Cost of IGM Graduate Programs

The Masters in Game Design & Development program within Interactive Games & Media (IGM) is a 2-year degree program consisting of 62 credits of full time study. RIT's graduate program and per-credit tuition costs for the current academic year are located here. For additional information about RIT graduate costs and financial options please visit the Graduate Programs website here.

Graduate Assistantships

Interactive Games & Media (IGM) offers a limited number of Graduate Assistantship (GA) positions to new, full-time, on-campus IGM graduate students who enter in the fall term. Awards are for a maximum of one (1) academic year: fall, winter, and spring terms only. Positions are not renewable for the next academic year. GA students work with IGM faculty and/or staff to support our students and facilities. The available positions can vary in any given year. Typical position descriptions are included at the end of the application form. Applications for 2013-14 are due by April 30th, 2013. Contact information is available here. Awards are made once a year, in mid-May, for the following academic year. After all awards have been granted, no further assistantships are available until the next academic year. The form for filing an application to be a GA is available here. [PDF]

Graduate Teaching Assistantships

Interactive Games & Media periodically hires students to work with the IGM faculty as teaching assistants for its undergraduate courses. Graduate Teaching Assistantship (GTA) positions are available to matriculated IGM graduate students studying on campus. GTA positions are guaranteed for three (3) academic terms (fall, winter, and spring quarters only) for one academic year. Applications are due to the Associate Director by April 30th, 2013. Contact information is available here. Awards are made once a year, by September, for the Academic year. The form for filing an application to be a TA is available here. [PDF]

Research Assistantships

Interactive Games & Media, depending on the nature of funded projects and active research, will sometimes have opportunities to hire a Research Assistant (RA) on specific projects and/or to work with faculty members in a given area. Students interested in these positions should approach faculty directly that are active in their specific domain of inquiry, and collaborate with them on applying to be an RA. The form for filing an application to be a RA is available here. [PDF]

Other Assistantships at RIT

Residence Life within the RIT Division of Student Affairs (Campus and Residence Life, Orientation, the Women's Center, the RIT Leadership Institute, and Student Conduct and Mediation Services) offers several graduate assistantship positions for both incoming and returning students. These positions are very attractive for students since they can provide a stipend, on-campus housing, and a partial meal plan along with invaluable leadership, conflict resolution, and teamwork experience. Priority is typically given to applicants who apply by the end of March and who can participate in the early on-campus interview process. In-person interviews are strongly encouraged; however, alternate arrangements can be worked out for students who are unable to attend. Please visit the Residential Life website. Or for an online application and additional information please visit the Student Affairs website.

RIT Institute Merit Scholarships

An RIT Institute Merit Scholarship may be available to matriculated students who are receiving little or no financial support from an employer or other funding sources. Scholarships are usually granted at the time of admissions, based on the strength of prior academic performance or employment background, and are typically continued as long as the student is actively matriculated. The IGM Director & Associate Director , make all decisions as to scholarship eligibility and award levels. To be eligible for the maximum amount for a given quarter, you must be in good academic standing and have completed all prerequisite courses before the start of the quarter. Students, who have not completed all of the program prerequisite courses, may or may not be awarded a merit scholarship at the discretion of the Associate Director and the IGM Director. If a prerequisite course is completed at another university, you must have an official transcript sent to RIT. The Institute Merit Scholarship must be renewed annually and is generally awarded for the fall and spring semesters of the current academic year. If you plan to study in the summer or take courses in a subsequent academic year, you will need to submit a scholarship renewal request form to the IGM Office. The form for applying for Graduate Merit Scholarship is available here. [PDF]

Financial Statement

Generally, your scholarship appears on the financial statements that you receive after you register for courses. This is typically an estimate based upon full-time study. However, the exact amount of the scholarship is not credited to your account until Add/Drop week is over. At that time, the exact amount of the scholarship awarded to your account can be shown since your total number of credits is set for the quarter.

Request for Additional Scholarship

IGM frequently receives requests to increase scholarship amounts and in nearly all cases the requests must be denied. We realize that a student's financial situation may change due to unforeseen circumstances; if this should occur, please feel free to contact us to make us aware of your situation. For example, if you previously had tuition reimbursement from your employer or other award and your situation has changed, IGM might be able to offer some assistance. However, please understand that our resources are limited. In addition, please be aware that IGM does not increase the amount of a scholarship based on the student's level of academic success. Once a merit scholarship has been granted, we assume that all of our students will strive to do their best at all times.

Other Sources of Financial Aid

To be honest, there are not many additional sources of assistance. A domestic student can apply for a federal guaranteed loan. The amount of the loan is based on the difference between your available funds and the cost of the program. If you are a foreign student, you need a co-signer who is an American citizen or permanent resident. Contact the Financial Aid Office in the Bausch & Lomb Building or visit http://www.rit.edu/emcs/financialaid/grad1.html for assistance.

International Students

The International Student Office has a very limited amount of money for students who are in a desperate situation. In addition, the International Student Office awards its own scholarships. The application is available in November and is due in early December. The awards are based on the documented financial need and the academic performance of the student.

Employment Opportunities

On Campus Jobs

Full-time students can work on campus up to twenty (20) hours per week. Various job opportunities are available on campus. These will not be sufficient to pay your tuition bill. However, the money can be used to supplement your living expenses.

Interactive Games & Media

Interactive Games & Media hires undergraduate and graduate students to work in our various labs and classes on an "as needed" basis for the open lab, the Game Design & Development lab, and the New Media Interactive Development lab. Employing students to assist their peers with general lab usage, answering questions, and monitor equipment. Information on who to contact to pursue positions in these laboratories is noted below:

IGM New Media Interactive Development Laboratory: Chad Weeden
IGM Game Design & Development Laboratory: Ed Huyer

Teaching Assistant

IGM sometimes hires graduate students to support the faculty in teaching various courses. You can apply if a course requires skills that match your background. However, please be aware that job availability varies depending upon student enrollment and faculty availability.

Information and Technology Services (ITS)

ITS, RIT's division for computing support, hires students to work in various capacities. When you arrive at campus, you can find out about job opportunities by visit the ITS Help Desk in Building 7B Room 1113.

Distributed Support Services

The DSS division of ITS provide the colleges and divisions within RIT with computing support for their faculty, staff, and labs. DSS hires a large number of undergraduate and graduate students to work in their labs located in many different buildings on campus and to work on projects for departments and faculty members. To find employment opportunities, visit the DSS web site.

Note-Taking for NTID Students

RIT has a large population of deaf students. For classes with at least one deaf student, RIT can supply a professional to support communication for that course. In addition, RIT may hire a student, usually a member of the class, to take notes for the deaf students in the class. Highly legible handwriting, content knowledge, and strong note-taking skills are required. When you arrive on campus, please can contact Lissa Schaefer at 475-4962 or ljsnge@rit.edu for information about note-taking needs for GCCIS students.

Food Service

Jobs are available in the various cafeterias on campus. You can apply for these jobs when you are on campus by meeting the manager of the cafeteria. The major cafeterias are Grace Watson Residence dining hall, Brick City Cafeteria (SAU), Crossroads, the Commons, and the Ritz.