Financial Aid & Scholarships

Financial Aid

US citizens and permanent residents in the US can apply for federal financial aid by submitting the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). This request must be submitted before March 1 of each year. It is not necessary to wait for confirmation of admission to the master's degree (LL.M) to apply for financial aid. If you meet the eligibility requirements, you can apply for a loan of up to $ 25,500.00 USD per year in combination with the Ford Federal Direct Loan program, subsidized or unsubsidized. Other aid programs and private loan programs are also available for interested students. The total financial aid for one year may not exceed the established cost of attendance, which includes: tuition, fees, books and living expenses. International students who have a guarantor who is a US citizen may apply for an education loan through private financial entities. For more information about scholarships, you can contact the Financial Aid Office.

Scholarship Opportunities for the Master’s Degree in Human Rights and Humanitarian Law

The objective of these scholarships is to help professionals who demonstrate financial need, high academic merit and qualify for any of the following categories. Because funds are limited, scholarships will be awarded primarily to applicants that apply early. Candidates may apply for only one scholarship category.

Scholarship Policies:

Scholarship credits are divided into equal parts and proportionally allocated at the beginning of each semester throughout the duration of the degree. Scholarships are for tuition only. All applications will be reviewed by the Human Rights and Humanitarian Law program on a rolling basis.

Please note that the scholarship application must be submitted together with the application documents for the master's degree in order to be taken into consideration. Candidates can apply only to one of the scholarship categories. These scholarships only apply to tuition costs, so they cannot be used to cover the cost of accommodation, food, transportation, among others. The funds are limited.

Tuition Remission Scholarship

Types of Tuition Remission Scholarship

Partial tuition scholarships are available for a limited number of candidates.

Application Deadline

The application must be submitted together with your application to the LL.M. Deadline.

Requirements

All applicants to the LL.M. can apply to be considered for this scholarship. Preference will be given to those applicants with a strong academic performance in law school, and/or prior legal work experience.

How to apply

Submit an essay along with your complete LL.M. program application addressing the following:

Describe how the LL.M. program can help you prepare for a global legal career, and how you will utilize your skills as a global lawyer to contribute to WCL. The essay should not exceed 500 words. Please indicate in the subject of the email: "Application to the LL.M. and Essay for the Partial Tuition Remission Scholarship".

Send application to: llm@wcl.american.edu and humanrightsllm@wcl.american.edu

The LL.M. in Human Rights and Humanitarian Law will offer two scholarships to two students who have completed the Program of Advanced Studies in Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law of the Academy. This scholarship will cover 12 credits for the selected candidates. The applicants must meet the eligibility requirements. This scholarship is granted only to two beneficiaries.

 

Application Deadline

The application must be submitted together with your application to the LL.M. 

 

Requirements

Participants of the Program of Advanced Studies in Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law.

 

How to apply

Send an essay and a complete application for the LL.M. The essay should address the following topic: briefly describe a specific human rights problem of international, regional or national scope and offer a solution to that problem. The essay should not exceed 750 words. Please indicate in the subject of the email: "Application to the LL.M. and Essay for the Summer Program Scholarship.”

 

Send application to: llm@wcl.american.edu and humanrightsllm@wcl.american.edu

The LL.M. in Human Rights and Humanitarian Law will offer two scholarships to a former participants (Judge, Team Member, Observer, Trainer or Court Official) of the Inter-American Human Rights Contest. This scholarship will cover 12 credits awarded to the selected candidates. The students must meet the eligibility requirements. This scholarship is granted only to two beneficiaries.

 

Application Deadline

The application must be submitted together with your application to the LL.M. program. 

 

Requirements

Participant (Judge, Team Member, Observer, Trainer or Court Official) of the Inter-American Human Rights Contest.

 

How to apply

Send an essay along with the complete application for the LL.M. program that addresses the following topic: your experience in the contest and explain why you want to take the LL.M. in Human Rights and Humanitarian Law. The essay should not exceed 750 words. Please indicate in the subject of the email: “Application to the LL.M. and Essay for the Inter-American Moot Court Scholarship”

 

Send application to: llm@wcl.american.edu and humanrightsllm@wcl.american.edu

The LL.M. in Human Rights and Humanitarian Law will offer two scholarships that cover 12 credits for two members of civil society who meet the requirements of scholarship eligibility. Participants must be actively involved in an organization within civil society. This scholarship will be granted only to two beneficiaries.

