Undergraduate Financial Aid
School of Design Support
The School of Design has several ways in which we support students through university-, college-, or school-sponsored funding.
The school will circulate information on applying for funding opportunities on a semester-by-semester basis. Students should make sure to read email communications from the school to learn about open positions and awards. These often include:
- Paid hourly positions for qualified students in the Project Lab and Fab Lab
- Fellowships, which provide tuition awards for undergraduates, in the Print Lab and Open Archive
- Peer mentor positions and Design Exhibition Fellowships, who receive a tuition award to support advising and communication efforts in the school
One-Time Student Funding
Current School of Design students with demonstrated financial need can apply for one-time awards. This funding is designed to support students in cases where assistance is essential to their ability to participate in and advance within the design program. It is not intended to provide ongoing relief for recurring expenses, including recurring tuition help. Tuition financial aid is not available through this program.
Students may apply for expenses such as:
- Conference and seminar registrations for design exploration
- Travel for conferences and seminars related to design exploration
- Technology needs for design courses, including laptops and computer hardware and software
- Material and supply needs for design projects (personal or coursework)
- Design competition entry fees
- Other requests intended to inform and advance student research and creative work in design
Expenses not considered for funding:
- Tuition and fees
- Campus housing costs and rent
- Health insurance
- Credit card expenses
- Parking tickets and other fines
- Costs for entertainment, recreation, and non-emergency travel
- Medical bills
- Other non-essential expenses (e.g., cable bill, cell-phone bill, parking fees, groceries)
Decisions regarding the disbursement of funds are made on a case-by-case basis. Submission of an application does not guarantee funding.
Students are eligible for awards through this program once per academic year. Preference will be given to students who have not previously received funding.
The school will circulate an application for this funding once per semester. The Fall 2026 deadline is October 1.
For more details and to apply, view the School of Design Student Funding application.
The school also offers a number of named scholarships and fellowships:
Sandbox Scholarship
This program, initiated by a Sandbox studio co-owner and UIC Design 2009 alum, continues to support one junior graphic design student each year.
UIC Osmosis Charles Harrison Scholarship
The UIC School of Design and Project Osmosis co-developed this scholarship program named for the design visionary Charles Harrison. Osmosis programs foster a generation of confident makers by engaging children and young adults in activities to promote creativity and self-expression. This annual award is designed to bridge creative excellence identified in Osmosis youth programs with the mentorship and financial support that will guarantee success in advanced studies in the UIC School of Design. Two to four students receive awards each year.
Samina Quraeshi Traveling Fellowship
Inspired by the life and career of the designer Samina Quraeshi, this travel-based fellowship provides funding for UIC Design students to inform and advance research through the discovery of place. The fellowship is based in a commitment to open minds and open borders. It is named for a passionate and inspiring leader, once a young Muslim girl warmly welcomed into our country as a high school exchange student. Multiple awards are available each year.