Financial Aid for MA and PhD Program

Department Financial Aid

The Department of English awards a wide variety of financial aid based on academic merit. All program applications complete before the February 1 deadline will be considered for departmental financial aid.

University Graduate Scholarships
& Graduate Assistantships

The University Graduate Scholarship (UGS) award grants a full or substantial waiver of tuition, and is awarded competitively to graduate students who demonstrate academic excellence.

The Graduate Assistantship (GA) award provides a stipend in addition to a UGS award. A significant proportion of financial aid offered by the English Department is in the form of the GA. Graduate Assistants teach one section of English Composition per quarter, with three office hours each week. Teaching, preparation, conferences, grading, and related activities require approximately twenty hours per week. Advanced doctoral students may have the opportunity to teach a sophomore-level literature or creative writing class.

In addition to Graduate Assistantships in Teaching, students may qualify for specialized Research, Editorial or Administrative Assistantships, the duties of which vary.

To be eligible for UGS or GA funds, students must be matriculated into a degree-granting program and enroll full-time (12 graduate credits or more) each quarter. The continuation of financial awards into subsequent academic years is based on satisfactory performance during the initial award and availability of funds.

Fellowships

Elliston and Schiff Fellowships are awarded to entering doctoral students of superior academic qualifications who have demonstrated capabilities as poets or fiction writers. The Fellowships typically include a stipend enhancement in addition to a UGS and GA; the assistantship includes one quarter of Creative Writing teaching.

Other Departmental Fellowships, with a range of stipends, are awarded competitively to doctoral students each year, including the Ricking Fellowship.

Taft Funding

As one of ten departments in the McMicken College of Arts and Sciences with access to the Charles Phelps Taft Memorial Fund, the Department of English may recommend a number of its advanced graduate students for one-year Taft Fellowships. Granted by the Taft Faculty Committee, the Fellowships carry a full stipend and tuition scholarship for advanced doctoral students, with the top doctoral recipient being awarded the Advanced Fellowship, which includes an additional summer stipend. Each year, every Taft Department receives one Fellowship; another six Fellowships are awarded competitively to advanced students from all Taft departments. In addition, the Taft Fund offers enhancement fellowships that may be added to other awards.

To be nominated by the Department for a Taft Fellowship or a Taft Enhancement Award, a doctoral student should show evidence of academic excellence beyond normal academic progress as well as the ability to profit from a Fellowship year free from teaching responsibilities. Academic excellence is based on GPA, progress to degree, publications, service, teaching, awards and evaluations.

University Financial Aid

Students may be eligible for additional financial aid from the University or external sources.

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