 

Application Deadline

The application must be submitted together with your application to LL.M.

Requirements

Active member of a Civil Society organization

 

How to apply

Send an essay along with the complete application for the LL.M. program, which addresses the following topic: describe the work in which you are currently participating and explain why you want to take the LL.M. in Human Rights and Humanitarian Law. The essay should not exceed 750 words. The organization must send a letter of recommendation certifying the participation of the applicant within that organization. Please indicate in the subject of the email: "Application to the LL.M. and Essay for the Civil Society Scholarship."

Send application to: llm@wcl.american.edu and humanrightsllm@wcl.american.edu

The LL.M. in International Human Rights and Humanitarian Law is one of the most prestigious advanced degree programs of its kind in the U.S. It offers flexible degree program designed for law graduates interested acquiring specialized knowledge in human rights and humanitarian law. HRHL LL.M. students can choose from over 50 courses offered in-residence in the fall and spring semesters. They can also attend the courses offered by the Academy on Human Rights and Humanitarian Law’s Program of Advanced Studies in Human Rights and Humanitarian Law each summer (open to law graduates and other professionals), as well as our specialized virtual courses. Both residential, hybrid, and online tracks offered by this program will allow you to connect with an exceptional array of leaders in the field of human rights and humanitarian law. Our faculty includes more than 40 world-renowned experts whose experience in the field of human rights and humanitarian law provides a unique source of knowledge for our students. Our faculty comprises international NGO staff members, international tribunal judges, members of regional international organizations, UN special rapporteurs, as well as distinguished WCL faculty and international faculty and members of UN bodies.

The LL.M.program is offered in three tracks:

  • In-residence (all 24 credits on campus in Washington, D.C. – English only)
  • Hybrid (with some classes in-residence in Washington, D.C. and some online - English or Spanish)
  • Fully Online (an entirely virtual degree – English or Spanish)

OAS-AUWCL SCHOLARSHIP OVERVIEW

BENEFITS: 50% Tuition waiver for Scholarship Recipients (10 scholarships for the LL.M. in International Human Rights and Humanitarian Law)

PROGRAMS:   LL.M. in International Human Rights and Humanitarian Law

MODALITY:   Residential (English only), hybrid or online (English/Spanish)

DURATION:   9 – 24 months (2 or 3 semesters)

START OF CLASSES:  Spring – January 9, 2023

Please apply for admission directly to the American University Washington College of Law by the following deadline: November 1, 2022 (Spring 2023 semester)

IMPORTANT: Scholarship benefits are subject to the academic performance of the scholarship recipient and based on the availability of funds. In order to receive these benefits, the scholarship recipient should not be reported with an unsatisfactory academic performance due to absences or failing courses.

SELECTION CRITERIA:

  • The merits and overall credentials of the candidate, including his/her academic and professional background;
  • Geographical distribution of the applicants, taking into account the greater needs of the smaller and relatively less developed economies;
  • Applicants who show the highest potential for impact upon return to their countries of origin; and
  • Gender diversity.

ELIGIBILITY AND APPLICATION

To be considered for this scholarship opportunity, an applicant must complete the admission requirements of the American University Washington College of Law for LL.M. students, and also comply with the specific OAS-AUWCL Scholarship requirements.

AUWCL ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS AND APPLICATION:

  • Submit a completed online application form along with supporting documents before the application deadline directly to the American University Washington College of Law.
  • The supporting documents must show that you:
    • Hold a Juris Doctor (JD) from a US law school accredited by the American Bar Association (ABA) or a first degree in law from a non-U.S. law school with equivalent standards.
    • International applicants (non US citizens or permanent residents of the US) must meet the English Language Proficiency Requirement (only for English program, whether in residence or online).
  • Applicants can find answers to most questions by visiting our website https://www.wcl.american.edu/academics/degrees/llm/how-to-apply/instructions/ or by contacting the admissions team at llm@wcl.american.edu for more information about the university’s admission process. For program details on the LL.M. in International Human Rights and Humanitarian Law, please email humanrightsllm@wcl.american.edu.

