Financial Assistance
All PhD students receive funding in the form of first-year non-teaching Fellowships, and in subsequent years appointments as Teaching Assistants and Teaching Fellows. These Fellowships and TA-TF appointments come with full tuition remission and a stipend. A number of dissertation fellowships are also available to advanced graduate students.
We also offer a limited number of summer TA positions after a student’s second year, and some support for travel to conferences, scholarly meetings, etc. Below are detailed descriptions of these forms of support.
teaching assistants
Qualified students during the first two to three years of teaching within a graduate English degree program may be appointed as Teaching Assistants. For teaching services, requiring approximately 20 hours per week, TAs receive a stipend, full tuition scholarships in recognition of academic merit, and benefits.
teaching fellows
Graduate students who have completed a Master’s degree (or who have taught for two years in the department), and who have demonstrated that they are qualified to undertake more responsible part-time teaching duties than are regularly assigned to TAs may be appointed as Teaching Fellows. For teaching services, requiring approximately 20 hours per week, TFs receive a stipend, full tuition scholarships in recognition of academic merit, and benefits.
graduate student assistants
The department awards several full or partial Graduate Student Assistantships, each of which includes a stipend and remission of some or all tuition. Awards depend upon individual qualifications of students who have been accepted for graduate study. These positions typically involve assisting a professor or administrator with research or administrative tasks.
benefits
The University provides all TAs and TFs with individual health insurance coverage. Such students can purchase a two-person or family membership by paying the difference between the premium costs for the Individual Option and the Two-Person or Family Option.
