Sources of Funding

There are numerous sources of funding for graduate students from both inside the University and from external agencies. Be sure to search for support early, typically a year before you need the money, and don't be afraid to apply through multiple avenues.

Graduate funding is largely decentralized at Penn State, meaning that financial support most often comes from a student’s college or graduate program. The best place to start asking questions is with your adviser and your graduate program.

Assistantships

Teaching (TA) and research (RA) assistantships are the most common form of graduate support for Ph.D. students and include a stipend, tuition remission, and a subsidy for health insurance. Teaching assistantships are designed to provide students with opportunities to develop their skills through training in pedagogy and teaching experience in an undergraduate classroom. Pedagogy encompasses many key areas of communication that are readily transferable from the classroom to other professional settings. Research assistantships focus on opportunities for students to build research skills in their discipline that can then be applied in dissertation/thesis research projects. Graduate assistantships are available only to residential graduate students who are registered for courses and enrolled in degree programs. Students whose first language is not English will be required to demonstrate a sufficient level of English language proficiency in order to receive a teaching assistantship. However, English language courses and support are available for any international student who needs assistance with mastering a higher level of English language proficiency to succeed as a TA and in their scholarly activities.

Assistantship opportunities for M.A., M.S., and professional degree students are generally very limited and available only in select programs, but it is always worth asking your adviser or program!

You can also search for assistantship opportunities in the Student Opportunities section of Workday Links to an external site..

Fellowships

Fellowships are highly prestigious financial support packages that often include a stipend, tuition remission, and a subsidy for medical insurance. They derive from University or outside awards. Unlike assistantships, they do not have a requirement for instruction or research activities. Recipients must be enrolled in degree programs and be registered full time.

Traineeships

Training grants are derived from agencies outside the University and are intended to support specific student learning experiences in core curricular areas and research methods. Institutional awards, typically under the direction of a faculty principal investigator, afford funding through traineeships to support selected students with stipends, tuition grants-in-aid, and a subsidy for health insurance.

Scholarships

Scholarships are financial awards that support graduate study. Most are awarded by colleges, graduate programs, or outside funding agencies and are based on academic merit. Some awards factor in financial need or other specified criteria.

External Support

The federal government, industry/companies, and a variety of private foundations/non-profit organizations provide financial support for graduate students.

Loans

Educational loans are available through the Office of Student Aid Links to an external site. and are based on eligibility criteria.

Employment

Opportunities for work are available on campus in a variety of locations. Student employment opportunities are available through Human Resources Links to an external site..