Graduate Funding

 

Teaching Assistantship Positions

The main source of graduate student support is in the form of 33% teaching assistantship positions, and the figures upon which this support is based vary from year to year.  Additional funding is administered on the basis of availability, the needs of the Department, the evaluation of the students teaching, and overall previous funding.

TA positions awarded through other departments (i.e. Writing Programs, Linguistics, Summer Session, Communication and Literature, etc.) and not taught by our faculty will not count toward the fulfillment of our requirements towards the degree (at least one but no more than three), but will be considered in the awarding of additional funding.

Assignment of Teaching Assistantships is made by the Department’s TA Funding Committee.  Student preferences are normally solicited.  However, it should be noted that faculty preferences and the needs of the Department, as determined by the TA Funding Committee, will be given priority when TA appointments are made.

Russell Grant

Block Grant Funding

The other primary source of graduate student (both resident and non-resident) support is the department’s block grant funding provided by the University.  The majority of these funds are used as scholarships to support expenses of resident, out-of-state, or foreign student fees and tuition during the first year of residence.  Out-of-state students, or non-residents, are expected to establish California residency at the end of the first year.  Foreign students (also considered non-residents) should be prepared for the expense of non-resident tuition unless the Department has indicated otherwise.  Students in their third year normally pay their own fees.  However, if a student obtains a TA or Reader position in the third year, then the University will pay the fees through an employment contract.

Resources

Following are useful resources to identify fellowships and other grants from a variety of sources.  Please note that most funding opportunities have residency requirements.  Once accepted to the Ph.D. program, graduate students who need assistance may meet with their assigned Individual Faculty Adviser to receive guidance on preparing and submitting fellowship applications.

Additional Web Resources and Funding Databases