OAS-AUWCL SCHOLARSHIP REQUIREMENTS AND APPLICATION: 

  • After receiving an admission letter from AUWCL (see prior section), please email a copy of the admission letter and request access to the OAS online Scholarship Application Form via email at scholarships@oas.org.
  • Once received, please fill out that OAS online Scholarship Application Form and add to your scholarship application the following documentation:
  1. Government issued ID – scan a picture of passport page that contains the applicant’s full name, date of birth, and country of citizenship. It is required that you are a citizen and/or permanent legal resident of any OAS member state, except the United States.
  2. Admission letter – unconditional admission letter from the American University Washington College of Law.
  • ALL the required documents must be combined into one (1) single PDF file (no larger than 5MB). If the file is larger than 5MB, you will not be able to summit the online form. The application system does not allow for more than one document to be uploaded. Do not include any additional documents besides those indicated.
    • This scholarship opportunity is open to new applicants as well as current students at AUWCL who are from an OAS member state, except the United States, and are not a current OAS-AUWCL scholarship recipient. 

      THE FOLLOWING APPLICANTS ARE INELIGIBLE FOR THE SCHOLARSHIP:

    • Current OAS scholarship holders and citizens or permanent residents of the United States.
    • GS/OAS staff and their immediate relatives or GS/OAS consultants.
    • OAS Permanent officials and their immediate relatives.
    • Please note! - Before applying for admission, applicants are encouraged to read the program description, and ensure that the study area fulfills their expectations and interests. Please visit: LL.M. in International Human Rights and Humanitarian Law. Only applicants who have been admitted to AUWCL will be allowed to apply for scholarship consideration.

      EXPENSES NOT COVERED BY THIS SCHOLARSHIP

    • Remaining 50% of tuition fees;
    • Travel expenses (to and from the country of study), if applicable;
    • Mandatory university fees;
    • Cost of books and study materials;
    • Health insurance;
    • Graduation expenses;
    • Visa expenses (where applicable); and
    • any other costs or additional living and study cost not covered by the scholarship. 
    • These above listed expenses as a financial responsibility shall be the sole and exclusive responsibility of the scholarship recipients and the scholarship recipients will be responsible for payment of the remaining tuition fees and any other costs required by AUWCL.

    • Applicants to the OAS Scholarship can also apply for the Rowe Fund, which is an educational loan program of the OAS that helps citizens from Latin America and the Caribbean to finance their studies in accredited universities across the United States by awarding interest-free loans of up to US$15,000 dollars.
      • We are excited to share with you The Financial Aid Guide for Studies in the U.S. This booklet features a useful listing of financial aid opportunities sorted by country of residence. Check out the listing of scholarships, grants, fellowships and loans, collected by the Rowe Fund program of the Organization of American States. For over seventy years, the Rowe Fund has granted interest-free student loans for university studies in the U.S. to supplement other sources of financing.
    • SELECTION PROCESS:

      AUWCL and the OAS will select the scholarship awardees based on the criteria listed above. The names of the scholarship recipients will be published in March 2023 at www.oas.org/scholarships.

      The OAS will contact selected candidates by email with the scholarship offer and instructions for the scholarship acceptance.  Applicants who are not selected will not be contacted.

      Questions about this scholarship opportunity should be sent to scholarships@oas.org and humanrightsllm@wcl.american.edu  with the subject “OAS-AUWCL Scholarship Program.”

      DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITY OF THE SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENT

    • This scholarship will be formally awarded only after the selected awardees have signed an OAS/AUWCL Acceptance Form, in which the awardees formally accept the scholarship and agree to its terms and conditions.
    • Refrain from activities that are inconsistent with the status of an OAS Scholarship recipient, abiding by the regulations referred to in this Acceptance Form.
    • Comply with all the academic guidelines and admission requirements requested by AUWCL and submit to the updates of these guidelines and requirements made by the academic authorities at AUWCL.
    • Comply with the provisions indicated in the "Financial responsibilities of awardees”.
    • To retain the scholarship, recipients shall not have low academic performance (GPA must be at least equivalent to 3.0/4.0), due to absence from the program of study and/or course failure.
    • The scholarship can be declined by the recipient before the start date of the program of study without financial penalties. However, if a student declines the scholarship after that date without proof of force majeur, the OAS and AUWCL may require the scholarship recipient to reimburse all funding granted to her/him with the scholarship at the time in which the declination is processed.
    • Commitment to return to work in their sponsoring country or permanent legal residence in one of the OAS member states or at an international organization, for at least the length of the duration of the scholarship. Failure to comply with this commitment, will cause the GS/OAS and/or the AUWCL could seek reimbursement for the total value of the scholarship awarded.
    • For More Information please go to www.oas.org/scholarships