• ABOUT UNC SILS
• NEWS & EVENTS
• DEGREES & PROGRAMS
• RESEARCH
• PEOPLE
• CAREERS
• SUPPORTING SILS

DEGREES & PROGRAMS

• Courses
  • Descriptions
  • Schedules
• Undergraduate
  • Major
  • Minor
• Graduate
  • MSIS
  • MSLS
  • Certificates of Specialization
  • ARM Concentration
  • Dual Degrees
  • Ph.D.
  • CAS
• Continuing Education
• International Programs
• Web-based Information Science Education (WISE)




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MSIS:
• Overview
• Curriculum
• Admissions
• Cost & Financial Aid
• Academic Policies

Tuition and Fees

The Graduate School provides a general estimate of the cost of attendance for one year of graduate school.

In addition, students should consider the cost of the required laptop computer.

Residency

Residents of North Carolina may attend UNC at Chapel Hill at a significantly lower cost. The Graduate School maintains a residency website which contains information about residency requirements and how to apply for resident status.

Financial Aid

Prospective masters students should apply by December 15th to receive full consideration for financial aid.

Need-based aid  

Need-based assistance is handled by the Office of Scholarships and Student Aid. Application is made by completing the FAFSA form and requesting that financial information be sent to UNC at Chapel Hill.

Merit-based aid

Most SILS financial aid and assistantships are given to students who begin their programs in summer or fall semesters although awards generally do not begin until the fall. There is no separate application process for merit-based financial aid.

Many SILS awards are of one-year duration; others are renewed for a second year, contingent upon academic and service performance. Second-year students have a number of opportunities to apply for part-time internships offered by area corporations, information agencies, or libraries.

Fellowships

Fellowships normally are awarded for one year only. Award recipients are responsible for applicable tuition and fees.

• H. W. Wilson Fellowship
• Margaret Ellen Kalp Fellowship
• Burmeister Information Science Fellowship
• Evelyn J. Bishop Tuition Fellowship
• Michael Hooker Graduate Fellowship in Applied Networking
• Kathleen McNiece Moore Fellowship in Children's Library Services
• Special Fellowship for Library Work with Children and Young Adults
• Beta Phi Mu Epsilon Chapter Scholarship Award

Service Awards

Carnegie Tuitional Fellowships. The fund provides tuition and fees for North Carolina residents enrolled in this program. Recipients are required to work five hours per week during each semester and summer term in which they receive this aid.

Faculty and Laboratory Assistantships. Funds are available for assistantships that support members of the SILS faculty in their research and teaching duties and support the services offered by the computing lab. These require 15-20 hours of service per week.

EPA Assistantships. A number of assistantships are available with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) library in Research Triangle Park. Students are eligible to apply for these assistantships after completing one full-time semester in the SILS program.

Initial appointments are for one year, with the possibility of renewal for an additional six months contingent upon performance in the assistantship and in SILS. Positions require 20 hours of service per week year-round.

Merit Assistantships. The Graduate School awards merit assistantships based on nominations from SILS. Assistantships include a stipend plus tuition for one year. Service responsibilities of 20 hours per week will be assigned.

Students awarded merit assistantships will assist with teaching or research activities, not to exceed 20 hours per week, within their department.

Residence Hall Staff Positions. Students with experience in residence hall living may apply for resident assistantships (RAs) and positions as assistant resident directors (ARDs). Check the Housing Web site for further information and application forms.

External awards

External funding organizations have their own procedures and require a separate application. The school posts notices of award opportunities to the bulletin board and listservs.

UNC's GrantSource Library can help graduate students find fellowships and other funding opportunities.

Other Work Opportunities

Numerous student assistant positions are available in on-campus and off-campus information agencies and libraries for students in SILS programs. Students must apply directly to the individual departments or organizations for these positions. The school receives notices of part-time job and internship opportunities and makes this information available to students via the SILS listservs and bulletin board.

Academic Common Market (ACM)

MSLS students from Arkansas, Delaware, and Virginia may qualify to pay in-state tuition under the Academic Common Market agreement. The Graduate School has more information about the ACM as well as instructions for determining if you qualify.

Health Insurance

All registered students of the University of North Carolina who have paid the student health fee are eligible to enroll in the University's medical insurance plan.

In most cases, teaching assistants, research assistants, and fellows/trainees are eligible to have their coverage paid by their funding source.