Master's Programs

Family Resources

Balancing your life as a scholar and a caretaker can be challenging. Brown University provides the resources and support necessary to help parents and guardians thrive during their time at Brown.

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Family Resources

Balancing your life as a scholar and a caretaker can be challenging. Brown University provides the resources and support necessary to help parents and guardians thrive during their time at Brown.

Childcare Subsidy

Brown University’s Child Care Subsidy helps master's students (non MFA) pay for child care expenses by granting awards of up to $5,000 per year, per child (up to 3 children, 0-6 years old) and is dependent on a family's financial need and a range of other factors and meet the following qualifications:

  • Are enrolled in a degree program at least half-time.
  • Have a legal dependent between the ages of 0 to 6 for whom they are financially responsible in the upcoming year.
  • Had a total household adjusted gross income of less than or equal to $100,000 in calendar year 2024.
  • Are unmarried, or have a spouse who meets one of the criteria below:
    • Employed at least part-time
    • A full-time student
    • Considered legally disabled
    • Unemployed, but actively seeking employment

Graduate students who become parents or matriculate mid-year are eligible to apply for the current year subsidy once their child is enrolled in child care.

The application for the following year opens in September and the deadline to apply is in October. Students must reapply each year. Information for MFA students can be found on the Gradute School website.

How to Apply Childcare Subsidy Application 

Questions? Contact University Human Resources at 401-863-2589 or childcare@brown.edu

Brown Student Parent Community

The Brown Student Parent Community is a place for graduate student parents to connect, share information and resources, and build community while a student parent at Brown. The group meets monthly, alternating between in-person meetings on campus and Zoom meetings.  For questions, or if you are interested in receiving more information about the group, please email bspc@brown.edu.

Brown Student Parent Community (GRASPP) Listserv

The Brown Graduate Student Parent Community is a discussion list for individuals who are raising children while attending graduate school or while working as a Postdoctoral Fellow at Brown University. The list is hosted by the Sarah Doyle Center for Women and Gender. Use your brown.edu address when subscribing.

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Nursing and Private Lactation Spaces

Parental Relief Policy for Graduate Students

Brown University is committed to supporting all of our graduate students in their professional development, and to finding ways to accommodate life events in that process. The Parental Relief Policy is aimed at helping graduate students successfully balance their parenting responsibilities and their academic and professional pursuits

Graduate students in good or satisfactory academic standing who are supported by a stipend are eligible for Parental Relief for the care of a newly born infant or adopted child under 16 years of age.  Graduate students may request Parental Relief up to two times during their tenure as a student at Brown. In instances in which co-parents are both graduate students at Brown, both parents are eligible for Parental Relief. The relief provides a stipend for one semester or a summer.

The Parental Relief Policy provides a stipend for the duration of a semester or summer, otherwise covered by stipend support, regardless of funding source. The stipend is at the standard rate set annually by the Graduate School. Eligibility requirements and other information about the policy can be found in the Graduate School Handbook.

Students who are not eligible for parental relief should contact the Associate Dean in the Graduate School or the Division of Master's and Professional Programs to request modifications of academic responsibilities because of the birth or adoption of a child. Such students include many Master’s students and doctoral students beyond year 6. The Associate Deans will provide guidance to the student and, in close consultation with faculty advisors, department chairs or DGSs, arrange for reasonable accommodation of parenting demands when possible.

Parental Relief Support Request

See the full policy in the 'Parental Relief Support' section of the Graduate Student Handbook. Apply using the 'Parental Relief Support Request' form in UFunds (under Graduate Student Leave and Accommodations).

Dependent Insurance Coverage

Eligible dependents may qualify for health, dental and vision insurance through Brown.

Details
Dependents of graduate students may be enrolled in SHIP at an additional cost. Eligible dependents include a legal spouse or domestic partner, children up to the age of 26, or a child born while the graduate student is covered by SHIP. A spouse or partner is generally expected to be living with the covered student in order to be eligible for coverage. Students submit documentation of marriage or domestic partner status through the HF&C website and will be contacted by HF&C if additional information is needed. 

MFA students who receive health coverage through their financial support packages from the University receive a 75% subsidy on the cost of enrolling dependents. 

Enrollment Period

Dependents can be enrolled during the annual open enrollment period (June 15 - September 1) through the HF&C website, or within 30 days of a qualifying life event by contacting HF&C at student@haylor.com or 1-866-535-0456.  

Coverage for dependents enrolled during the open enrollment period will begin August 15. Coverage for dependents enrolled after a qualifying life event will begin upon processing of the premium payment.

Qualifying Events

  • Qualifying life events that allow for enrollment outside of the annual window include:
  • Birth of child (this allows for enrollment of the child - not a spouse)
  • Loss of coverage under another insurance plan
  • Marriage
  • Divorce
  • Spouse entering the US for the first time

Rates
See the 2023-2024 Brown University Student Health Insurance Plan Summary Brochure for dependent coverage rates and visit the HF&C website to enroll dependents.

Enroll

Details

Dependents of graduate students may be enrolled in Delta Dental coverage at an additional cost. Eligible dependents include a legal spouse or domestic partner, children up to the age of 26, or a child born while the graduate student is covered by the Delta Dental plan. A spouse or partner is generally expected to be living with the covered student in order to be eligible for coverage.

MFA students who receive dental coverage through their financial support packages from the University receive a 75% subsidy on the annual premium cost of enrolling dependents. 

Enrollment

To enroll a dependent, use the enrollment portal on the HF&C website. The deadline to enroll dependents for 2023-2024 annual coverage is September 1, 2023.

ENROLL

 

Children's Activities