Graduate Student Information

Use the information in this section to find relevant forms and funding opportunities. Visit the following links for information regarding:

Academic Forms

  • Internal Admission Form 
    • This form is used to apply to another graduate program at Syracuse University. 
  • Petition to Faculty Form 
    • This form is used to transfer credits or petition a course to count toward your degree.
  • Independent Study Form 
    • This form is used to propose an independent study course. The form will be filled out in conjunction with the faculty member you will work with throughout the semester.

Graduate Student Support and Funding Opportunities

VPA considers graduate student research an integral part of the student experience. Grants are awarded to encourage students to pursue creative opportunities, whether they are exhibitions, conferences, performances, or other professional events.


 VPA Student Grant Program
The College of Visual and Performing Arts offers small financial awards to outstanding and deserving full-time undergraduate and graduate students in art, creative arts therapy, communication and rhetorical studies, design, drama, film and media arts, and music who may need financial assistance to engage in programs, activities, internships, and residencies that can move them forward in their disciplines. Proposals for the VPA Student Grant Program will be assessed on the clarity and feasibility of proposed activities, the expression of need for funding, and the potential contributions of the project or activity to the applicant or to the arts community. VPA student grants range from $300 to $1,200, depending on the volume and quality of applications, as well as the availability of funding each semester. The program has closed for the 2023/2024 year. It is anticipated that the application system will reopen in May 2024 for awards beginning in or after July 2024.
 Graduate Student Organization Travel Grant
Syracuse University’s  Graduate Student Organization (GSO)  provides a  travel grant  for students traveling for academic and professional conferences. Grant funds are intended to defray the cost of travel for students presenting original work at conferences, exhibitions, performances, and other opportunities. There are multiple deadlines throughout the year; visit the GSO website for more details.
 Scholarships and Financial Awards

If you are looking for teaching assistantships, hourly assistantships, or employment opportunities, please contact your advisor and/or program coordinator. Many of those awards are distributed by departments and programs, so you should always begin those conversations there.

 Turner Semester
The Turner Semester is a residency program for a small cohort of M.F.A. degree students in VPA. The program allows the students to experience the arts of the West Coast and to live and work in San Pedro (the Los Angeles Harbor area). Contact the Office of Academic and Career Advising at 315.443.2517 or vpaosa@syr.edu for more information.

Memorial Scholarships and Fellowships Form Application

The College of Visual and Performing Arts offers small financial awards to outstanding and deserving graduate students in music, art, film and media arts, design, and communication and rhetorical studies who may need financial assistance to engage in programs, activities, and residencies that can move them forward in their disciplines.

A new form will be provided soon.