Graduate Student Resources
Current CNS Graduate Student Resources
Our current CNS graduate students can find relevant information, resources, and upcoming events through our internal Sharepoint site. UMass NETID login is required.
Not sure who to ask? Contact lararoach [at] umass [dot] edu (Lara Roach), CNS Director of Graduate Student and Postdoctoral Fellow Success and Diversity.
Prospective Graduate Student Resources
For an inside look about graduate student life, check out the OEB Student Survival Guide from the Organismic and Evolutionary Biology graduate program.
Applying to Graduate School
All prospective graduate students must apply through UMass Amherst Graduate Admissions.
Graduate School Office
- Contact the Graduate School for any specific questions you have about the application process or to request an information packet.
- The Graduate School Bulletin covers general questions about the application and degree requirements and lists all graduate programs.
- The Graduate Student Handbook provides an overview of campus academic and student resources.
CNS Graduate Programs
The College of Natural Sciences offers several degree programs in each of our 13 departments and one school. For specific information about the graduate programs in any of these areas of study, please see the Graduate Programs page.
Financial Aid
Financial aid applicants must fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The UMass Amherst code for the FAFSA is 002221. See Financial Aid Services for more detailed information on receiving financial aid.
Funding Resources
General Information
General information about fellowships, assistantships, and graduate student travel is available on the Graduate School Funding Support page.
Graduate School Internal Funding Opportunities
The Graduate School offers several internal funding programs, including inclusion and diversity fellowships, predissertation and dissertation research grants, and travel grants. Visit the Internal Funding page for more information.
Academic Resources
Graduate student advising
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion resources
Curricular Program Training (CPT) for international graduate students
Library Resources
The W.E.B. Du Bois Library is the main campus library and offers wireless internet and network ports as well as a café.
The Integrated Sciences and Engineering Library is the primary location for resources in astronomy, biochemistry, biology, chemistry, computer science, all fields of engineering, food science, geosciences, mathematics and statistics, physics, and polymer science.
Visit the UMass Libraries website for hours and more information.
Grad Student Organizations
The Graduate Student Senate is composed of elected graduate students. All graduate students are welcome at general meetings and may vote on issues that affect the graduate student body. The GSS website has useful information on getting involved in graduate student organizations, attending events, and utilizing resources like job listings and childcare.
The Graduate Employee Organization is a unit of the United Auto Workers (UAW). If you’re a teaching assistant (TA), teaching associate (TO), research assistant (RA), project assistant (PA), assistant resident director (ARD), intern, trainee, or working fellow on this campus, you’re covered by GEO stipends, benefits, and grievance procedures, which have dramatically improved since our first contract in 1991.
Additional Graduate Student Resources
Housing
The Off-Campus Housing website is a great resource with a large database of rental options.
Career Services
The Career Services Center is located at 512 Goddell; (413) 545-2224.
Campus Directory
Use People Finder to access the UMass Amherst directory for faculty, staff, and student contact information.