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The Top 9 Fully Funded PhD Programs

If you’re concerned about grad school costs, you’re not alone. Even with financial aid, many students find themselves taking on large amounts of debt. However, there are a number of options that can cover most – if not all – of your doctorate costs.

Table of Contents

What Is a Fully Funded PhD Program?

“Fully funded” means that the university offers sufficient funding to cover tuition fees and even a stipend to cover other grad school expenses . To cover gaps, many institutions offer additional support in the form of grants, scholarships, loans, and employment opportunities.

Though rare, some PhD programs offer full funding for all accepted students. Understandably, the admission process is highly competitive for fully funded PhD programs.

Students who don’t meet strict criteria – and aren’t offered full funding – will be expected to pay for their tuition and other study expenses. Most take some form of government funding to do so.

The Top 9 Fully Funded PhD Programs in the US

1. the university of chicago, the department of anthropology, phd in anthropology.

• Courses : Development of Social/Cultural Theory, Archeological Theory & method, and archeological data sets.
• Credits : 18 courses
• Delivery : On-campus
• Full funding : Full tuition, health insurance, and stipend (up to 9 years).
• Other support : Grants, fellowships, and teaching opportunities.
• Acceptance rate : 2.5%
• Location : Chicago, Illinois

With a culture that encourages independent thinking, the University of Chicago has produced more than 90 Nobel Prize winners and produced defining research in several fields. In this interdisciplinary PhD in Anthropology program, students can study with many of the university’s other departments, including: Political Science, History, and Comparative Human Development.

2. Harvard University, T. H. Chan School of Public Health

Phd program in biological sciences in public health  (bph).

• Courses : Biological sciences communications, principles of biostatistics & epidemiology, and computing environments for biology.
• Duration : Approximately 6 years
• Full funding : Stipend, tuition, and health insurance.
• Other support: Fellowships, awards, and grants.
• Acceptance rate: 6%
• Location:  Boston, Massachusetts

As the third-best university in the US , Harvard’s T. H. Chan School of Public Health has incredible prestige. With several specialized public health departments (e.g., Environmental Health, Health & Population, Epidemiology), this program also offers incredible flexibility. Students can courses from the Department of Public Health, Harvard Integrated Life Sciences (HILS), and even MIT.

3. Stanford University, Graduate School of Education

Phd in curriculum studies and teacher education  (cte).

• Courses: Introduction to statistical methods in education, research in curriculum & teacher education, and statistical analysis in education.
• Credits:  135 units
• Duration: 4-5 years
• Delivery:  On-campus
• Full funding : Tuition aid, assistantship salary, and fellowship stipend (for 5 years).
• Other support : Grants, travel fellowships, and emergency funds.
• Location: Stanford, California

Stanford University tops the list  of the best universities for Education Policy Studies, making this one of the best options if you want to earn a PhD in Education. This doctorate is one of the top fully funded PhD programs in education and offers six specializations, including elementary education, teacher education, and science & environmental education.

Note : In addition to this on-campus PhD program, many recognized institutions also offer free online PhD programs in education .

4. Duke University, Trinity College of Arts and Sciences

Phd in literature.

• Courses: Wide range of literary topics, including African American Studies, modern European short fiction, gender studies, and more.
• Duration: 6-7 years
• Delivery: On-campus
• Full funding  includes: Tuition, fees, stipend, and health insurance.
• Other support: Grants, loans, childcare subsidies, and financial hardship aid.
• Location:  Durham, North Carolina

As one of the country’s most renowned private research institutions, Duke University has ten Nobel Laureates under its belt. Their PhD in Literature program encourages students to pursue both independent studies and inter-institutional courses from other affiliated universities. Students are able to take as many programs outside literature as they wish. Typically, all PhD students receive a “stipend, tuition, and fees support, plus six years of full coverage for health and dental insurance premiums.”

5. Rice University, Jones Graduate School of Business

Phd in business.

• Courses:  Microeconomics, econometrics, theory, and dynamic optimization.
• Duration:  4 years +
• Full funding : Tuition waiver and $40,000 yearly stipend (earned as a research/teaching assistant).
• Other support:  Scholarships, grants, loans, and student employment.
• Location: Houston, Texas

Rice University is a well-known institution and is regularly recognized as one of the best business schools in the country. As part of its PhD in Business program, students can choose between one of four different concentrations: accounting, finance, organizational behavior, and strategic management.

Northwestern University, McCormick School of Engineering

Phd in biomedical engineering.

• Courses:  Experimental design & measurement, biological performance of materials, and advanced physical & applied optics.
• Duration: 5-6 years
• Full funding : Tuition scholarship and stipend.
• Other support: Fellowships, grants, assistantships, loans, and veteran benefits.
• Acceptance rate: 15%
• Location: Evanston, Illinois

Northwestern University is renowned for excellence across numerous disciplines, and its biomedical engineering (BME) program was among the first of its kind. The school offers a wide range of courses, from cell and molecular engineering, medical devices and instrumental, neural engineering, and more.

7. Columbia University, Teachers College

Phd in clinical psychology.

• Courses:  Brain & behavior, social problems for clinical psychologists, and personality & behavior change.
• Credits: 95
• Duration: 5 years (at least four years of residency)
• Full funding : Tuition, stipend, and health fees (up to 4 years).
• Other support:  Scholarships, grants, fellowships, federal work-study, assistantships, and loans.
• Acceptance rate:  7%
• Location:  New York City, New York

Columbia University offers a leading clinical psychology PhD program that focuses on the intersection between education, psychology, and health. Their fully funded, need-blind “Doctoral Fellowship” is given to incoming students for three years, in addition to financial aid in the fourth year (i.e., a $25,000 stipend). PhD students who receive this scholarship may be asked to work as research assistants or graduate teachers.

8. California Institute of Technology, Division of Engineering & Applied Science

Graduate degree in computer science.

• Courses:  Functional programming, computability theory, and advanced digital systems design.
• Credits: 54 units
• Duration: 3+ years of residence
• Full funding : Tuition charges and stipends.
• Other support: Grants, scholarships, loans, and work-study.
• Acceptance rate: 7%
• Location: Pasadena, California

Caltech is a huge name in technology education, with over fifty cutting-edge research centers and laboratories. This includes NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory and astronomical observatories around the globe. To manage their rigorous course load, graduate students of the computer science program receive full tuition and a stipend of $45,000 .

9. Emory University, College of Arts and Sciences

Ph.D. in Economics

• Courses: Microeconomic theory, health economics, and market structure & imperfect competition.
• Credits: 55
• Duration: 4-6 years
• Full funding : Tuition, stipend, health insurance subsidy, and professional development support.
• Other support:  Grants, scholarships, loans, and student employment.
• Acceptance rate: 19%
• Location: Atlanta, Georgia

Emory University provides a liberal arts college’s atmosphere and opportunities combined with an urban research university’s facilities. This cross-registration program allows students to take classes at the university’s partner institutions, including Georgia Tech and Georgia State University, alongside their in-house courses.

Can I Earn a Free PhD Degree Online?

If you aren’t eligible for a fully funded program, that’s okay! We’ve written an article outlining the most affordable online PhD programs , the benefits, and how to apply to them!

Key Takeaways

Many US universities – including some of the country’s top institution – offer fully funded PhD programs and tuition-free online programs across various disciplines. You’ll just need to demonstrate that you’re eligible for the program through your academic performance and merit.

Once you qualify for full PhD funding, congratulate yourself on a job well done!

If you’re still weighing your options, did you know there are 1-year PhD programs online ?

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a phd be free.

Yes. Eligible students can obtain a doctorate for free if a university offers fully funded PhD programs.

How Do I Get a Fully Funded PhD?

To qualify for a fully funded PhD, you’ll be required to meet certain criteria and put together a strong application. You’ll also need to have an excellent undergraduate academic record, recommendation letters, persuasive personal essay, and graduate school entry exam scores .

Fully funded PhDs are incredibly competitive, so it’s important to plan ahead. As an undergraduate student, identify your dream school, and be sure to check the requirements and eligibility criteria. Next, work hard to meet these requirements – and set yourself apart – throughout your undergraduate studies.

Can I Study a PhD in the USA for Free?

Yes. Many US universities offer opportunities to obtain a PhD for free. For example, fully funded doctoral programs will cover your tuition and expenses. Free PhD programs don’t have tuition fees but students are responsible for covering their own expenses.

However, if you aren’t successful in securing a fully funded PhD and don’t like the free options, there are plenty of other ways to pay for grad school .

Lisa Marlin

Lisa is a full-time writer specializing in career advice, further education, and personal development. She works from all over the world, and when not writing you'll find her hiking, practicing yoga, or enjoying a glass of Malbec.

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Key takeaways

Financial aid for graduate school includes grants, scholarships, fellowships, assistantships and loans.

Exhaust all opportunities for free aid before considering student loans.

If you take out student loans, borrow federal direct loans first. For additional funding, compare offers between federal PLUS loans and private loans to see where you’ll get the best deal.

If you’re considering graduate school, make sure you have a funding plan in place ahead of time. Costs for graduate school can vary greatly depending on the type and length of the program, but there are opportunities to help cut down out-of-pocket costs.

Graduate students can get financial aid through:

FAFSA: The Free Application for Federal Student Aid provides access to federal, state and some school-based grants.

Organization grants: Industry-specific organizations may provide grants to those studying in relevant fields.

Scholarships: State governments, schools and private organizations may provide scholarships for academic excellence or other factors, like studying in high-needs fields or increasing diversity.

Fellowships: Schools, private organizations and government entities offer fellowships based on field of study and academic performance in exchange for research activities.

Assistantships: Schools may award living stipends and tuition waivers to full-time students in exchange for work.

Employer tuition assistance: Employers may offer to reimburse their employees’ tuition expenses as an employment benefit.

Here’s who qualifies and how to apply for each type of aid.

» MORE: How to pay for grad school: 5 strategies for students

Top Private Student Loan Lenders

Best private student loan overall.

3.89-17.99% College Ave Student Loans products are made available through Firstrust Bank, member FDIC, First Citizens Community Bank, member FDIC, or M.Y. Safra Bank, FSB, member FDIC.. All loans are subject to individual approval and adherence to underwriting guidelines. Program restrictions, other terms, and conditions apply. As certified by your school and less any other financial aid you might receive. Minimum $1,000. Rates shown include autopay discount. The 0.25% auto-pay interest rate reduction applies as long as a valid bank account is designated for required monthly payments. If a payment is returned, you will lose this benefit. Variable rates may increase after consummation. This informational repayment example uses typical loan terms for a freshman borrower who selects the Flat Repayment Option with an 8-year repayment term, has a $10,000 loan that is disbursed in one disbursement and a 7.78% fixed Annual Percentage Rate (“APR”): 54 monthly payments of $25 while in school, followed by 96 monthly payments of $176.21 while in the repayment period, for a total amount of payments of $18,266.38. Loans will never have a full principal and interest monthly payment of less than $50. Your actual rates and repayment terms may vary. This informational repayment example uses typical loan terms for a freshman borrower who selects the Deferred Repayment Option with a 10-year repayment term, has a $10,000 loan that is disbursed in one disbursement and a 8.35% fixed Annual Percentage Rate (“APR”): 120 monthly payments of $179.18 while in the repayment period, for a total amount of payments of $21,501.54. Loans will never have a full principal and interest monthly payment of less than $50. Your actual rates and repayment terms may vary. Information advertised valid as of 7/31/2024. Variable interest rates may increase after consummation. Approved interest rate will depend on the creditworthiness of the applicant(s), lowest advertised rates only available to the most creditworthy applicants and require selection of full principal and interest payments with the shortest available loan term.

Variable APR

5.59-17.99% College Ave Student Loans products are made available through Firstrust Bank, member FDIC, First Citizens Community Bank, member FDIC, or M.Y. Safra Bank, FSB, member FDIC.. All loans are subject to individual approval and adherence to underwriting guidelines. Program restrictions, other terms, and conditions apply. As certified by your school and less any other financial aid you might receive. Minimum $1,000. Rates shown include autopay discount. The 0.25% auto-pay interest rate reduction applies as long as a valid bank account is designated for required monthly payments. If a payment is returned, you will lose this benefit. Variable rates may increase after consummation. This informational repayment example uses typical loan terms for a freshman borrower who selects the Flat Repayment Option with an 8-year repayment term, has a $10,000 loan that is disbursed in one disbursement and a 7.78% fixed Annual Percentage Rate (“APR”): 54 monthly payments of $25 while in school, followed by 96 monthly payments of $176.21 while in the repayment period, for a total amount of payments of $18,266.38. Loans will never have a full principal and interest monthly payment of less than $50. Your actual rates and repayment terms may vary. This informational repayment example uses typical loan terms for a freshman borrower who selects the Deferred Repayment Option with a 10-year repayment term, has a $10,000 loan that is disbursed in one disbursement and a 8.35% fixed Annual Percentage Rate (“APR”): 120 monthly payments of $179.18 while in the repayment period, for a total amount of payments of $21,501.54. Loans will never have a full principal and interest monthly payment of less than $50. Your actual rates and repayment terms may vary. Information advertised valid as of 7/31/2024. Variable interest rates may increase after consummation. Approved interest rate will depend on the creditworthiness of the applicant(s), lowest advertised rates only available to the most creditworthy applicants and require selection of full principal and interest payments with the shortest available loan term.

