FIRST Fund

We always hope that each student will be able to attend Tufts without facing unexpected hardship. However, we know that in the span of their undergraduate years, some students may find the associated cost of an opportunity to be prohibitive. To that end, we have created a fund to assist students who may need this support.

The FIRST Fund was designed for eligible undergraduate students to request funding for academic and co-curricular opportunities and certain unexpected costs.

• Students with emergency situations should contact the Dean of Students Office.
• To request a health reimbursement, please see the Health Fund on our Financial Resources page.
• For information on food support, please visit Tufts' Food Resources page.

Typically, grant awards will not exceed $500.00, which is the maximum total amount that a student may receive over their undergraduate years at Tufts. Funds are generally awarded on a reimbursement basis with receipts.

Submitting a request does not guarantee financial support. All applications are subject to a thorough review process based on eligibility, the strength of supporting documentation, demonstrated need, and the availability of funds. Due to limited resources, not all requests will be approved.

Eligibility & Deadlines for FIRST and Health Fund Requests

The FIRST and Health Funds are designed to support currently enrolled undergraduate students (with a family contribution of $10,000 and below) during the academic year. To ensure your request is eligible:

• Expenses must be incurred while you are enrolled in on-campus classes during the current academic year, defined as the period from the first day of classes to the last day of classes in the Fall and Spring semesters.
• All reimbursement requests and receipts must be submitted before the last day of classes for the semester in which the expense occurred.

Late submissions, including those made during finals or after the last day of classes, cannot be processed. We encourage all students to plan ahead and reach out with any questions well before the semester ends.

Important Information for Graduating Seniors

If you are graduating this semester, please be aware of the following:

• All FIRST and Health Fund requests and receipts must be submitted before the last day of classes.
• Expenses submitted after this date, including during finals or the days leading up to graduation, will not be eligible for reimbursement.
• We are unable to make exceptions due to limited funds and the volume of last-minute requests typically received during this period.

We understand that this is a busy time and encourage you to submit your requests as early as possible. If you have any questions about your eligibility or documentation, please reach out to our team well before the end of the semester.

Examples of funding requests

• Essential technology support including repairs, replacement, or new purchases of computers/tablets (Mobile phones and earbuds are excluded)
• Fees or equipment for a course not covered by financial aid such as Music, Art, Photography, and EMT
• Athletic equipment for team sports
• Conference fees/expenses
  • Students presenting at a conference must first apply to the Undergraduate Research Fund. You may then apply to this fund if you have additional costs above the award provided by the Undergraduate Research Fund.
• Business professional attire and Winter clothing (maximum of $200.00 total for clothing)
• Graduate school expenses including application fees and essential study materials such as MCAT, LSAT, GRE prep materials

Examples of items that do not qualify

• Tuition
• Physical textbooks
• Mobile phones
• Earbuds
• Expenses for another person
• Living expenses such as rent, utilities, and groceries
• Storage costs
• Local transportation between home and Tufts
• Parking costs and auto rentals
• Travel home for holidays/breaks
• Travel for family members
• Expenses related to Commencement and Senior Week such as caps and gowns and tickets to events

To request funding, please complete our FIRST Fund Request Form. (Note: Requests are closed until Fall 2025.)