General Resources
Undergrad Scholarships
Scholarships and awards are available at the time of admission but are also available to current students based on both merit and need through an annual application process. Students compete for either school-wide scholarships through a nomination process or can apply directly to their department for a series of scholarships.
Current students: Painting + Printmaking Scholarship List
There are a number of scholarship opportunities for Painting + Printmaking students.
Each fall, the Undergraduate Scholarship Program grants financial awards to outstanding students entering VCU. Selection of scholars is made on the basis of merit in the area of academic achievement and artistic talent.
Freshman Scholarships are awarded to fall semester applicants only, who apply by November 15. We also encourage all applicants seeking scholarship consideration to submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid.
Incoming student must apply by January 15 to be automatically considered for talent scholarships — no separate application needed!
Simply submit your application, Slideroom portfolio, and ACT or SAT scores to be considered. Scholarship recipients will be selected based on academic merit and artistic talent.
The new talent scholarship awards range from $5,000–$12,000 per year and are renewable for up to 4 years.
Other Undergrad Resources
Financial aid is available. You must fill out a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). To learn more, or to download the FAFSA, please visit the VCU Office of Financial Aid or the FAFSA website. The priority deadline is March 1. Please follow up with our Office of Financial Aid a few weeks after you complete the FAFSA to ensure you are not missing anything.
PAPR 493. Internship for Painting and Printmaking.
Available to juniors and seniors in the School of the Arts. A practicum that provides students with valuable real-world experience to work in the field of contemporary art.
Internships are encouraged and should be related to the field of Painting + Printmaking/Contemporary Art to be eligible for PAPR credit. For example, a student may pursue an internship with an art collection, museum, gallery, publication, art fair, or artist. Popular internship options include: Studio Two Three, Triple Stamp Press, 1708 Gallery, VMFA, Candela Books + Gallery, Visual Arts Center of Richmond
Internships provide work experience and help clarify your academic and professional interests. As interns, students have an opportunity to see how things function in particular institutions or organizations. They gain a range of marketable skills, expand their professional network, and enhance their resume.
Completing an internship for course credit requires an override, which is provided to students after an internship application is submitted and approved by the internship supervisor and department chair.
Click here for more information about internship guidelines and the application process.
Students considering Independent Studies are encouraged to instead enroll in currently offered PAPR courses to meet their curricular requirements. If a student is having difficulty filling their schedule, they should meet with their advisor to discuss available courses. Independent Study requests must be endorsed by the student’s advisor to ensure all other options have been considered. In most cases, an independent study will only be granted if it is the only option for a student to graduate in the semester that the independent study course is requested.
Please check the VCU Bulletin for the most up to date information regarding curricular requirements.
Overrides will not be provided into courses that are full when there are spaces open in other sections of the same class. If all sections are full, students must have the explicit written permission of the instructor as well as the consent of the department to over enroll a full course. These overrides are not guaranteed. We encourage students to check for openings throughout the add/drop period and add the class directly if a space opens up.
Graduate Resources
A number of graduate teaching assistantships and fellowships are available to current and incoming graduate students. Graduate Teaching Assistantships (GTAs) provide full-tuition waivers and generous stipends in exchange for 15 hours of work per week. GTA assignments include serving as teaching assistants for full-time faculty, teaching independent classes, and providing technical support for the administrative and studio needs of the department—all skills that will aid students in pursuing teaching or other jobs in the arts.
Decisions regarding assistantships are made at the time of acceptance. GTA assignments rotate each semester, and we work with students to match assignments with their interests and skills.
Many students also apply for federal student aid. You must fill out a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). To learn more, or to download the FAFSA, please visit the VCU Office of Financial Aid or the FAFSA website. The priority deadline is February 1. Please follow up with our Office of Financial Aid a few weeks after you complete the FAFSA to ensure you are not missing anything.
Current students can apply for VCUarts graduate research grants for support towards expenses related to exhibitions, conference presentations, or other professional engagements.
External opportunities available to graduate students include:
- Tuition support for current students to attend Skowhegan in Maine
- Tuition support for current students to attend Mildred’s Lane
- A residency for students to attend a live/work summer residency in Italy
Students considering Independent Studies are encouraged to instead enroll in currently offered PAPR courses to meet their curricular requirements. If a student is having difficulty filling their schedule, they should meet with their advisor to discuss available courses. Independent Study requests must be endorsed by the student’s advisor to ensure all other options have been considered. In most cases, an independent study will only be granted if it is the only option for a student to graduate in the semester that the independent study course is requested.
Please check the VCU Bulletin for the most up to date information regarding curricular requirements.
Overrides will not be provided into courses that are full when there are spaces open in other sections of the same class. If all sections are full, students must have the explicit written permission of the instructor as well as the consent of the department to over enroll a full course. These overrides are not guaranteed. We encourage students to check for openings throughout the add/drop period and add the class directly if a space opens up.