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3.99-15.49% Lowest rates shown include the auto debit. Advertised APRs for undergraduate students assume a $10,000 loan to a student who attends school for 4 years and has no prior Sallie Mae-serviced loans. Interest rates for variable rate loans may increase or decrease over the life of the loan based on changes to the 30-day Average Secured Overnight Financing Rate (SOFR) rounded up to the nearest one-eighth of one percent. Advertised variable rates are the starting range of rates and may vary outside of that range over the life of the loan. Interest is charged starting when funds are sent to the school. With the Fixed and Deferred Repayment Options, the interest rate is higher than with the Interest Repayment Option and Unpaid Interest is added to the loan’s Current Principal at the end of the grace/separation period. To receive a 0.25 percentage point interest rate discount, the borrower or cosigner must enroll in auto debit through Sallie Mae. The discount applies only during active repayment for as long as the Current Amount Due or Designated Amount is successfully withdrawn from the authorized bank account each month. It may be suspended during forbearance or deferment. Advertised APRs are valid as of 7/27/2024. Loan amounts: For applications submitted directly to Sallie Mae, loan amount cannot exceed the cost of attendance less financial aid received, as certified by the school. Applications submitted to Sallie Mae through a partner website will be subject to a lower maximum loan request amount. Miscellaneous personal expenses (such as a laptop) may be included in the cost of attendance for students enrolled at least half-time. Examples of typical costs for a $10,000 Smart Option Student Loan with the most common fixed rate, fixed repayment option, 6-month separation period, and two disbursements: For a borrower with no prior loans and a 4-year in-school period, it works out to a 10.28% fixed APR, 51 payments of $25.00, 119 payments of $182.67 and one payment of $121.71, for a Total Loan Cost of $23,134.44. For a borrower with $20,000 in prior loans and a 2-year in-school period, it works out to a 10.78% fixed APR, 27 payments of $25.00, 179 payments of $132.53 and one payment of $40.35 for a total loan cost of $24,438.22. Loans that are subject to a $50 minimum principal and interest payment amount may receive a loan term that is less than 10 years. A variable APR may increase over the life of the loan. A fixed APR will not.

5.37-15.70% Lowest rates shown include the auto debit. Advertised APRs for undergraduate students assume a $10,000 loan to a student who attends school for 4 years and has no prior Sallie Mae-serviced loans. Interest rates for variable rate loans may increase or decrease over the life of the loan based on changes to the 30-day Average Secured Overnight Financing Rate (SOFR) rounded up to the nearest one-eighth of one percent. Advertised variable rates are the starting range of rates and may vary outside of that range over the life of the loan. Interest is charged starting when funds are sent to the school. With the Fixed and Deferred Repayment Options, the interest rate is higher than with the Interest Repayment Option and Unpaid Interest is added to the loan’s Current Principal at the end of the grace/separation period. To receive a 0.25 percentage point interest rate discount, the borrower or cosigner must enroll in auto debit through Sallie Mae. The discount applies only during active repayment for as long as the Current Amount Due or Designated Amount is successfully withdrawn from the authorized bank account each month. It may be suspended during forbearance or deferment. Advertised APRs are valid as of 7/27/2024. Loan amounts: For applications submitted directly to Sallie Mae, loan amount cannot exceed the cost of attendance less financial aid received, as certified by the school. Applications submitted to Sallie Mae through a partner website will be subject to a lower maximum loan request amount. Miscellaneous personal expenses (such as a laptop) may be included in the cost of attendance for students enrolled at least half-time. Examples of typical costs for a $10,000 Smart Option Student Loan with the most common fixed rate, fixed repayment option, 6-month separation period, and two disbursements: For a borrower with no prior loans and a 4-year in-school period, it works out to a 10.28% fixed APR, 51 payments of $25.00, 119 payments of $182.67 and one payment of $121.71, for a Total Loan Cost of $23,134.44. For a borrower with $20,000 in prior loans and a 2-year in-school period, it works out to a 10.78% fixed APR, 27 payments of $25.00, 179 payments of $132.53 and one payment of $40.35 for a total loan cost of $24,438.22. Loans that are subject to a $50 minimum principal and interest payment amount may receive a loan term that is less than 10 years. A variable APR may increase over the life of the loan. A fixed APR will not.

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on Credible Credible lets you check with multiple student loan lenders to get rates with no impact to your credit score. Visit their website to take the next steps.

Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA , as your first step to funding your graduate education. Citizens and eligible non-citizen graduate students, including permanent residents and U.S. nationals, are eligible to file.

You must file the FAFSA to qualify for federal and state-based grant awards. Many school-based grants also require the FAFSA.

Federal grants for graduate students include the Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education, or TEACH, grant. The TEACH grant provides up to $4,000 a year to education students who will teach in a low-income school or high-needs field after graduation.

Contact the department of education for your state and your school’s state to learn more about state-based grant opportunities.

Contact your school’s financial aid office to learn more about school-based grants and ask your department head about industry-specific grants.

» MORE: Guide to grants for college

Scholarships

Scholarships are available at the state, local and school levels. These awards are based on various eligibility criteria, which can include field of study and academic achievement. Some scholarships are also need-based or allocated only for certain demographics.

Apply for as many scholarships as you qualify for to increase your chances of getting the most money.

Check the Department of Labor’s Scholarship Finder or National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators’ state-based scholarship search tool to find programs.

Contact your school’s financial aid office and department head about specific scholarship programs you may be eligible for.

» MORE: How to get a scholarship

Fellowships and assistantships

Eligibility requirements and service commitments for fellowship and assistantship programs vary. While fellowships are offered by schools, private organizations or government agencies, assistantships typically only come from the school.

With a fellowship, you may perform research activities outside of your school and payment may not be directly tied to tuition. As assistantships are generally school-based, they are more likely to directly provide full or partial tuition waivers. Some assistantships also come with living stipends .

Contact your financial aid office about school-based fellowships and assistantships, including teaching and resident assistantships. Search the zintellect database, which has ties to the Department of Education and a consortium of Ph.D.-granting institutions, for government and private-sector fellowships.

» MORE: Is a masters degree worth it?

Employer tuition assistance

According to a 2020 survey by the Society for Human Resource Management, or SHRM, about 47% of employers offer tuition assistance as part of their benefits package. This benefit can be in the form of tuition reimbursement, where the employer gives a lump sum to employees after they prove their tuition expenses. Other companies may pay tuition costs directly to the school, so the employee doesn't have to front the bill.

The amount of reimbursement varies by employer. The most common benefit ranges from $5,000-$5,999, according to a 2019 report by the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans.

Contact your human resources team to ask about your company’s tuition assistance benefit. Make sure to verify that graduate school tuition qualifies. You also want to get an understanding of any service commitments that come with accepting the benefit. Some employers require you to stay with the company for a certain period after the reimbursement funds are disbursed.

If you exhaust all of your opportunities for aid that doesn’t have to be repaid, look to student loans to fill the remaining funding gaps for graduate school. Schools may include student loans as part of your aid package, but you have to repay them.

Filing the FAFSA typically qualifies you for direct unsubsidized federal student loans. As a graduate student, you can borrow up to $20,500 each year. These loans will accrue interest while you are in school, but typically come with lower interest rates than their private loan counterparts. They also offer repayment options that private student loans don’t, like income-driven repayment .

» MORE: Government student loans: What are the benefits?

If you still need more funding, compare offers between the Grad PLUS loan from the federal government and options available with private student loan companies .

Unlike other federal student loans, PLUS loans require a hard credit check and may come with a higher rate than you can get with a private lender. But if you think you’ll need the protections of federal student loans, they’re still a better option.

On a similar note...

How to Fully Fund Your PhD

Last updated March 27, 2024

By ProFellow Founder, Dr. Vicki Johnson

When I first began looking into master’s and PhD programs early in my career, I wasn’t aware that many universities “fully fund” their doctoral students. “Full funding” is a funding package from the university, usually offered at acceptance, that includes full tuition remission and an annual stipend for living expenses for the four to six years a student is in the doctoral program. In most cases, doctoral students are expected to serve in a Graduate Teaching or Research Assistantship. This part-time position with the university includes work that is typically complementary to your PhD research and provides students with valuable teaching experience.

Because I wasn’t aware of full funding opportunities, I considered a PhD impossible and pursued a master’s degree instead, taking out both a federal and private loan to fund my studies. I learned of fully funded PhD programs while looking for fellowships for others, and I was very fortunate to enter a PhD program at Massey University in Wellington, New Zealand that fully funded my studies. I wouldn’t have considered pursuing a PhD if I had to pay for my doctoral studies.

In most cases, finding and entering a doctoral program with full funding is easier than winning a competitive external fellowship or scholarship, like the Hertz Foundation Graduate Fellowship . Not only are these external fellowships more competitive, but often they only fund the 3rd, 4th and 5th year of your PhD studies, when you are completing your dissertation research. Therefore, when considering a doctorate, research all the potential PhD programs in your academic field, including small and lesser-known schools both in the U.S. and abroad, and ask the admissions office if they fully fund every admitted student. This may have a major impact on the schools you consider applying to.

Just a small sample of PhD programs that are fully funded:

All PhD students at  Columbia University  get full funding. Columbia has particularly strong programs in medicine and sciences, as well as public administration and policy.

Boston College’s Department of Psychology offers a four- to five-year, full-time, fully-funded, research-oriented doctoral program.

Students admitted  Duke University’s PhD program in Military History receive multi-year funding packages from the graduate school, including tuition waivers, a stipend, and a teaching assistantship or gradership.

The Joint Program in Social Work and Social Science at the University of Michigan  gives all incoming doctoral students a multi-year funding package. This is a package of fellowship awards, graduate student research assistant positions, and graduate student instructorships that covers tuition, stipends, and health care.

One thing to keep in mind is that a PhD stipend may be substantially less than what you are earning in the private sector. Yearly stipends normally range from $18,000 – $30,000. Small cities and towns have lower costs of living, so another major factor in your consideration should be location.

Below are links to my ongoing series of articles on fully funded PhD programs (these articles are regularly updated).

Would you like to receive the full list of more than 1,000+ fully funded PhD and master’s programs? Get your copy of ProFellow’s FREE Directory of Fully Funded Graduate Programs and Full Funding Awards !

Here’s our complete list of fully funded PhD programs by discipline:

Fully Funded PhD Programs in Accounting Fully Funded PhD Programs in African American and Africana Studies Fully Funded PhD Programs in Agricultural Sciences Fully Funded PhD Programs in Archaeology Fully Funded PhD Programs in Architecture Fully Funded PhD and MFA Programs in Art and Design Fully Funded PhD Programs in Anthropology Fully Funded PhD Programs in Biomedical Engineering Fully Funded PhD Programs in Biology Fully Funded PhD Programs in Business Fully Funded PhD Programs in Business and Entrepreneurship Fully Funded PhD Programs in Chemical Engineering Fully Funded PhD Programs in Chemistry Fully Funded PhD Programs in Cinema and Media Studies Fully Funded PhD Programs in Civil Engineering Fully Funded PhD Programs in Classics Fully Funded PhD Programs in Clinical Psychology Fully Funded PhD Programs in Communications Fully Funded PhD Programs in Computer Science Fully Funded PhD and MFA Programs in Creative Arts, Writing and Film Fully Funded PhD Programs in Creative Writing Fully Funded PhD Programs in Criminal Justice & Criminology Fully Funded PhD Programs in Data Science Fully Funded PhD Programs in Economics Fully Funded PhD Programs in Education Fully Funded PhD Programs in Electrical Engineering Fully Funded PhD Programs in English Fully Funded PhD Programs in Environmental Conservation Fully Funded PhD Programs in French Fully Funded PhD Programs in Gender Studies Fully Funded PhD Programs in Genetics Fully Funded PhD Programs in Geography Fully Funded PhD Programs in German and Germanic Studies Fully Funded PhD Programs in Health Informatics Fully Funded PhD Programs in History Fully Funded PhD Programs in Information and Library Science Fully Funded PhD Programs in International Relations and International Development Fully Funded JD and PhD Programs in Law Fully Funded PhD Programs in Linguistics Fully Funded PhD Programs in Mathematics Fully Funded PhD Programs in Machine Learning Fully Funded PhD Programs in Mechanical Engineering Fully Funded MD-PhD Programs (Medicine) Fully Funded PhD Programs in Music Fully Funded PhD Programs in Neuroscience Fully Funded PhD Programs in Nursing Fully Funded PhD Programs in Nutrition and Food Science Fully Funded PhD Programs in Peace and Conflict Resolution Fully Funded PhD Programs in Pharmacology Fully Funded PhD Programs in Philosophy Fully Funded PhD Programs in Physics Fully Funded Ph.D. Programs in Political Science Fully Funded PhD Programs in Psychology Fully Funded PhD Programs in Public Health Fully Funded PhD Programs in Public Policy And Public Administration Fully Funded PhD Programs in Religion and Theology Fully Funded PhD Programs in School Psychology Fully Funded PhD Programs in Social Work Fully Funded PhD Programs in Sociology Fully Funded PhD Programs in Spanish and Portuguese Fully Funded PhD Programs in Statistics Fully Funded PhD Programs in Teaching English as a Second Language (TESOL)

Other lists:

Fully Funded PhD Positions in Germany Fully Funded PhD Programs in the United Kingdom

Fully funded master’s degrees and full funding awards:

Fully Funded Master’s Programs in Accounting Fully Funded Master’s Programs in American and Africana Studies Fully Funded Master’s Programs in Anthropology Fully Funded Master’s Programs in Architecture Fully Funded Master’s Programs in Biology Fully Funded Master’s Programs in Biomedical Engineering Fully Funded MBA (Business) Alternatives: Graduate Degrees and Fellowships Fully Funded Master’s Programs in Chemistry Fully Funded Master’s Programs in Chemical Engineering Fully Funded Master’s Programs in Civil Engineering Fully Funded Master’s Programs in Classics Fully Funded Master’s Programs in Communications and Journalism Fully Funded Master’s Programs in Computer Science Fully Funded MFA Programs in Creative Writing Fully Funded Master’s Programs in Criminal Justice Fully Funded Master’s Programs in Economics Fully Funded Master’s Programs in Education Fully Funded Master’s Programs in Electrical Engineering Fully Funded Master’s Programs in English Fully Funded MFA (Fine Arts) Programs in Film Fully Funded Master’s Programs in French Fully Funded MFA (Fine Arts) Programs in Studio Art and Visual Art Fully Funded MA and MFA (Fine Arts) Programs in Graphic Design Fully Funded Master’s Programs in Gender Studies Fully Funded Master’s Programs in Geography Fully Funded Master’s Programs in History Fully Funded Master’s Programs in International Affairs and International Development Fully Funded Master’s Programs in Linguistics Fully Funded Master’s Programs in Math Fully Funded Master’s Programs in Mechanical Engineering Fully Funded Master’s Programs in Modern Languages Fully Funded Master’s Programs in Music Education Fully Funded Master’s Programs in Nursing Fully Funded Master’s Programs in Philosophy Fully Funded Master’s Programs in Political Science Fully Funded Master’s Programs in Psychology Fully Funded Master’s Programs in School Psychology Fully Funded Master’s Programs in Public Health and Global Health Fully Funded Master’s Programs in Public Policy and Public Administration Fully Funded Master’s Programs in Physics Fully Funded Master’s Programs in Religion and Theology Fully Funded Master’s Programs in Social Work Fully Funded Master’s Programs in Sociology Fully Funded Master’s Programs in Statistics Fully Funded Master’s Programs in Teaching English as a Second Language (TESL)

For application tips and more information, see:

How to Find Fully Funded Graduate Programs in Any Discipline What You Need to Know About Graduate School Fellowships and Scholarships How to Get Into a Fully Funded PhD Program: Contacting Potential PhD Advisors 3 Tips for Applying to Fully Funded PhD Programs Master’s or PhD? My Advice – Follow the Funding 5 Reasons Why You Should Not Pay for Graduate School Out of Pocket

With or without full funding, doctoral students are encouraged to apply for fellowships to fund their dissertation research.  Sign up to check out our fellowships database to learn about other opportunities to fund graduate and doctoral study.

