Financial Aid for PhD Students

Graduate school is an expensive undertaking, requiring a significant investment of time and financial resources. The University of Michigan, through a combination of college, departmental and graduate school resources, is happy to share in that investment, significantly reducing the financial burden on our doctoral students.

At present, new doctoral students enter the program with a funding package sufficient to cover tuition, insurance, and modest living expenses for the first five years of study. This section describes additional resources, beyond the department’s funding package, that are available to every student.

A Typical Path

Years 1 to 5:

Students have funding commitments from the department. Support combines fellowship (ordinarily during the first year) and teaching positions as laid out in the student’s offer of admission. Students often pursue other sources of funding to reduce teaching loads or gain stipend support that is higher than the departmental fellowship. Note that any outside funding replaces the department’s funding; the departmental commitment cannot be deferred.

Year 6 and beyond:

It is not uncommon for students to take more than five years to complete their degree. However, funding beyond the fifth year is not guaranteed. As long as a student remains in good standing within the program, the college offers a tuition fellowship for tuition expenses in the fall and winter semesters. The tuition fellowship cannot be used in the semester when a student files the dissertation. Students remain responsible for registration fees, insurance, and their living expenses. Many students obtain external sources of support.

Students who have not obtained an external source of support may apply for a teaching position within the department. Teaching positions are limited and students in their first five years of study have priority for assignments. In the past we have found that we are able to find a position for most of students who apply. The department usually has more teaching needs in the fall semester than in the winter.

Fellowships from external sources often offer very generous multi-year packages of support. Applicants who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents may especially wish to investigate the...

Several additional fellowships are open to U.S. minority applicants: