Graduate Assistantships
Graduate School Funding
First-year students are eligible for fellowships and teaching and research assistantships. They are awarded based on a completed application package which demonstrates an ability to succeed in graduate academics and research. Awards are offered at the beginning of March for students who will begin the following Fall term. Funding opportunities are limited for students admitted in the Spring term.
There is no additional paper work necessary to apply for financial assistance. The Graduate Application has a place for you to indicate you would like to be considered for financial support.
Teaching Assistantships
A relatively large number of graduate students are appointed as graduate teaching assistants (GTA) each year. Students appointed to GTAs are expected to devote from 10 to 20 hours per week assisting the instructional activities of the department. This generally involves assisting a member of the faculty in the direct instruction of a course. Graduate teaching assistants receive a stipend and a tuition reduction.
Research Assistantships
Graduate student research positions are awarded directly by individual faculty members from their research grants. Faculty members obtain contracts from various government agencies and from industry to carry out research in applied topics. A portion of these funds are directed toward graduate student stipends to assist in research which will normally result in a thesis for the student and scientific progress in the topic. Research Assistantships are individually negotiated between each student and his/her thesis advisor. Students must convince their advisors that they have the necessary skills, background, and motivation to participate effectively in relevant areas of research.
In general, graduate stipends are meant to allow the student the ability to focus on their scholarly activities without the need to work outside the University to support rudimentary living expenses. As such, students receiving graduate stipends should maintain the highest work ethic in terms of both research and coursework leading to the degree.
Other Available Financial Support
The Graduate School provides a list of fellowships and scholarships available for Graduate students. The College of Engineering also offers fellowship opportunities. For more information regarding financial assistance offered to incoming graduate students, see the Student Financial Services web site.
Need-based financial aid is awarded by Student Financial Services and consists of low interest loans and work study; only U.S. Citizens and Permanent Residents are eligible. International Students must demonstrate sufficient funds to support themselves for at least one year unless they are awarded an assistantship. In the second and subsequent years of graduate study, all students are eligible for Teaching and Research Assistantships.