Dr. Vicki Johnson is Founder and CEO of ProFellow, the world’s leading online resource for professional and academic fellowships. She is a four-time fellow, top Ph.D. scholar, Fulbright recipient and an award-winning social entrepreneur. She is the Creator and Director of  Fully Funded , an award-winning online course and mentorship program for graduate school applicants seeking to find and win full funding. 

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• Fully Funded PhD Programs in School Psychology
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• Fully Funded PhD Programs in English
• Fully Funded Master's Programs in English

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Summer Policy Fellowship For Boston-Area Graduate Students

Funding for entrepreneurs (and we don’t mean venture capital), 76 thoughts on “how to fully fund your phd”.

Your low end of the stipend is too low. I’ve seen 13-15K/year, even in fairly expensive parts of the country. These were humanities degrees, which may make a difference.

Wow, that is low! But I suppose better than nothing. Haven’t seen much of a rise in PhD stipends in the past few years despite the rise in cost-of-living. Any thoughts on getting by on a $13K stipend?

The strategy specified in the last paragraph is frowned upon and is exactly why my university does not do a “walk through” masters option with its PhD students, and also why different courses are required for each program. And in my opinion, is not very ethical.

For what it is worth, the minimum PhD stipend at my uni is $15k plus tuition and fees waiver. I am currently getting more, but I am funded by an external project and I also have to teach.

Many think it is unethical to make a commitment to do a PhD and stop at ABD, but there are some who choose this route because they cannot complete the dissertation for financial, professional or personal reasons. It would be interesting to hear from some who chose to stop at ABD.

I from Ghana and have a BSc. Computer Science and Executive MBA degrees . I wish to pursue a Phd degree in a school where I will receive full funding. Could you please give any lead/advice on that eg. the school, Phd degree etc

It takes a little research but there are several universities that offer full-funded to all of their PhD students in Computer Science: University of Birmingham (UK), Duke University (USA), University of Michigan, School of Engineering (USA), Brown University (USA), Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey (USA) and Columbia University (USA).

Executive MBA normally do not normally offer funding or scholarships because students in these programs are working full-time in mid-management to executive level careers.

pls provide me the full funding US universities which offer phd in image processing field . what score is needed to join in those universities.Please provide me the information,

Please help me to find any fully funded phd programme in psychology…

How to Fully Fund Your PhD ? I have master of science, biotechnical and medical apparatus and system. kiev,national aviation university ,nau ,kiev.ukraine. ———————————— Bachelor of science ,medical engineering. National technical university of ukrain , kiev polytechnic institute, ————————————

Is there any fully funded phd programme in religion?

l HAVE COMPLETED Msc In Mathematics at KNUST in Ghana

i want to find out whether there are full funded scholarships for capacity building and Development program at phd level in any university

Hi Kennedy – check out our article Fully Funded Programs in International Relations and International Development: http://www.profellow.com/announcements/fully-funded-phd-programs-in-international-relations-and-international-development/

hi. i dont know how i can find a good university with full-funded for biomedical engineering phd. thanks a lot.

Any information on fully funding doctorate in Education? I used to teach college and would love to go back and need a doctorate for that. Any information would help.

Hi Laura – we do! We have posted an article on Fully Funded PhD Programs in Education: http://www.profellow.com/fellowships/fully-funded-phd-programs-in-education/

I’m from Iran and right now I’m preparing my thesis on Teaching English.I would really like to know about American universcities I could get a full fund in. Please help me.

Hey thank you for your article , but could you please provide some details regarding fully funded english phd courses?

Please, I hold MSC In International Business from Coventry University,UK. I want to know if there are fully funded PHD in Business related area.

I’ll be positing on fully-funded PhDs in Business next!

Hey Please list the universities that offer scholarships for PhD.

Please assist me to find a funded programme for a PHD in Sociolinguistics

l want fully funded PHd in sports science. thanks.

i want fully funded PHD in fisheries management/science. thanks

I want to do fully funded phd in ICT for Sustainable development. Can someone suggest a good university to pick up and how to avail funding.

Any clue on fully funded phd in economics in the US?

Is it necessary to write both TOEFL and GRE to get full funded PhD program.??? Please give me the necessary details about it… Thank you…

Hi Joseph, it depends on the program. Most U.S. programs require both the TOEFL and GRE for admission. Programs outside the U.S. may have different requirements.

Sir, i have completed my M.Sc in Biotechnology in May 2014. I am planning to do PhD in California…. Sir, i got my TOEFL score and its only 68/120. When i asked them that i am ready to retake the test, then they are telling that there is no point in retaking the exam, as the average of the two scores is considered. I need minimum 104/120 inorder to fund my PhD… So now they have asked me to write GRE exam…So how much should i score for GRE????…. Sir, could please tell me about retaking of TOEFL exam?? For how many times we can take the exam??? And which score is been considered???

Vicki, thanks for your thoughts and observations. Josna, a lot of it comes down to the specific program you’re applying for. I was fully funded for my MA and PHD programs at the University of California Santa Barbara. For smaller programs your acceptance is dependent on a professor willing to work with you. My research interests aligned with a professor and we communicated before I applied. The professor then “represented” me at the admissions meeting and asked that I be accepted. So my GRE scores and GPA were taken into consideration (all were high) but it was the professional relationship that helped. At the end of the day they want to make sure you’ll be a good fit in the program.

For the GRE I’ve heard that you should only take it once unless you really mess up and think you could do a lot better the second time. If you submit one bad test score you can at least make the argument that you just had a bad day. However if you submit two bad test scores then they’ll know for sure you can’t get a good score.

Hi, I got a doctoral offer from Baylor University. It’s not fully funded but the tuition fee is waived off and there are various assistantships that the university offers which will allow me fund my living expenses. However, I wont receiving a stipend in the initial semester. Please share any similar experiences. What are the chances of receiving assistantships?

It really depends on your field. In the sciences you have a pretty good chance of getting an assistantship – there’s a lot of funding available for medical research, for example, relative to other fields – but you should definitely call and ask.

My field is Electrical and Computer Engineering.

I will start a Ph.D. program this fall. I have already obtained verbal confirmation of my teaching assistantship (from the program director); however, I will receive the official offer letter in a few days. I will be moving across the country; thus, I’m wonder if any one knows what I can expect to receive for a yearly stipend. I am looking at housing options as graduate level students are not allowed to stay on campus. The university is located in a very large metropolitan city with an exceptionally high cost of living. Any insight would be extremely helpful as I plan my transition…. Thanks in advance! 🙂

Your stipend will cover the cost of living but it won’t be a lot of money. I’d recommend calling the program director and asking how much money you will receive. This is not rude, for some reason many grad students seem to feel embarrassed to talk about this but it is not rude to ask. Congratulations and good luck! 🙂

I’m looking for fully funded masters programs in psychology . Could you please help me out

Hi! I Finished my Msc Analytical chemistry in 2013. Since then i am working as a research chemist in UAE. Need some information as how to apply for P.hd in US or UK ?

Only IELTS is ok ?

and how much is the average stipend in US ?

Iamlooking for fully fund PHD program in molecular biology, could you help me ??

I’m looking for fully funded phD programe in disease biology especially incancer biology,could you please help me to earn this?

I am registered to study for a DPhil degree in Tourism and Hospitality at one of the State Universities in Zimbabwe in Africa. I am seeking sponsorship.

I am starting a PhD Education this fall. The program is fully funded with a small stipend/assistantship. However, it is not nearly enough to live off of. Are there grants that help with living expenses while pursuing a PhD? Since the program is fully funded, you don’t get a refund check either, correct?

Hi Nina, typically stipends are well less than $30K per year, so no matter where you live, this might not be enough for all your living expenses. If you need additional part-time work, grants or financial aid to meet your expenses the best place to ask is your university’s financial aid office. There are also some external fellowships that you can apply for which are listed in the ProFellow database under “Type – Doctoral Study”

HELLO, I JUST GOT A DOCTORAL OFFER FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF AUCKLAND NEW ZEALAND AND I WILL BE PAYING NZ$23,000 PER YEAR FOR A PERIOD OF 3 YEARS. THIS COVERS ALL I NEED. PLEASE IS THERE ANYONE THAT KNOWS HOW I COULD BE ASSISTED TO RAISE THE MONEY? I WILL REALLY APPRECIATE.

New Zealand offers International Doctoral Research Scholarships for three years of full PhD funding – and applications are now open! Apply by July 15 at http://www.enz.govt.nz/our-services/scholarships/nzidrs#overlay=node/729/edit

Pls I’m in need of useful links and information on how to obtain full funded ph.d programme in area of public health..Your urgent response will be greatly appreciated .Thanks

In a word, wow!! I can’t believe the funds are in my account already. Thank you, thank you, thank you! You made what is usually a long, drawn out and intimidating chore into a very pleasant and streamlined experience. I can’t thank you and Mr. Amazing Loans enough. Mr. Amazing Loans for the terrific system, and you for the wonderful service. You are both quite awesome! if you need an urgent loan you can email them at [email protected]

Vansaders Raymond,NV

Hello, any programs for PhD in nursing?

Yes, Johns Hopkins gives full funding for 2 years: http://nursing.jhu.edu/academics/programs/doctoral/phd/funding.html

Nice work you are doing here. Pls I’m in need of useful links and information on how to obtain full funded ph.d programme in area of public health..Your urgent response will be greatly appreciated .Thanks

Hi Philip – we haven’t yet prepared an article on PhD programs in Public Health but it is on the list and we hope to publish one soon!

Thanks for the prompt reply..Please can you give me something to work with before the article is published. Atleast from your wealth of experience and research…Its an urgent need for me..Thanks

Hi Philip – I just published an article on fully funded PhD programs in Public Health. See: https://www.profellow.com/tips/fully-funded-phd-programs-in-public-health/

Hey guys, my wife is starting her PhD in the University of Sao Paulo, Brazil. She is going to research on topic related to perception of child sexual assault and her data will be taken in Nigeria. She will be spending about 6 months there. Is there any fellowship that provides field work stipend for PhD researches. Thanks

Yes! Please check out the fellowships in ProFellow’s database. There is a filter under type for “Doctoral study” that includes fellowships for field work. She should also ask her university if there are department grants for field work.

Hi. Looking for a fully funded PhD program in Conflict Analysis and Resolution. It is not the same thing as International Studies or Development. Any ideas? Thanks for the article.

HI. I am a graduate student in MS of International Management Technology from Shahid Beheshti University, in Iran. i would be interested in receiving information about the PhD funding program in your university. Thank u in advance

HI. I am a graduate student with an MSc in Energy, Water and Environmental Management from University Of Abertay in Scotland. I would be interested in receiving information about the PhD funding, sponsorship or scholarship program in any University. Thank u in advance

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hello. I am trying to purse my phD in TESOL in the states. Are there any schools offer fully funded

I am doing doctorate studies in Tourism and Hospitality in Zimbabwe. The tourism industry is a multi – billion dollar industry and has a lot of potential particularly for developing countries such as Zimbabwe where I am a university lecturer. Doctorate holders in tourism and hospitality in Zimbabwean universities are very few indeed. At some of the local universities, you could actually count them on the fingers of one hand. The lack of highly qualified academics is militating against the development of the sector in the country in particular and in Southern Africa in general. This is what has motivated my appeal for funding. I am looking for funding for my DPhil studies so that i may add to the statistics of doctorate holders in an area that wields tremendous potential but sadly, is deficient of highly qualified personnel. My email is [email protected] . Cell phone 00263 735 501 896. Thank you and God bless!

I am interested in fully funded PhD Control System Engineering programs any recommendations

Our next article will be on Fully Funded PhD Programs in Engineering, stay tuned!

Hi, I am interested to study in Fully Funded PhD Positions in chemistry. I am graduated of the Master’s Degree in Organic Chemistry from Iran. Please guide me.

Florida Atlantic University

Hi, I have a Masters degree in Political Science with a 3.1 GPA. I would like to know if anyone knows a fully-funded PhD programme in Diplomacy, Public Policy or any related programme. Kindly share the opportunity with me on my mail [email protected]

hie..im a masters degree graduate of agricultural extension education.is there any possibility of me finding a fully funded fellowship?

Did you find anything? I’m looking for the same thing.

I have an MSc Public Sector Management with 3.29 GPA , please do anyone have information on a PHD. Scholarship in Public Management , financial regulation or Public Policy ?

I got fellowship doctorate degree in any Australia , and get prepared thesis already I have passed M.A (English ) and M.A (history) 1st year passed this year 2017 completed final year in Himalayan university (India). now interested to doctorate degree. My date of birth 31/07/1956 now age 61 years,

My name is shelly moore i want to talk about something that I am just very excited about; I had a small bakery and in my apartment, I had a bad credit. It became very though for me, because people do not want to loan; banks and other financial institution do not want to loan money to us due to bad credit. So I needed to find someone that was very lenient and also could pay really quick to us. We wanted to add on to our restaurant in other words we needed an $75,000 loan which was really difficult at that time. So a friend of mine ‘Helen Waters’ said check: [email protected] . I was scared because I didn’t want to get scammed. On a second thought i took the risk and applied for the loan. That day I got a response and I got funded the next day, I am so happy, I couldn’t believe how quick it was. I now have a decent credit and my business has expanded and I have a decent credit.

Hello, Are there any online fully funded doctoral programs in education

I took admission in phd through project( part time), but the project is now completed . `what type of fellowship available for part time students to continue phd. I have no GATE and NET score

I have a B.S. in chemistry 2002 would like to get masters/PhD in engineering- interested in robotics/computers what would be the best path to take without me having to go back for a second B.S. degree?

Hi, I am Sharada completed my ME from Pune University (India), moving to US on H4 visa. I am willing to do Phd from any university in Ohio, US. Please refer me any engineering college or university who can fund for my further study. Please share the procedure to get it funded.

I just turned 60, have both an MBA and an MSCS, and 28 years as a software developer, mostly for defense contractors. I cannot get full-time work in software development (having never worked on a website or smartphone app), and have been teaching math, business and CS part-time. All the choice full-time teaching positions require of prefer PhDs. Are there any online PhD programs in math, CS or business that don’t cost $50K?

Hi Norm, I’m not aware of any free or low-cost online PhD programs. These are typically run by for-profit universities that do not offer tuition offsets and stipends.

Comments are closed.

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How to Pay for a Ph.D.

Expertise: Mortgages, Personal loans, Debt management, Insurance, Student loans

Anna Baluch is a personal finance writer with more than 10 years of experience. Her focus areas include mortgages, personal loans, debt management, insurance, and student loans. She spent three years working in SEO and marketing for a national home improvement company.

Expertise: Debt management, tax planning, college planning, retirement planning, insurance planning, estate planning, investment planning, budgeting, comprehensive financial planning

Eric Kirste CFP®, CIMA®, AIF®, is a founding principal wealth manager for Savvy Wealth. Eric brings 22 years of wealth management experience working with clients, families, and their businesses, and serving in different leadership capacities.

According to the Education Data Initiative , the average cost of a doctorate of philosophy (Ph.D.) degree is $81,900. You may have multiple options to fund a Ph.D. and turn your dream of furthering your career into a reality. 

We’ll discuss how to pay for a Ph.D. so you can determine which options make sense for your unique situation and goals. 

Table of Contents Skip to Section

• How to pay for a doctorate degree: 7 ways 

How to get your Ph.D. paid for

How to pay for a doctorate degree: 7 ways .

These seven strategies can make a Ph.D. more affordable. You may be able to take advantage of several at once.

1. Scholarships

Available through government agencies, nonprofit organizations, and private companies, Ph.D. scholarships can range from a few hundred to tens of thousands. In most cases, they’re based on academic merit and geared toward a certain specialty, but you might also find need-based scholarships. The most significant benefit of scholarships is that you don’t need to repay them. 

Here are two examples of Ph.D. scholarships:

• Beinecke Scholarship : The Beinecke Scholarship Program has existed since 1975. It’s for graduate students, including those pursuing Ph.D.s, in the arts, humanities, and social sciences.
• Graduate Cyber Security Scholarship : Sponsored by the Center for Cyber Safety and Education, the Graduate Cyber Security Scholarship offers scholarships for graduate and Ph.D. students majoring in cybersecurity or information assurance. These scholarships range from $1,000 to $5,000.

Ph.D. grants are similar to scholarships in that you don’t need to repay them. They’re often based on financial need and distributed by state governments and nonprofit organizations. Some grants also require recipients to participate in certain research or academic initiatives. 

Two examples of grants for Ph.D. students include: 

• José Martí Scholarship Challenge Grant Fund : The José Martí Scholarship Challenge Grant Fund is created for Hispanic students who attend qualifying schools in Florida. It’s a need-based program that offers up to $2,000 per year for undergraduate and graduate degrees.
• Virginia Tuition Assistance Grant Program : The Virginia Tuition Assistance Grant Program is for Virginia residents pursuing health-related graduate studies at select universities. Grants range between $5,000 and $12,500.

3. Fellowships

Through fellowships, Ph.D. students can receive financial assistance that allows them to pursue research, internships, special projects, or study abroad opportunities. Most fellowships are issued by government agencies, nonprofit organizations, and universities. 

Here’s a look at two Ph.D. fellowship options:

• Cornell Fellowship : Cornell University’s Cornell Fellowship offers a stipend and covers one year of tuition, fees, and health insurance. Several programs are available, such as the Diversity Programs in Engineering (DPE) fellowship and the Foreign Language and Area Studies (FLAS) fellowship. 
• Google PhD Fellowship : The Google PhD fellowship program is for students in Ph.D. programs related to computer science. It allows them to become Google Research Mentors and develop their skills. 

4. Assistantships

Often provided by universities, Ph.D. assistantships reimburse students for tuition in exchange for their commitment to being a teaching or research assistant or performing administrative tasks on campus for about 15 to 25 hours per week. 

They may require a one-year commitment and also provide a small stipend. Unlike fellowships, which cover more opportunities on and off campus, assistantships are just for on-campus work. It’s wise to consult professors in your department to learn more about assistantship programs that may be options for you. 

Below are two examples of schools with assistantships: 

• Kent State University : Kent State in Ohio offers assistantships to doctoral students. Depending on the program, you may earn a full tuition waiver plus a monthly stipend for working 10 to 20 hours per week. Kent State offers three types of assistantships: research, teaching, and administrative. 
• University of Miami: The University of Miami, Florida, has several Ph.D. research assistantships. They pay an annual salary of $40,140 and cover the cost of tuition and health insurance.

Our expert’s advice for making connections and finding assistantships

Eric Kirste

Four suggestions: One, working alongside faculty, researchers, and fellow grad students allows you to establish meaningful professional relationships that can translate into future career opportunities. Two, developing professional relationships with respected faculty can help translate into valuable recommendations down the line. Three, as a grad student, you’ll also have the chance to attend other networking opportunities, such as conferences and workshops. Four, review the schools’ “Assistantship Clearinghouse” or other similar groups that contain a listing of current assistantship opportunities on campus.

5. Employer reimbursement 

Some employers strive to attract qualifying candidates and retain hard-working employees through tuition assistance or reimbursement. If you work full or part-time, don’t hesitate to reach out to your manager or human resources department to find out whether your company can pay for some or all of your Ph.D. program. 

Intel, ADP, UPS, Bank of America, and Procter & Gamble are examples of employers that offer reimbursement for graduate degrees.

6. Federal student loans

Federal loans are from the U.S. Department of Education to help pay for college . As a Ph.D. student, you may be eligible for federal student loans including: 

• Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans : These loans don’t consider financial need. If you borrow one, you’ll owe interest that accrues from the time it’s disbursed. Limits apply to how much you can borrow. 
• Federal Grad PLUS Loans : Federal Grad PLUS Loans are for the parents of undergraduate students or graduate and professional students. You may borrow up to the cost of attendance at your school minus any financial aid you qualify for. As with Direct Unsubsidized Loans, you’re on the hook for accrued interest.

If you’re interested in federal loans for your Ph.D. program, complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). This form will ask you for basic information about yourself as well as details about your financial situation. Once you submit your FAFSA, your university will inform you which loans are available.

7. Private student loans

Private student loans can fill in the gaps if you don’t qualify for federal loans or need to borrow more than the federal limits allow. You can get them from banks, credit unions, and online lenders. Private student loans are often based on your credit score and income. 

You may need a cosigner who agrees to repay in the event you default. Private student loans might have higher interest rates depending on your (or your cosigner’s) credit score. They have stricter repayment terms than federal loans. 

However, they can make sense if you’ve exhausted all other ways to pay for your Ph.D. Be sure to shop around and compare private student loans. Rates, terms, fees, and eligibility requirements can vary by lender. 

Most lenders will allow you to prequalify and check your rates online without any impact on your credit. 

Our expert’s advice: How to minimize debt while pursuing a Ph.D.

No. 1, budget! Ensure you have a budget to incorporate schooling as well as your living needs. No. 2, resources: Ask the Ph.D. program at the university for ideas and resources. No. 3, negotiate and ask questions. If you’re awarded a teaching or research assistantship, negotiate for a higher salary. It doesn’t hurt to ask. If you publish work, the department may get more money, so it’s a win-win situation. No. 4, invest: Most Ph.D. students aren’t offered retirement benefits. If you are, please take advantage of them. Even though you are accumulating debt, you still need to save for retirement by investing in the stock market and taking advantage of its long-term benefits and growth. No. 5, emergency funds: It’s essential to have savings for emergencies in any amount! If it’s $100, $1,000, or $10,000—any amount is better than $0. When emergencies arise, these will damage a well-thought-out budget. (See No. 1.)

It is possible to get your Ph.D. paid for. Fully funded Ph.D. programs pay for tuition and fees. They also offer monthly stipends for health insurance and living expenses, eliminating most or all out-of-pocket expenses as you complete a Ph.D. program. 

Fully funded Ph.D. programs can be difficult to qualify for, but it’s worth applying. Examples of fully funded Ph.D. programs include: 

• Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology at Columbia University : If you’re part of Columbia University’s clinical psychology Ph.D. program, you may earn full tuition and a $25,000 annual stipend for a three-year period. You can work as a teaching or research assistant and complete a mentor-matched program, including an internship. 
• Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Sloan School of Management : MIT’s fully funded Ph.D. program pays for Ph.D. students for up to five years and includes a monthly stipend of $4,497, medical insurance, and a new laptop. Reimbursement for travel and conferences is also available. 
• Ph.D. in Education at Michigan State University : Michigan State’s fully funded program is for students earning a Ph.D. in education with a specialty, such as higher education, K-12 educational administration, or education policy. Participants can expect a biweekly stipend and a tuition waiver that covers nine credits each semester.

How to Pay for a PhD

Before applying for a PhD it is important to consider how you will pay for it. The level of financial support offered to each applicant will vary and it may be up to you to fill the gaps. Here are the different sources of PhD funding and examples of each.

Fully-Funded Project or Program

Many PhD projects and programs are fully funded, meaning they are created with funding already allocated. When this is the case, the student does not have to pay fees (tuition) and is paid by the university. This payment can be in the form of either a stipend or salary if the PhD student is considered a university employee. If a project or program is fully funded it will normally be advertised as such. Fully-funded programs and projects are more common in STEM fields but there are still a good number in the humanities and social sciences. These kinds of PhD positions tend to be more common in Europe (excluding the UK) and at American R1 universities.

If you plan on undertaking a self-proposed PhD project, you will probably have to find your own funding. Fortunately, there are several options you can purse.

University Scholarships

The university you're going to be studying at should be the first place you look for funding. Most universities offer a variety of funding opportunities for their graduate students. These can range from a partial tuition reduction to a full tuition waiver and a generous stipend. Most graduate scholarships are awarded based on academic merit, however there are usually some which are based on financial need. There may even be some that are open only to students from certain countries or studying in specific fields. Check the funding section of your university’s website to find out which scholarships you are eligible for.

Research Councils           

Research councils are a major source of grants and scholarships for doctoral students. Each country has its own research councils that its citizens (and sometimes international students studying in the country) can apply for funding from. These awards are competitive with lengthy applications but the funding they provide is substantial. For example, UK residents can apply for full PhD studentships from the UK Research Councils worth a minimum of £19,037 annually while the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRCC) awards Canadian and international doctoral students between $20,000 and $50,000 a year.

Other Government Funding

National governments run and support several educational funding programs in addition to research councils. Many of them are aimed specifically at graduate students pursuing degrees in other countries. For example, the UK Government awards Commonwealth Scholarships to over 800 graduate students from across the Commonwealth to finance their studies in the UK. Similarly, the US Department of State’s famous Fulbright Program offsets the cost of tuition, travel, and living expenses for US citizens conducting independent research abroad.

Foundations, Charities and Trusts

There are several foundations, academic societies, charities, and trusts that provide full or partial funding for students pursuing graduate studies. The oldest and most well-known example is the Rhodes Scholarship , an award for international students to pursue graduate studies at Oxford University. The newer Gates Cambridge Scholarship offers approximately 100 fully-funded scholarships a year for graduate studies at the University of Cambridge. This highly-competitive scholarship accepts applicants from any country excluding the UK.

If no other funding option can be secured, it is possible to take out loans to cover the cost of a PhD. These can be either private loans through your bank or government loans, such as the UK Government Postgraduate Doctoral Loan .

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The Myth of the Fully-Funded PhD: Using Scholarships to Mitigate the Financial Realities of Research Degrees

When you decide to go to graduate school of any kind, you are making a financial decision that will dramatically affect your earning capacity for the duration of the program and throughout your life. While the caliber of school, available mentorship opportunities, and research resources are important factors to consider when making a decision about which university to attend, students often forget to carefully assess the financial realities associated with each opportunity.

The financial decision surrounding attending graduate school

Unlike students in professional graduate programs, most PhD students do not plan to pursue high-paying careers, and they depend on the fact that doctoral programs automatically include “full funding” to offset the cost of long-term research degrees. Though many graduate students receive admissions offers that are referred to as “fully-funded,” such funding packages require PhD students to teach multiple years in exchange for tuition waivers and teaching stipends. Once students start to work for the university and balance their many responsibilities, they quickly realize that “full-funding” isn’t exactly the same as a “scholarship” or a “full-ride. ”

Common misconceptions about what it means to be “fully-funded”

Depending on the university and its location, the value of one’s teaching stipend in relationship to workload and cost of living can vary greatly. In reality, graduate student teaching stipends for students who live in large United States cities are not enough to cover basic necessities. As a result, most graduate students go into additional debt to complete their programs.

Since tenure-track jobs have become increasingly elusive in the United States university system, today’s doctoral students must also satisfy a growing list of requirements to be considered for well-paying and stable teaching positions upon graduation. The added responsibilities associated with producing early publications, progressing through the degree quickly, regularly attending conferences, and pursuing ongoing professionalization or certification opportunities all require significant time commitments.

However, since doctoral students must work for the university in order to waive tuition and fees, they cannot devote all of their time to academic and professional progress. To avoid burnout and set aside more time for completing research, I suggest that prospective and current graduate students continuously apply for extramural funding, research fellowships, and community-based scholarships throughout their degrees.

Accepted’s clients received over $3.5 million dollars in scholarship offers in the last application cycle.  Explore our scholarship essay services   to find out how we can help you!

How the academic culture deemphasizes the financial aspects of the work

The common phrase “no one goes into a PhD to make money” is thrown around frequently in academic settings, and seems to suggest that pursuits related to funding are selfish and “anti-intellectual.” Especially in the humanities and social sciences, there is significant cultural importance placed on the fact that academia is not about money, and that academic careers are shaped by intellectual merit, not an individual’s financial capacity to stay in school.

Historically, however, the option to waive tuition in return for a few years of university teaching was an affordable way to enable individuals to pursue intellectual projects in the not-for-profit environment of the public university. One generation ago, doctoral students transitioned into tenure-track jobs with much more ease than those currently on the market. They also entered public institutions carrying far less student debt, and upon employment, they received guaranteed state pensions and salaries commensurate with the cost of living.

In today’s public university, the labor commitments of teaching assistants have grown significantly while the pay has not caught up with the steep rise in the cost of living for most university hubs. For example, throughout my graduate program at UCLA, I received between $15,000 and $22,000 in annual pay as a teaching or staff stipend. Given that my Los Angeles rent was upwards of $1,200 per month and rising, I was unable to continue my degree without applying for extramural grants and taking on work outside of the university.

Furthermore, the number of tenure track positions is diminishing so it is unlikely that I will ever make the stable and generous income to which my advisors have access. So the cultural norms of the intellectual community, which eschew any discussion of financial wellness, are no longer sustainable for most graduate students.

Though most graduate programs do not emphasize the financial aspects of navigating life as a student researcher and university employee, I have found that the pursuit of additional funding is neither a greedy nor an “anti-intellectual” use of my time in graduate school. Rather it is a great way to empower myself to set aside more time for conducting critical research and preparing for a successful career.

Strategies for applying for funding throughout your doctoral degree

In addition to my own efforts to build funding applications into my graduate studies, as a Student Affairs Advisor at the UCLA Scholarship Resource Center, I have worked with graduate students to generate strategies for incorporating annual cycles of grant writing into their studies.

Here are some of the most important takeaways from that work:

Most applicants are so anxious about whether or not they will be accepted to their desired PhD program that they don’t think about funding until after they’ve found out where they have gotten in. But there are a number of organizations, like the Ford Foundation , the Paul & Daisy Soros Foundation , the Stanford-Knight Hennessey Scholars Program , the National Science Foundation, and the Fannie and John Hertz Foundation , that offer funding for prospective graduate students.Like university admission applications, these also run on an annual cycle that requires students to apply one year before they plan to enroll in school. So, if you are planning to spend this fall putting together applications for graduate school, it is well worth it to add a number of fellowship applications to your list as well. Even if you aren’t successful with your first round of applications you will be well prepared to add scholarship applications to your graduate school routine. This is an activity that you should engage in throughout your entire degree, and you have to start somewhere!

Below are some questions that you should be able to answer by carefully analyzing your letter of admission. If you can’t answer them, try to find out the answers before you make your decision.• How many years of teaching assistantship does the university commit to you? How many students are you responsible for teaching, assessing, and holding office hours with for each term?• Are there stipulations related to your progress through the degree that may create limitations on your access to university funding or campus work opportunities?

• Does your status as university student or staff come with health benefits?

• Does your university have a union for teaching assistants? If so, what employee rights do you have through your union membership? Pay close attention to issues of pay related to maternity leave, medical leave, absence in the case of the death of a family member, and access to childcare.

• Is there an employee handbook for student staff and teaching assistants?

• What is the pay scale associated with the teaching positions that the university has offered you?

Before you decide where to go to school, do the research about your housing options. How much does university housing cost? Are there other options?Some universities offer annual budgets on their websites that include the cost of housing, but you have to analyze these carefully to understand how these budgets translate to your degree. For instance, UCLA’s estimated cost of attendance for graduate students only lists the annual budget for the academic year, which consists of 8 months. So you’d have to add four months of summer expenses in order to get a true sense of the living costs associated with each calendar year.

Once you’ve chosen a university, I would suggest that you map out the various phases of the program, the skillsets that you wish to build, and the accomplishments that you will achieve as you progress through the degree. There are different types of funding for every step of progress that you make, and if you are intentional about identifying related funding you can apply for specific opportunities throughout.Here are some examples of different achievements or degree phases associated with specific funding opportunities:• 2-3 years of coursework

• Conference travel

• Master’s exam period

• Master’s thesis writing year

• Language study

• Building a technical or quantitative analytical methodology

• Preliminary fieldwork or archival research

• Prospectus development

• Qualifying exam period

• Preliminary dissertation research

• Primary fieldwork or archival research

• Dissertation writing year

Most research-related funding opportunities do not pay out until a full academic year after the application submission period. This means that you should plan out your goals an entire year in advance, and apply for funding in the year before you carry out the projects and goals that you propose in your application materials. If you can continuously conceptualize your degree in the long-term, you will be able to anticipate the types of funding that will support your progress.

Whether you work for the institution or not, it will likely be up to you to cover the cost of your summers during graduate school. Rather than wait until summer starts to figure out how you’re going to pay the bills, start making plans the preceding fall. You may find paid opportunities to conduct research, fieldwork, or language study during your summer. But you also have the option to take on paid internships in a number of research fields in both the public and private sectors.

Do you need help with your PhD admissions or PhD funding applications? Our expert advisors are here to walk you through the PhD application process, from strategy-building to final send-off. Check out our Graduate School Admissions Consulting & Editing Services for more information on how we can help you GET ACCEPTED…with funding!

Student Affairs Advisor and scholarship expert, Rebecca has six years experience reviewing and editing large grant applications, research-based proposals, statements of purpose, personal statements and fellowship materials. Want Rebecca to help you get accepted? Click here to get in touch!

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How PhD Students Get Paid

The most common questions (and biggest misconceptions) about getting a PhD revolve around money. Maybe you’ve heard that PhD students get paid just to study, or maybe you’ve even heard that PhD students don’t get paid at all.

It makes sense — how you make money as a PhD student is different from most other career routes, and the process can be highly variable depending on your school, discipline and research interests. 

D o PhD students get paid?

Most of the time the answer is yes. PhD programs that don’t offer some form of compensation, like stipends, tuition remission or assistantships, are rare but they do exist. On the other hand, some programs, like a PhD in Economics , are so competitive that unpaid programs are virtually unheard of. 

To help you gain a better understanding of PhD funding and decide if getting a PhD is worth it for you, here are some of the most common examples of how PhD students are paid. 

PhD Stipends

Most PhD programs expect students to study full-time. In exchange, they’re usually offered a stipend — a fixed sum of money paid as a salary — to cover the cost of housing and other living expenses. How much you get as a stipend depends on your university, but a range for the average PhD stipend is usually between $20,000 - $30,000 per year.  

In some cases, your stipend will be contingent upon an assistantship.

Assistantships

A PhD assistantship usually falls into one of two categories: research or teaching. 

For research assistantships , faculty generally determine who and how many assistants they need to complete their research and provide funding for those assistants through their own research grants from outside organizations. 

A teaching assistantship is usually arranged through your university and involves teaching an undergraduate or other class. Assistantships allow graduate students to gain valuable experience leading a classroom, and helps to balance out the university’s stipend costs. 

Fellowships

Fellowships provide financial support for PhD students, usually without the teaching or research requirement of an assistantship. The requirements and conditions vary depending on the discipline, but fellowships are generally merit based and can be highly competitive. Fellowships usually cover at least the cost of your PhD tuition , but some may even pay for scholarly extracurricular activities, like trips, projects or presentations. 

Fellowships can be offered through your university or department as well as outside sources. 

Part-time Employment

PhD candidates don’t commonly have additional employment during their course of study, but it is possible depending on your discipline and the rigor of your program. Flexible, low-demand jobs like freelance writing or tutoring can be a natural fit for many PhD students, and might be flexible enough to balance along with your coursework. 

All in all, it’s fair to say that though the form of payment may be unfamiliar, PhD students do in fact get paid. But keep in mind that while most PhD programs offer some kind of funding for students, it’s not guaranteed. 

Want to know more about how to pay for a PhD ? Explore our Guide to Choosing and Applying for PhD Programs . 

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Paying For Graduate School: 7 Funding Strategies

Student loan debt has grown significantly in the last decade, with 43 million borrowers owing $1.73 trillion in the United States as of June 2024. For many, this debt is not only a financial burden but a mental burden as well—leaving many anxious or depressed about their debt. Students also report delaying or missing out on life events, such as starting a family or buying a home, as a result of their debt. With statistics like these, it’s understandable why those considering graduate school might be worried about paying for their degree.

However, many students are unaware of the numerous financial aid options available that not only are manageable but also can enhance their learning experience. The class of 2022, for instance, left $3.58 billion in Pell Grants unclaimed simply by not filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), a free online form provided by the U.S. Department of Education.

The biggest mistake you can make is to assume you can’t afford grad school and put your educational and career dreams on hold. With time, research, and creativity, you can finance your graduate education without falling into debt.

Is it harder to get financial aid for graduate school?

Financing grad school can seem daunting, but it’s important to remember that there are plenty of resources to help you fund your education. With numerous scholarships and fellowships, there are several sources of funding that are often unexplored by students.

There’s clear financial support for graduate students. For example, in the 2022–2023 academic year, graduate students received an average of $28,300 in federal financial aid through grants, loans, and work-study programs. Private institutions also offer significant financial aid packages to students. In the 2023–24 academic year alone, Northeastern awarded over $437.5 million in scholarships and grants to its students, demonstrating a commitment to making advanced education more financially accessible.

Many graduate students return to school after gaining valuable work experience, so they often have access to tailored financial aid that considers their professional backgrounds. These diverse opportunities for funding across various programs and schools means there are multiple avenues to explore, depending on specific academic and career goals.

By starting the financial planning process early and leveraging available resources, you can effectively navigate the landscape of financial assistance to support your studies. Here’s how to afford grad school and pursue your studies without debt.

7 types of financial aid for graduate school

On top of the substantial financial support that’s likely in place through graduate school programs, there are several resources you should utilize strategically.

1. Scholarships

Start your scholarship search with online scholarship search engines, such as Sallie Mae’s Graduate School Scholarship Search and Collegescholarship.org’s Scholarship Search Engine . There is a scholarship available for virtually every graduate student.

Consider all of these options to ensure you don’t miss out on scholarship money:

• Your field of study: Whether you are studying biotechnology or earning your EdD, there are scholarships available in your field. Start by doing a web search for “[your field]” and “graduate scholarships.” Talk with the counselors in your prospective college department to find scholarships specific to your degree program.
• Your ethnicity: Some organizations offer scholarships for students of a certain ethnicity. For example, the Hispanic Scholarship Fund offers scholarships ranging from $500 to $5,000 to students with Hispanic heritage in any field of study. You can also find general minority scholarships that are available to a wide range of ethnicities and aid opportunities for certain nationalities. For example, The National Italian American Foundation offers $2,500 to $10,000 in scholarships to Italian Americans who are members of the foundation.
• Your university connections: You may be able to earn a graduate scholarship or tuition discount by applying to your alma mater. Northeastern, for example, offers the Double Husky Scholarship , which gives Northeastern alumni a 25% discount on their graduate education in over 120 eligible programs. Parents and siblings of Northeastern undergraduate students are also eligible to receive a 25% discount on their tuition through Northeastern’s Parent and Family Scholarship . 
• Your unique life circumstances: Do you live with disabilities, or have you overcome adversity in some way? There is a good chance there is a scholarship for your unique situation. For example, individuals who were in the foster care system can look for state scholarships and national scholarships that may award up to to $100,000.
• Federal aid : You can access federally funded scholarships simply by filling out the FAFSA. The online application will guide you through the process seamlessly.
• State aid: Each state has a variety of financial aid allocated for its residents. Many of these awards are designated for individuals working in public service or for degrees that are in high demand in the area in an effort to help support the state’s workforce needs. Massachusetts, for example, designates specific scholarships for residents pursuing a degree in the STEM or healthcare fields , in addition to other state-funded scholarship programs.
• Local aid: Check with your city’s chamber of commerce and local businesses to see if locally funded scholarship money is available.
• Employer-sponsored scholarships: Check with your employer’s HR department to see if scholarships are available to employees, even if you are a part-time or contract worker.

Explore Northeastern’s graduate scholarships.

See how you can get your grad degree without taking on debt.

Grants, like scholarships, do not need to be repaid upon graduation. They are typically need based and are awarded by the federal government, state governments, individual schools, and private organizations.

• Federal grants : The federally funded Pell Grant is generally awarded only to undergraduate students; however, there are several federal grant programs available to graduate students, including the TEACH Grant and Fulbright Graduate Grants .
• State grants : State-level grants are available to residents and, in some cases, residents of nearby states. For example, both Pennsylvania and Vermont award residents grant support to attend schools in Massachusetts.
• Institutional and organizational grants: School-funded grants are given by graduate schools to encourage diversity, support field-specific research, or help graduate students with financial need. Many private organizations also offer grants to help students pursue an education in the fields they support. Take advantage of sites like GrantForward to find these hidden sources of funding.

3. Military benefits

If you spent time serving this country, your college costs might be covered. Look for Yellow Ribbon schools that will pay for most, if not all, of your tuition if you are a post-9/11 veteran. Northeastern has delivered more than $11.2 million in funding through the Yellow Ribbon Program , allowing more than 800 veterans, servicemembers, and their dependents to attend the university each year for minimal to no cost. Beyond Yellow Ribbon benefits, the post-9/11 GI Bill®  and U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs offer funds that can be used to cover any remaining tuition costs, living stipends, and books.

4. Work opportunities

Graduate students who fill out the FAFSA and demonstrate a financial need may be eligible for Federal Work-Study . This federally subsidized program provides part-time employment for students.

Depending on your university, there may be other opportunities to gain professional experience and a paycheck while in school. At Northeastern, forty percent of graduate programs integrate full-time co-op opportunities with industry leaders for three to eight months. These placements are carefully designed to complement your studies and accelerate your career, allowing you to apply classroom knowledge to solve real-world problems.

5. Teaching or research assistantships

Graduate students can apply for several kinds of assistantships, either upon program acceptance or at any time throughout their studies, depending on the institution. Research assistants perform research duties under faculty supervision, while teaching assistants help with direct student tasks, such as grading or holding office hours. Doctoral students can also apply for Stipend Graduate Assistantships that offer health benefits, a stipend, and tuition remission of between 50% and 100% of tuition costs.

6. Tuition reimbursement

Approximately 48% of employers offer some type of tuition reimbursement as an employee benefit, although only 2% of eligible employees take advantage of this benefit. The average tuition assistance provided by employers annually is $10,500 for graduate education,  which can dramatically reduce your tuition costs. Even select part-time or contract positions offer these benefits to employees. Talk to your company’s human resources department to discover if tuition benefits are available to you and how to apply for them.

If you work for a smaller company without an HR department, arrange a meeting with your boss to discuss the possibility of tuition assistance. They might have to do more research on the matter, but mention that there are tax benefits available to them if they offer partial tuition reimbursement. Share that tuition programs boost company morale , can increase employee skills directly for the company, and can even save the business money and time with regard to retaining current employees.

7. Student loans

You’re likely familiar with the idea of student loans—federal or private funds that will need to be paid back, with interest, after graduation. Many graduate students use these loans to pay for college costs that aren’t covered by teaching assistant positions, employer tuition reimbursement, or scholarships. 

Graduate students are eligible for direct unsubsidized loans from the U.S. Department of Education , meaning that they don’t have to demonstrate financial need in order to qualify. Graduate students are eligible to borrow up to $20,500 per academic year, provided they fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. Students can fill out the FAFSA as early as Oct. 1 for the following calendar year, but they can also apply for a loan after the semester has started if the need arises. In that case, it’s important to let the Office of Financial Aid know. 

In addition to direct unsubsidized loans, graduate students can apply for a Direct PLUS Loan . The maximum amount of this loan is the total cost of attendance (including living expenses) minus any other financial aid, including scholarships and loans. This amount will vary depending on the program in which a student enrolls. A credit check is required as part of the Direct PLUS Loan application process, but the requirements are less strict than private loans. 

If you do need to take out a student loan, rest assured that you can make payments on your debt while in school, which will drastically alleviate your financial burden upon graduation.

If possible, federal student loans should be favored over private student loans. Federal student loans come with lower interest rates , lower fees, and the option of income-driven repayment, so you aren’t stuck with an excessive monthly payment after graduation.

How to ensure you get financial aid for graduate school

Treat the pursuit of financial aid as your job. Don’t rush your applications or essays, and don’t reuse the same answers for different award submissions. Instead, take your time with each submission, personalizing it to that specific prize or opportunity. The judging committees for graduate scholarships, grants, and assistantships are looking for students who are as passionate about the program as they are.

Here are three tips to increase your odds of earning interest-free graduate aid:

1. Go the extra mile.  

If your scholarship or grant application allows you to answer optional questions or submit extra documents, such as a personal essay, take advantage of the opportunity. A Money article reports, “Students who answer the optional questions on online scholarship matching services tend to match twice as many scholarships as those who answer just the required ones.”

2. Apply all year long.  

Be on the lookout for financial aid opportunities all year long. Some scholarships or internship opportunities open up at the beginning of the year, while others align their deadlines with the school’s fall semester. New opportunities may also open up later in the school year if another student’s assistantship falls through.

3. Stay organized.

With thousands of available financial aid opportunities, it’s impossible to keep track of the details of every scholarship or program. Use a simple planner dedicated only to scholarships, grants, and other aid opportunities. Use the planner’s calendar to track submission deadlines, and make sure to mark down when you should start working on the application. Write down essential points of each aid opportunity, such as which documents to send, essay questions to answer, and reference letters to gather. Then utilize the weekly planning pages to create an action plan that allows you to make progress on your application with the least amount of stress possible.

Why graduate school is financially worth it

Paying for graduate school can be daunting, but it’s possible—and worth it.

At Northeastern, every course, seminar, and lab is designed with your future in mind. The university’s experiential learning model prepares you for the complexities of your field, making your educational investment both practical and profitable.

Additionally, with an advanced degree, you’ll enjoy increased marketability, more available job opportunities, and higher pay . What’s more, you could even be eligible for a promotion within your current organization—meaning your degree might pay dividends sooner than you think.

It’s important to remember, though, that not all graduate programs are made equally. As you prepare to make this investment in your future, take the time to think critically about what it is you hope to achieve in the long run and how you can choose the best program to fit those needs. If you’re highly career focused, for example, you might organize your grad school search in a way that prioritizes certain qualities like experiential learning and networking opportunities. Doing so will help safeguard your investment by setting you on a path directly toward your goals.

Discover how you can fund your Northeastern education with our diverse financial aid options . Connect with a financial aid counselor today for personalized advice, and start your journey toward a debt-free graduate degree.

GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government website .

This article was originally published in January 2019. It has since been updated for accuracy and relevance.

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Tuition, Fees, and Ph.D. Stipends

NOTE: All numbers below require annual approval by the Board of Trustees

Last updated July 2, 2024

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  * - Projected rates for tuition, fees, and stipends are tentative and subject to change.

** - For longer term projections, the tuition remission rate can be assumed to increase 0.7% per year.

*** - Teaching assistant and grader rates are established by the Trinity College of Arts and Sciences.

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• PsyD vs PhD

Fully Funded Doctorate of Psychology (PsyD) Programs

With potential salaries reaching into the six figures, those who have completed Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.) programs can expect to have fulfilling, challenging jobs that provide for a comfortable lifestyle.

But getting the degree, which is a requirement in every state for professional psychologist licensure, can be a tall order. The programs are rigorous and challenging, and paying for the degree can mean taking out loans that can quickly add up to $150,000 or more.

Though they are few and far between, some Psy.D. programs provide full or partial tuition remission for all students admitted to the program. Let’s take a look at those schools as well as other methods of funding a psychology doctorate.

Programs With Full or Partial Funding

Finding Psy.D. programs that offer full or partial funding to all students is quite rare. In fact, there are currently only two examples of institutions where this is the case — Baylor University and Rutgers University.

Baylor University

Baylor, based in Waco, Texas, is the world’s largest Baptist university, and its Clinical Psychology Psy.D. program has been accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA) since 1976.

All students admitted to the Psy.D. program at Baylor receive full funding for up to five years. Psy.D. students still are required to pay student fees for the duration of their education, and this generally ranges from $3,000 to $4,000 per year. Teaching assistant positions are also available for a small number of students, with annual awards averaging out to about $5,000 per year. Baylor’s Psy.D. program is highly selective, with only five to seven students admitted per year.

SEE ALSO:  Baylor University Psy.D. Psychology Review

Rutgers University

The Clinical Psychology Psy.D. at Rutgers, based in Piscataway, New Jersey, includes robust financial support for the limited number of students admitted each year. While some students’ Psy.D. degrees are fully funded through combinations of scholarships and work-study programs, not all students will qualify.

Still, most students in the Psy.D. program will receive at least partial financial aid that will reduce the amount of supplemental loan-based funding they’ll need to complete their degrees. The Psy.D. program at Rutgers earned APA accreditation in 1977.

SEE ALSO:  Rutgers University Psy.D. Psychology Review

Paying for a Psy.D.

According to the most recently available national data published by the APA , the median annual tuition cost for a doctoral psychology program at a private college or university was just under $34,000. Costs were considerably lower at public institutions, with in-state tuition being around $11,000 and out-of-state tuition rising to $24,000 per year.

It’s more common for public colleges and universities to provide full tuition waivers for doctoral students, though it’s quite unusual for Psy.D. programs even at public universities to cover tuition for all Psy.D. candidates. Notably, Rutgers is a public university, and not all of its Psy.D. students receive fully covered tuition.

Graduate and professional education is notoriously expensive in the United States, and few students are able to complete their degrees without incurring some debt. In the APA’s most recent study of psychology graduate debt, about 90% of Psy.D. students graduated with debt. Among those who took out loans to finance their education, the median amount of loan debt for Psy.D. students was about $200,000.

SEE ALSO: Best Accredited PsyD Programs for 2020

Funding Other Psychology Doctorates

For those who want to complete the educational steps necessary to earn state licensure as a clinical psychologist but who want to do so without incurring massive amounts of debt, considering a Ph.D. might be sensible.

A Ph.D. (Doctor of Philosophy) degree will have many of the same academic aspects as Psy.D. programs, with most of the coursework being more or less identical. And Ph.D. students are much more likely to receive funding. In fact, most Clinical Psychology Ph.D. programs include at least partial funding in the form of tuition remission and paid assistantships.

SEE ALSO:   Best Online PsyD Programs

Those considering psychology doctorates in other areas like school psychology or counseling psychology may have a more difficult time getting funding. That’s because one of the main mechanisms for providing funding is the use of paid assistantships. These arrangements are more common in the clinical psychology space than in other focus areas because colleges and universities often use their doctoral clinical psychology programs to staff operational mental health clinics. Often, students’ main source of funding is working in these clinics.

Few psychology doctoral students will finish their educational journey without needing to spend down their savings or incur debt. More than 90% of Psy.D. graduates and about 77% of Ph.D. students in the field will graduate with debt. This is why it’s so important for students to consider all their options and pursue programs where they are likely to receive full or partial funding.

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Graduate Students

Learn about financial aid for Graduate and Professional Students.

Applying for Financial Aid

The Graduate School at Penn State offers over 300 graduate degree programs, including both research and professional master's and doctoral degrees, and more than 200 graduate major fields of study.

Like undergraduate students, any graduate or professional student who needs assistance from the U.S. Department of Education to pay for classes must complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

In almost all cases, graduate and professional students are considered independent students and do not have to provide their parents' tax information on the FAFSA.

Types of aid available

Federal direct unsubsidized loans.

You are automatically considered for Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans when you submit the FAFSA. Eligible students can borrow up to $20,500 per year and up to $138,500 during their career as a graduate student. The graduate debt limit includes Direct Loans received for undergraduate study. To be eligible for Unsubsidized Loans, you must be enrolled at least half-time(5 credits per semester for graduate and medical students, 6 credits per semester for law students). The loan(s) will go into repayment 6 months after you leave school or cease to be enrolled at least half-time. Federal Direct Subsidized Loans are not available for graduate students.

Direct Graduate PLUS Loan

For a Graduate PLUS Loan, you can borrow up to the cost of attendance minus any other financial assistance received. After you apply for a Graduate PLUS Loan, a credit check will be performed. If you have an adverse credit history and are denied the loan, you can obtain an endorser (cosigner) or appeal the denial. To qualify for a Graduate PLUS Loan, you must be enrolled at least half-time (5 credits per semester for graduate and medical students, 6 credits per semester for law students). The loan(s) will go into repayment 6 months after you leave school or cease to be at least half-time.

This need-based program allows you to earn money to help pay for educational expenses.

Opportunities for work are available on campus in a variety of locations. Visit the Employment page for information or the University's Job Opportunities website to begin your search.

Assistantships

The most common form of graduate support, teaching and research assistantships , include a stipend, tuition remission, and a subsidy for medical insurance.

Fellowships

Fellowships are highly prestigious financial support packages that typically include a stipend, tuition remission, and a subsidy for medical insurance. They derive from University or outside awards. Unlike assistantships, there are not required activities for a certain number of weekly hours or weeks per semester. Fellowship stipends may have different tax implications for recipients; these differences are outlined by the US Internal Revenue Service Tax Topic 421 and in Publication 970 available at http://www.irs.gov . 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 to support selected students with stipends, tuition grants-in-aid, and often include a subsidy for medical insurance. For more information on assistantships, fellowships and traineeships, please visit the graduate school website .

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Paying students (graduate and undergraduate).

Students can accept employment at Stanford to meet academic year earning expectations for financial aid packages and/or to perform services related to their course of graduate study. This overview outlines information about paying student workers and various methods of funding graduate students.

In rare occasions, if a student (not employed by Stanford) participates or contributes to a special Stanford activity or event, they may be paid through an  honorarium .

Roles and Responsibilities

Faculty members often supervise student employees on hourly-paid jobs and graduate students on assistantships and fellowships. Administrators within the departments are responsible for setting up employee records and pay instructions with Payroll, and assisting faculty with their supervisory tasks, such as approving rates of pay and, in the case of hourly employees, approving hours worked. Administrators are responsible for entering all graduate payments in the Graduate Financial Support (GFS) system.

Paying Student Workers

When undergraduate or graduate students are performing a service for Stanford, treat them as employees with the requisite paperwork and, if they are working in an hourly position, keep an accurate record of hours worked.

Hourly-Paid Students

Students working in hourly-paid positions are hired as employees, with job records in PeopleSoft.

• For PeopleSoft entry deadlines for each pay period, refer to Resource: Payroll Schedules and Deadlines .
• For employment guidelines, including pay scales and work-hour limitations, refer to Administrative Guide Policy 10.1.1: Undergraduate Student Employment on Campus  and Administrative Guide Policy 10.2.2: Graduate Student Hourly Employment .
• To enroll in direct deposit, refer to How to: Enroll/Update/Cancel Direct Deposit .

Hourly-paid students must record actual hours worked in Axess Timecard each pay period. Refer to Topic Overview: Time and Leave Reporting  for more information.

I-9 Collection and Reverification

To comply with U.S. law, Stanford administrators must verify the eligibility for employment for all new employees, including student employees. However, students who are continuously enrolled, except during normal school break periods, do not need to submit a new I-9 Form when moving between jobs. They need to present renewal documents before current documents expire to avoid any disruptions in pay. Refer to How to: Verify Employment Eligibility (I-9)  for more information.

Taxation of Student Pay

Student-employee pay is subject to federal and state income tax withholdings and is reported on Form W-2. Work performed in California is subject to withholding and reporting to California, regardless of residency status of the student. Registered degree-seeking students do not pay FICA (Social Security and Medicare) taxes or California Voluntary Disability Insurance for the quarters that they are enrolled in classes.

Students can refer to the Student Financial Services Taxes websites for information on tax considerations for:

• U.S. Citizen and Resident non-U.S. Citizen Students
• Non-Resident non-U.S. Citizen Students

Paying Non-Registered Students

Students who are working, but are not enrolled for a given quarter, are treated as temporary employees. Terminate the student job record, and rehire the student as a temporary employee. The wages paid during this period are subject to FICA (Social Security and Medicare) taxes and California Voluntary Disability Insurance. Refer to Termination Process (PeopleSoft HRMS Job Aids) for more information.

Taxation of Student Awards

Award payments to U.S. citizens, permanent residents and residents for tax purposes are taxable to the recipient, but not reported by Stanford on a tax document. Stanford does not withhold tax from these payments. Recipients may need to make quarterly tax payments to the IRS and State of California using Form 1040-ES  at the IRS website and 540-ES at the State of California Franchise Tax Board website. A letter summarizing payments greater than $600 is mailed to the recipient each January for year-end tax reporting.

Scholarships and fellowships that qualify under Section 117 of the Internal Revenue Code are excludable from the recipient’s gross income. To qualify for the Section 117 exclusion:

• An award must be a qualified scholarship (the award is only applicable to tuition and mandatory fees).
• The recipient must be a candidate for a degree.
• The award must be for the purpose of studying or conducting research at an educational organization.

Refer to the IRS discussion of these exclusions . 

Award payments to nonresidents of the U.S. are subject to a 30% federal tax withholding and are reported on Tax Form 1042-S . Form 1042-S is mailed annually by March 15.

Federal Work Study

Students who are awarded Federal Work Study (FWS) funds may use these funds to seek employment at Stanford. For graduate students, FWS positions are sometimes structured in the form of a research or teaching assistantship with a corresponding tuition allowance.

FWS is funded primarily by the federal government with matching contributions from Stanford, and, for off-campus employment in Community Service, the hiring organization.

Upon the hiring of a work-study student, the department manager must complete the FWS Authorization Request to confirm the employment and to receive instructions on the Oracle Labor Distribution allocation for the student. The student is responsible for monitoring hour limits. Additional hours worked are funded by the hiring department. Refer to Financial Aid Federal Work Study for more information.

Since FWS jobs are structured in different ways by the various departments and schools, students should contact their academic department or school office for information about FWS opportunities. Undergraduate students interested in Community Service FWS should contact the Haas Center for Public Service . All students who wish to receive FWS funding must file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid . FWS awards are based on computed financial need and available funds. Additional information may be available from the Financial Aid Office .

SU-21 Fellowship/Award Form

The SU-21 Fellowship/Award Form  is used to request an award check  to be presented during a ceremony to a Stanford graduate student and for reimbursement for conference and training fees, travel expenses, and purchases of  computers, books and supplies for medical residents and clinical fellows (SHC or LPCH employees).

The SU-21 Form is also used to request fellowship payments (subsistence payments and travel grants) for visitors. Refer to How to: Request Subsistence Payment and Travel Grant for Visitors .

The SU-21 Form is not for use for payment for services, nor for fellowship payments to Stanford students.

Graduate Assistantships

Graduate student assistantships enable students to earn compensation for their research or teaching activities while continuing their academic and professional development. Graduate assistantships are controlled and/or administered by academic departments. The department administrators decide who receives these forms of financial support, and at what level a graduate student is supported. 

Assistantship salaries are set up by assigned administrative personnel within schools and departments, and paid through (Graduate Financial Support) GFS. Faculty who supervise graduate students on assistantships are assigned to approve quarterly payments for their students.

For GFS entry deadlines for each pay period, administrators can refer to Resource: Payroll Schedules and Deadlines . For policy guidelines, including pay scales and work-hour limitations, refer to the GFS Policy Manual .

Graduate students may opt to have tuition and fees deducted from their pay. Refer to Paying Tuition and Other Fees via Payroll Deduction on the Student Financial Services website for more information.

Graduate assistantships are paid on the following standard appointment periods:

• Autumn Quarter: Oct. 1 - Dec. 31
• Winter Quarter: Jan. 1 - March 31
• Spring Quarter: April 1 - June 30
• Summer Quarter: July 1 - Sept. 30

Graduate Financial Aid

Graduate financial aid is administered by Stanford University’s Financial Aid Office, the Schools of Medicine Financial Aid Office, the Law School Financial Aid Office and the Graduate School of Business Financial Aid Office. Refer to the Financial Aid Offices for links to specific aid offices.

Federal and non-federal student loans are available to graduate students enrolled at least half-time in a degree program. Student loans are administered by the various Financial Aid Offices on campus. To apply for federal student loans, students need to file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid . Students should contact their Financial Aid Office for information and application instructions.

Emergency Grant-in-Aid Funds

Emergency Grant-in-Aid Funds assist graduate students who experience a financial emergency or an unanticipated expense (e.g., medical, dental or legal), causing financial hardship. This program is designed to assist those who cannot reasonably resolve their financial difficulty through fellowships or loans. For more detailed information and the application procedures, refer to the Emergency Grant-In-Aid (PDF) instructions and application form .

Graduate Fellowships

Graduate fellowships from Stanford-based funds generally are controlled by the school and administered by the university department. The department administrators determine the requirements and restrictions for fellowships, as well as the level of support given, ranging from funds to cover partial tuition to full tuition and a living stipend.

Processing Fellowship Support in GFS

Fellowship tuition and stipend payments are entered in the GFS by department personnel and are processed by the Student Financial Services Department. Fellowship tuition support is credited against tuition charges on the student’s university bill. Stipends are not paid in cash, nor are they convertible to cash. The default for disbursement of stipends is “standard charges,” i.e., after other university charges, such as room and board, have been deducted, the remaining fellowship stipend is paid as a refund check to the student. If students prefer to receive the fellowship check for the entire amount and pay the other charges with personal funds, the students must request their home department to issue the stipend as a "check only - no deductions" (use "Stipend" charge priority). Refer to the Graduate Financial Support Policy Manual  for more information on Fellowships.

Credit Balances

Credit balances on student accounts may result from aid awards that exceed charges and/or aid awards intended to be disbursed entirely to the student (not for the payment of tuition or fee charges). Some student aid has restrictions placed on it by the donor or sponsor that preclude the aid from paying specific types of charges. Therefore, students may receive credit balance checks that include excess aid and/or stipend. Also, students who have unpaid charges on their account that aid is not eligible to pay, may receive a credit balance check from their student account. To prevent this, refer to the Financial Aid and Student Permissions section on the University Bill Payment Methods .

Refund/Stipend Checks

Refund/ Stipend checks distributed from student accounts are sent via Direct Deposit . Students are strongly encouraged to use Direct Deposit, because it is the fastest way for students to receive their funds, and it ensures receipt of funds regardless of address changes.

For students who are not enrolled in Direct Deposit, live checks are mailed by the Student Financial Services Office directly to the mailing address on file in Axess . Live checks are mailed on the next business day after they are printed. 

Students may review refund/stipend disbursement data in Axess by selecting View Refund Stipend Check  the Finances drop-down menu in the Student tab.

Leaves of Absence After Fellowships Are Paid

If students withdraw during a quarter, the department/school administrators determine whether a prorated amount of stipend must be repaid. To have the charges reduced, and thus be able to recapture any non-applicable tuition from the fellowship, students should file a request for a Leave of Absence as soon as they know it will be needed.

External Fellowships Paid Directly to Students

In some cases, an external agency may award a fellowship directly to students, and the funding is not processed in any way through Stanford. In this case, the students are billed for tuition and fees in the same manner as other students, and they pay those expenses directly. The students’ home department should enter this support in GFS as “Info Only” to allow coordination of all aid the students may receive.

Graduate students with a fellowship award paid directly to them may be eligible for a Cardinal Care health insurance subsidy. Entering an “Info Only” aid line in GFS will trigger the subsidy, if appropriate.

Department administrators should keep a copy of appropriate documentation defining such fellowship awards before making an “Info Only” entry in GFS.

See the Graduate Financial Support Policy Manual  for more information on Fellowships.

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• VILLANOVA SCHOOL OF BUSINESS /
• Academic Programs /
• Executive Education /
• Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning

GENERATIVE AI AND AI/ML DIGITAL UPSKILLING

Custom Master Class

Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) are rapidly transforming the business landscape. For business leaders, understanding these technologies is vital for harnessing their potential and addressing the challenges they bring. This master class is designed to help you maximize the value of Gen AI and AI/ML investments for your organization.​​

This program will guide you in identifying promising Gen AI and AI/ML opportunities, customizing AI/ML solutions to fit your unique business needs, and measuring the success of your initiatives. By the end of this course, you will have a detailed plan for an AI-driven business strategy, including its strategic rationale, implementation roadmap, change management strategy, and success metrics.​

Take the next step in your AI and digital transformation journey and develop the skills to lead in the age of Gen AI and AI/ML. As a business leader, your role is crucial in shaping your organization's future in this digital era. This master class will empower you to take charge and drive your organization toward success.

PROGRAM TOPICS

Understanding AI and Gen AI

Exploring machine learning, natural language processing, predictive AI, generative AI, and their applications.

Developing AI/ML Skills

Building practical skills for applying AI/ML in various business scenarios and functions.

Competitive Analysis

Recognizing and analyzing the use of AI/ML and Gen AI across the competitive landscape.

AI-Powered Enterprises

Examining the characteristics and best practices of successful AI-driven organizations.

Fostering an AI/ML Culture

Encouraging AI/ML and Gen AI thinking within teams and across the organization to drive innovation.

Cross-functional Teams

Forming and managing teams for AI/ML ideation, development, and implementation.

Opportunity Identification

Assessing and prioritizing high-value AI/ML opportunities within a business context.

Business Case Development

Preparing robust business cases to justify AI/ML investments and initiatives.

Customizing AI/ML Solutions

Tailoring AI/ML technologies and solutions to address unique business needs and challenges.

Data Preparation for AI/ML

Organizing and structuring data to ensure meaningful and actionable AI/ML outcomes.

Enterprise Patterns in AI/ML

Leveraging proven enterprise patterns to deploy scalable and effective AI/ML solutions.

ROI Measurement of AI/ML

Evaluating the return on investment for AI/ML projects to ensure value creation.

WHO SHOULD PARTICIPATE

This program is ideal for executives, senior managers, and high-potential professionals in any functional area or industry seeking to understand AI/ML opportunities. The program will be customized to focus on the unique opportunities for your functional area or organization and how to integrate artificial intelligence into your business strategies and operations.

CUSTOMIZING YOUR PROGRAM

We are deeply committed to creating meaningful value for your organization through a tailored AI/ML program. Our process includes:

We begin by listening to you about your organization, your learners, your challenges, and your vision. We seek to carefully understand your goals.  

Our team will collaborate with you on designing a curriculum, timeline, and budget that fit your needs. Options include in-person, online, or blended formats, delivered onsite at your organization or at our executive conference center.   

Our faculty will build a tailored learning experience through an iterative development process that is bolstered by valuable insights from you.  

These programs feature interactive lectures, case studies, innovative simulations, group exercises, or action learning projects to foster rich learning experiences.   

Our team will measure and maximize your organization’s return on investment through an evaluative process to assess the outcomes of your program.   

FACULTY SPOTLIGHT

Arup Das is a distinguished expert in Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning, with a robust background in applied AI and a significant footprint in the generative AI industry. Currently serving as the Head of AI & Gen AI Industry Specialists at UiPath, Arup leads initiatives that drive AI and generative AI-based document and communication automation across various sectors, including financial services, healthcare, manufacturing, and the public sector. His work is focused on enhancing revenue growth, operational efficiency, and agility for large enterprises.

With over two decades of experience in technology leadership roles, Arup has left an indelible mark on the industry. Arup has been instrumental in developing AI and data-driven solutions, spearheading digital transformations, and building high-performing AI/ML teams. He has also successfully led multiple venture capital raises and exits, a testament to his strategic acumen. His professional journey includes significant stints at Avenue One, Compass, and Machine Analytics, where he developed low-code AI platforms and advanced natural language processing (NLP) solutions, further solidifying his reputation as a trailblazer in the field. Arup's expertise extends to digital strategy, product management, process engineering, and the development of modern data infrastructures, making him a well-rounded and highly sought-after consultant.

Arup is also an esteemed educator, holding a position as Professor of Applied AI & Generative AI at the Villanova School of Business. He is committed to nurturing the next generation of digital business leaders and AI practitioners, and his courses span various topics including AI ethics, business applications of AI/ML, and advanced NLP techniques. Arup has received several honors, including the Villanova University Thought Leader of the Year award. In addition to his academic roles, Arup is an accomplished author with upcoming books on generative AI and AI ethics.  

Arup holds an MBA from Cornell University, a Master's in Analytics from Villanova University, and a Master's in Computer Engineering from Stony Brook University.

Arup's passion for AI and technology, combined with his strategic vision and operational expertise, positions him as a leading voice in the AI industry. His dedication to solving complex business problems and driving innovation through AI is a testament to his ability to navigate the ever-evolving landscape of technology, inspiring confidence in his peers and collaborators.

EXECUTIVE INSIGHTS

Gain perspective on top management and leadership topics shared by VSB expert faculty in these episodes of the Inspiring Minds podcast.

TIMES UP FOR TOXIC WORKPLACES MANUELA PRIESEMUTH, PhD

Coping with the ride of incivility dean emeritus joyce e. a. russell, phd, closing the gender pay gap equitably david anderson, phd, "understanding modern work teams" narda quigley, phd.

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You need to give your biometrics

In most cases, you now need to give your fingerprints and photo (biometrics) after you apply. Find out where biometrics fits in the application process .

Biometrics and the application process

We refer to your fingerprints and photo as biometrics. We collect biometrics for most applications. Find out what happens from when you submit your application to when you get to Canada and where biometrics fits in the process.

1. Apply for your visitor visa, study permit or work permit

If you want to visit, study or work in Canada, make sure you’re eligible to apply. Use our application guides to help fill out your application properly, then submit your application.

Avoid processing delays by sending us a complete application .

2. Get your fingerprints and photo taken

If you’re between 14 and 79 years old, you probably need to give your fingerprints and photo (biometrics).You only need to give your biometrics once every 10 years to make repeat trips to Canada easier.

• You must pay the  biometrics fee   when you submit your application.  Otherwise you may experience delays.
• Get this done  as soon as you get the letter  from us that tells you to give biometrics.
• You have  30 days  to do this from the date on the letter.

Find out who needs to give , how to give , and  where to give your biometrics .

3. We process your application

After we get your biometrics, we start processing your application. See how long it takes to process your application.

If we need more information from you, we’ll contact you.

4. We make a decision on your application

When we finish reviewing your application, we let you know if you’re approved to come to Canada. If you are, we issue your documents.

If your application is refused, we send you a letter that tells you why.

5. You travel to Canada (if you’re approved)

Make sure you travel with the documents we gave you. This includes travel documents like a visitor visa, study or work permits or an eTA (electronically linked to your passport).

Airline staff and border service officers at ports of entry will ask to see your travel documents. If you don’t have them, you may not be able to board your flight to Canada.

Make sure children under 18 travel with the right documents .

6. We check your identity when you arrive in Canada

When you arrive, we check your identity to make sure that you are the same person who was approved to travel to Canada. We may use your biometrics to do this.

If we can’t verify your identity, you may be detained by a border services officer. These officers help protect the health and safety of Canadians.

If the officer determines that you’re not admissible to Canada, you won’t be allowed to enter Canada. If you came by air, you’ll have to take a return flight to where you came from.

7. You’re allowed to enter Canada

If you pass the identity check and meet the entry requirements , the border services officer stamps your passport and lets you know how long you can stay in Canada. You’re normally allowed to stay in Canada for up to six months.

Children under 18 must meet the same entry requirements as adults. The border services officer may ask minor children to show other documents depending on whether the child is travelling alone or with someone.

Basic entry requirements

You must meet some basic requirements to enter Canada. You must:

• have a valid travel document, like a passport
• be in good health
• have no criminal or immigration-related convictions
• convince an immigration officer that you have ties—such as a job, home, financial assets or family—that will take you back to your home country
• convince an immigration officer that you will leave Canada at the end of your visit
• The amount of money you will need depends on how long you will stay and if you will stay in a hotel, or with friends or relatives.

Some people are not admissible to Canada, which means they are not allowed to enter the country. You can be inadmissible for several reasons, including being involved in:

• criminal activity
• human rights violations
• organized crime

You can also be inadmissible for security, health or financial reasons.

Find out more about inadmissibility .

Biometrics fee

• Individual  applicant: CAD $85
• Families applying at the same time : maximum total fee of CAD $170
• Groups of 3 or more performing artists and their staff  who apply for work permits at the same time: maximum total fee of $CAD 255

How to apply

How to apply for a post-graduation work permit.

You can apply for a post-graduation work permit (PGWP) from inside Canada or from another country, as long as you’re eligible.

New rules about where to apply for a PGWP

As of June 21,2024, you can no longer apply for a PGWP at a port of entry (airport, land or marine border) when entering Canada.

Applying after you graduate

You have up to 180 days after you graduate to apply for a PGWP.

Your study permit must be valid (not expired) at the time you submit your application in order for you to be eligible to work in Canada while awaiting a decision on your PGWP application.

Once you apply for your PGWP with a valid study permit, and, if you were eligible to work off campus during your studies, you can work while we process your PGWP application. We will send you a letter to confirm this. This letter can be used as proof of your authorization to work.

When you apply, you must confirm all of the following:

• that you attended and completed your program
• the name of your program
• the length of your program

You can confirm these by submitting any of the following:

• your degree or diploma
• your transcript
• an official letter of completion of studies from your school

If your study permit will expire before you get your marks, you have 2 options. You can either

• apply for a visitor record to stay in Canada longer, or
• leave Canada and apply for your PGWP

If your study permit expires before you apply

If you don’t change your status to visitor and your study permit expires, you have up to 90 days after your study permit expires to apply for a PGWP and restore your status as a student.

To restore your status as a student, you must

• apply online for your PGWP and pay the correct fee ($255), and
• Because of system limitations, you must pay the fees to restore your status as a student online and attach a copy of the receipt to your PGWP online application. You don’t need to make a separate application to restore your status as a student.

You can’t work until your study permit and work permit have been approved. Find out if you meet the other requirements to work while we process your application .

If you don’t apply within 90 days, or if 90 days have already passed, you must leave Canada.

Your study permit must be valid (not expired) at the time you submit your application to be eligible to work in Canada while awaiting a decision on your PGWP application.

Get your documents ready

Before you can apply for a PGWP, you need one of the following to prove you’ve completed your studies:

• a degree or diploma
• an official letter from your school
• an official transcript, or a copy of your transcript from your school’s website

We may request other documents once we receive your application.

How you can apply for a PGWP depends on where you’re applying from. In most cases, you must apply online.

To work in a field that requires a medical exam

If you want to work in a field that requires a medical exam , you can get an upfront medical exam (no more than 90 days before you apply). With valid results from a medical exam on your file, your PGWP won’t have a condition that restricts the types of jobs you may work in.

If you need to extend your PGWP or change its conditions

You must apply on paper if you’re extending or changing the conditions of your PGWP. You can only extend your PGWP if your passport expired before your PGWP’s validity period.

This would be indicated in a note on your initial PGWP.

You may need to change the conditions on your PGWP if you need to provide an additional document, like a medical exam, after you already applied.

There may be restrictions on your PGWP because you didn’t have a  medical exam  before you came to Canada. These restrictions prevent you from working in

• workers in health care settings
• clinical laboratory workers
• patient attendants in nursing and geriatric homes
• medical students admitted to Canada to attend university
• medical electives and physicians on short-term locums
• workers in primary or secondary school settings or workers in child care settings
• workers who give in-home care to children, the elderly or people with disabilities
• day nursery employees
• other similar jobs
• jobs in agriculture, if you’ve visited or lived in 1 of  these countries  for more than 6 months during the past year

You must get a medical exam within 90 days of your arrival. You will need a chest X-ray and blood test.

You may need to pay a fee for this exam.

Once you get your medical exam results, you can ask to have these restrictions removed. To do this, you must follow the instructions below to  apply for an open work permit in Canada . Then, we can issue you a new work permit without job restrictions.

How applying online helps you

• There are no courier fees or mail delivery time—we get your application instantly.
• Your application may be processed more quickly.
• It helps you make sure your  application is complete  before you submit it.
• You can quickly submit more documents online (if we ask you to).
• You get updates on the status of your application directly in your online account.
• You can no longer apply for a PGWP at a POE when entering Canada.

Get the instructions

Answer a few questions to get your instructions.

Where are you applying from?

How do you want to apply?

• Inside Canada

You need to enable Javascript to be able to use the tool.

Apply online from outside Canada

Step 1: make sure you have what you need.

To apply online, you’ll need:

• a scanner or camera to create electronic copies of your documents, and
• a valid credit or debit card.

Step 2: Read the instruction guide

Even if you apply online, you should read the instruction guide before you complete your application. The guide will explain how to complete each field on the form.

Step 3: Prepare your answers for the online tool

Before you can upload your forms, you must answer some questions. We use your answers to create a personalized document checklist for you.

Step 4: Know the fees you have to pay

In most cases, your fees will include:

• processing fees for you and anyone you include on your application

We’ll ask you to pay your fees at the end of your application. Make sure you pay both the open work permit holder fee and the work permit fee.

Third-party fees

Depending on your situation, you may need to pay third parties for:

• medical exams
• police certificates
• services at a Visa Application Centre, if you use one.

If you need to use any of these services, you’ll pay these fees directly to the third party.

In most cases, you should pay a biometrics fee when you submit your application . Otherwise you may experience delays. The biometrics fee covers the cost of collecting fingerprints and a digital photo. Find out if you need to give your biometrics .

Step 5: Create your online account or sign in

You need an account to apply online. You can use your account to:

• pay your fees
• submit your application
• check your status

Apply on paper from outside Canada

Step 1: get the application package.

The application package includes an instruction guide and all the forms you need.

Read the instruction guide before you complete your application . We won’t refund your application fee, so make sure you’re eligible for a PGWP before you apply.

Get the application package .

Step 2: Complete your application and attach your documents

Make sure you include all the documents we ask for. Your application may be delayed if information or documents are missing. The document checklist in the application package lists all the documents to include.

Answer all questions carefully, completely and truthfully.

• language testing

Step 3: Pay your applications fees

You’ll need to pay your fees online before you submit your application. Make sure you pay both the open work permit holder fee and the work permit fee. To do this:

• Go to pay your fees online .
• Select Temporary Residence for a list of fee options.
• Select both the work permit fee and the open work permit holder fee.
• Follow the instructions to complete your payment. Save a copy of your receipt to your computer.
• Print and attach a copy of your receipt to your completed application.

Our instruction guide can help you understand which fees apply to you and show you how to pay them.

In most cases, you should pay a biometrics fee when you pay your application fees . If you don’t, you may experience delays. The biometrics fee covers the cost of collecting fingerprints and a digital photo. Find out if you need to give your biometrics .

Step 4: Submit your application

Submit your completed application to the address given in the application package. Make sure you include the fee receipt and all the necessary documents.

Apply online from inside Canada

In most cases, your fees will include processing fees for you and anyone you include on your application.

If you can’t apply online

You can submit a paper application if either:

• you can’t apply online because of a disability
• there’s a problem with the online application

What to do if you can’t apply online

Credit cards and prepaid cards

We accept credit cards and prepaid cards from:

• MasterCard ® ,
• American Express ® , and

If you use a prepaid credit card, keep it for at least 18 months after you pay to make refunds easier.

We also accept all Visa Debit cards.

The card you use does not have to be in your name. The cardholder’s name will appear on the receipt but it does not need to match your application.

Debit cards

• be from a Canadian bank using INTERAC ® Online , and
• be registered for online banking through your bank’s website.

We also accept all Visa Debit cards. If your card has the Visa Debit logo on it, alone or with the INTERAC ® Online logo, select Visa Debit as your payment method.

Some people applying for a post-graduation work permit (PGWP) may have trouble using the online application. For example, if you’re applying to:

• extend your PGWP or
• change the condition on your PGWP

In these cases, you may need to apply on paper.

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Stanford University School of Medicine blog

Paying back her people: New doctor has plans to return to her African village

Whether she establishes an army of community health workers or helps get a medical complex built -- both if she can do it -- Bongeka Zuma, MD, is determined to provide better care for people in her tiny rural hometown of Nkwezela, South Africa.

"There is no world in which I don't help my people," said the recent graduate of the Stanford School of Medicine. "So many have helped me, I have a responsibility to use my skills to benefit them."

While medical care that measures up to U.S. standards is available in South Africa's largest cities, care in the country's rural areas is deficient, Zuma said. The nearest hospital to Nkwezela, population about 2,500, is an hour's drive, and although there are small medical clinics in town, they are understaffed and lack supplies. In a region where one-third of the residents live off less than $70 per month and life expectancy is 60, few people make annual visits to primary care doctors, she said.

As a result, many die from complications of chronic conditions such as hypertension and diabetes -- "diseases people shouldn't be dying of," Zuma said. "A lot of people don't realize they have a condition until it's too late. They go to the hospital only for extreme cases."

Zuma recently began her internal medicine residency at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. The program offers rotations in Africa, so Zuma is planning to learn more about health care on her home continent.

"I'm humbled by how much you need to know to provide care when you don't have all the resources at your disposal," she said.

An educational opportunity

Zuma and her five siblings grew up in a home without running water -- typical for most residents of Nkwezela, which lies a two-hour drive south of Durban, on the country's eastern edge.

As South Africans who were Black and growing up under apartheid, her parents received an inferior education, Zuma said. So the couple encouraged their children to perform well in school, forcing them to attend class even when it rained and the dirt roads turned to mud. Many kids would stay home on those days, Zuma said. But her father bought them all rain boots -- "They weren't pretty," she lamented -- so they would have no excuse.

From farmworker to doctor: A bold dream is reuniting her with her Indigenous community

Read the story of Gianna Nino-Tapias here

"To miss school, we'd have to be sick enough to be in a hospital," she said.

When the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls, a boarding school for disadvantaged South African students, was slated to open near Johannesburg, the principal of her school in Nkwezela suggested Zuma apply; she did and was accepted to the program's very first class.

"It was amazing," she said of her five years at the academy. "Where I came from, we didn't have a flush toilet or electricity. And now I had my own room. I had my own chair and desk and books; things like pens and highlighters. I had a laptop!"

After Zuma and other students toured colleges in the United States, she chose to attend Spelman College in Atlanta and focus on a career in medicine. A lifelong interest in science combined with the experience of caring for a sister with cerebral palsy pointed her down that path.

After Spelman, she earned a master's in medical anthropology at Oxford University. Then she was accepted into the Stanford School of Medicine, where she flourished. "I really loved how flexible the curriculum was," she said. "The way the system is set up emphasizes inclusivity, and people come from diverse environments."

Stanford Medicine appealed to her because of her aspirations beyond caring for patients: "At Stanford you can aspire to be more than a doctor, do more with your medical education," she said.

Help for the homeland

Now, as Zuma begins her residency, she thinks about how to help her homeland. Though well-trained in modern medicine techniques, she's not sure how effective she can be caring for patients in resource-limited rural South Africa as a solo doctor. So, she's thinking about creating collaborations.

"There are a number of ways to contribute that don't involve being in the clinic," she said. "I have a dream of building a comprehensive medical complex in my community, of finding organizations and foundations that could build a good medical complex."

I have a dream of building a comprehensive medical complex in my community, of finding organizations and foundations that could build a good medical complex. Bongeka Zuma

She also envisions using traditional healers to bridge the gap between Zulu-speaking patients with little medical knowledge and English-speaking white and Indian doctors.

"The traditional healers have a lot of trust, and they understand the people in the community," Zuma said. "They could be that link between Western medicine and the local residents." Acting as community health workers, they could educate patients on managing chronic conditions and guide them in navigating diagnostic care such as blood tests or imaging.

"Right now, these two groups aren't working together," she said. "There's a need for people to understand both systems."

However she manages it, her goal is for the people of Nkwezela to have access to the kind of medical care she learned to provide at the Stanford School of Medicine.

"I hope and dream that my people will be able to experience that kind of medicine eventually," she said.

Photo: Steve Fisch

Like stories like this?

Read the We Are Stanford Med stories  here ; and watch the video series  here . (Sample below)

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