General FAQ

What are the criteria for merit-based awards?

Student eligibility for merit-based funding is determined by a number of factors including enrollment status, academic progress and performance. It also follows the same timeline as time to degree. Please see the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences’ Funding Policy for more information.

What is the duration of merit-based funding?

The Graduate School’s policy on the time permitted to complete the requirements of a Ph.D. is defined in the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences’ Funding Policy as “no more than five years from achievement of candidacy to award of the Ph.D., and no more than seven years overall from matriculation to award of the Ph.D.” Therefore, Ph.D. students are eligible to receive merit-based funding during the first 5 years of their study. Similarly, master’s students are eligible to receive merit-based funding for the first 3 years of their study. Students matriculating into Master’s / Ph.D. dual degree programs are allotted one additional year from matriculation to complete both degrees. Such students are eligible for 5 years of full support any time within the first six years of study. Students pursuing Ph.D. and J.D. degrees concurrently are permitted two additional years from matriculation to complete both degrees. Such students are eligible for 5 years of full support any time within the first seven years of study. Please see the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences’ Funding Policy for more information.

What constitutes a Scholarship?

A Scholarship is a partial or full award to cover coursework required for the student’s degree.

What constitutes an Assistantship?

An assistantship is a stipend awarded for service performed (Student works for the money. Stipend award is equivalent to wages earned.) The service primarily benefits others. Although the service may be related to the student’s own academic endeavors, the service supports projects driven by others. If one particular student were not here, the project would most likely continue with the service of another student.

What constitutes a Fellowship?

A fellowship is a stipend awarded with no service obligation (Student does not work for the money.) The student focuses on her/his own academic goals for the completion of their degree. The funds are utilized primarily for the student’s own individual research endeavors.

What constitutes Funding/Full Support?

This term is used for awards to Ph.D. students to indicate an offer of full tuition scholarship and stipend. Such awards are available for Ph.D. students during fall and/or spring semesters.

Does the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences provide funding during the summer?

The Graduate School does not provide funding in the summer. However, individual programs may offer summer funding independently.

What does the Scholarship Allocation refer to?

The scholarship allocation is the cost center allotted to a program by the GSAS containing money for scholarship awards. The format of the cost center includes the work tags CC2252, 1701, PP7001. The Program Code is specific to each program. This cost center may only be used for scholarship awards to students enrolled in the program.

What does the Stipend Allocation refer to?

The stipend allocation is the cost center allotted to a program by the GSAS containing money for stipend awards. The format of the cost center includes the work tags CC2246, 1701, PP7001. The Program Code is specific to each program. This cost center may only be used for scholarship awards to students enrolled in the program.

How does one verify students’ payments?

The most immediate way to confirm a payment is by using the Worker Pay Distribution and Worker Pay Distribution with Costing Allocation reports in GMS. To verify payments are charging to the correct cost center, please use the Payroll Journal Transactions report for service stipend recipients and the Non-Payroll Journal Transactions report for non-service stipend recipients.

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