PhD students
Successful PhD applicants are granted financial assistance in the form of a teaching or research assistantship. The funding consists of an annual stipend, which amounts to $27,050 for the 2022-2023 academic year (including summer 2023). In addition, students receive a tuition and curriculum fee waiver, health insurance, and dental, vision and wellness benefits. In all, the value of the total financial package is $57,170. Our department also provides travel grants for students to present at conferences.
Additional summer funding is available. For example, the UMass Graduate School also awards a number of REAL Fellowships to PhD candidates from underrepresented groups; the REAL Fellowship provides awardees with $5,000 of additional summer funding for 4 years.
Funding is guaranteed for 5 years conditional on satisfactory progress. Time to completion is typically between 5-6 years. We make every effort to provide funding for graduate students in their 6th year.
Master’s students
MSc students may be offered acceptance with or without funding, depending on: a) the teaching assistantship needs of our department for that year, and b) our rating of the applicant’s qualifications and promise. Funding would typically include 3 semesters, but would exclude summer.