According to need and merit, first year students are supported by fellowships, scholarships and proctorships. Every effort is made to provide similar forms of financial aid as needed for those second year students not appointed as teaching assistants. Second year students appointed as teaching assistants teach one-semester undergraduate writing workshops in either poetry, fiction or playwriting. These workshops are intended for undergraduates with a strong interest in writing, and provide the instructor with exceptional teaching experience. Each teaching assistant admits no more than 17 undergraduates, is responsible for selecting texts and creating exercises, and meets with other teaching assistants to discuss teaching methods and procedures.
Faculty members act as advisors to teaching assistants.
Proctorships involve non-instructional academic employment for a limited number of hours per week. They pay a stipend and may also provide tuition and health fee. To be eligible, a student must first apply to a bank or lending agency in his or her home state. If loan funds are denied, the student may borrow from Brown University. The Free Application for Federal Student Aid must be received by the Graduate School before the loan application can be processed.