§ 117. Qualified scholarships
(a)
General rule
Gross income does not include any amount received as a qualified scholarship by an individual who is a candidate for a degree at an educational organization described in section
170
(b)(1)(A)(ii).
(b)
Qualified scholarship
For purposes of this section—
(1)
In general
The term “qualified scholarship” means any amount received by an individual as a scholarship or fellowship grant to the extent the individual establishes that, in accordance with the conditions of the grant, such amount was used for qualified tuition and related expenses.
(2)
Qualified tuition and related expenses
For purposes of paragraph (1), the term “qualified tuition and related expenses” means—
(A)
tuition and fees required for the enrollment or attendance of a student at an educational organization described in section
170
(b)(1)(A)(ii), and
(c)
Limitation
(1)
In general
Except as provided in paragraph (2), subsections (a) and (d) shall not apply to that portion of any amount received which represents payment for teaching, research, or other services by the student required as a condition for receiving the qualified scholarship or qualified tuition reduction.
(d)
Qualified tuition reduction
(2)
Qualified tuition reduction
For purposes of this subsection, the term “qualified tuition reduction” means the amount of any reduction in tuition provided to an employee of an organization described in section
170
(b)(1)(A)(ii) for the education (below the graduate level) at such organization (or another organization described in section 170(b)(1)(A)(ii)) of—
(3)
Reduction must not discriminate in favor of highly compensated, etc.
Paragraph (1) shall apply with respect to any qualified tuition reduction provided with respect to any highly compensated employee only if such reduction is available on substantially the same terms to each member of a group of employees which is defined under a reasonable classification set up by the employer which does not discriminate in favor of highly compensated employees (within the meaning of section
414
(q)). For purposes of this paragraph, the term “highly compensated employee” has the meaning given such term by section
414
(q).
(5)
Special rules for teaching and research assistants
In the case of the education of an individual who is a graduate student at an educational organization described in section
170
(b)(1)(A)(ii) and who is engaged in teaching or research activities for such organization, paragraph (2) shall be applied as if it did not contain the phrase “(below the graduate level)”.