All accepted PhD candidates are fully supported for the first five years of their study as long as they remain in good standing in the program. Students are eligible for teaching and research assistantships that include tuition credit, 95% health insurance with dental and vision coverage, and an annual stipend (2025/2026, ~$38000). Once a dissertation lab is selected, students are generally supported by research assistantships or fellowships. All students are required to have some teaching experience, generally as a Teaching Assistant during their first year.
Master's students accepted into the program are not guaranteed funding and are not generally eligible for teaching assistantships. Students should discuss the possibility of funding through their advisor's lab prior to applying.
Interdepartmental Graduate Programs (MCB, NSB, OEB, PB)
Student Travel Award Policy (Revised in February 2025)
Student Travel Award Policy (Revised in February 2025)
Purpose: The purpose of the IDGP Student Travel Awards Program is to encourage students to attend conferences and workshops by providing funds to supplement travel costs. Attending professional events is one of the best ways to learn about a discipline and begin building professional networks.
Eligibility: All PhD students in the MCB, NSB, OEB, and PB programs who are in good academic standing are eligible to receive supplemental funds to attend conferences and workshops once per fiscal year, up to a lifetime limit of $2,500, depending on budget availability.
Starting in their 3rd year, students must present their research to be eligible for travel funds to attend a conference or workshop.
The travel funds are:
$450 before completing the qualifying exam / Prospectus
$800 after completing the qualifying exam / Prospectus
Travel Registration
Travel prior approval is required for all UMass student travel: Pre-Travel Authorization (Required Before Booking Travel): Pre-Travel Authorization (Required Before Booking Travel) | UMass Office of the President
Important: The pre-travel approval must be requested from either your home department's chair or your graduate program director. Please refer to your CONCUR profile for further information on your assigned delegate.
Once pre-travel authorization via CONCUR has been obtained, submit your request to the IDGP
Office using this form including the following information:
- Student’s Advisor Full Name
- Student’s Home Department Name
- Have you completed your Prospectus? YES/NO
- Year of study in the graduate program
- Travel Registration / pre-authorization ID
- Conference (name, location and dates)
Once a query for a travel award has been submitted, the IDGP Office will confirm your GPD’s approval for the travel award.