission have been made.
List of Scholarship Funds for LLM Students:
General-purpose scholarships or tuition waivers
Maritime Law Fellowship
Harry F. Stiles Jr. Scholarship
Ferdinand F. Stone Graduate Scholarship
Geoffrey Brice Scholarship