Graduate Assistantships
For most students in the doctoral program, international and domestic, the primary source of on-campus support are graduate assistantships. Assistantships include one of the following: working as a research assistant on an on-going research project, teaching a course, supervising prospective teachers, and/or working on a department-sponsored project. Included in the assistantships is a salary and tuition credit (covering a maximum of 9 credits of coursework per semester that the student is employed and medical benefits).
Assistantship stipends depend on the level of assistantship, which is based on prior academic background, advancement in the program, and semesters of experience in a related assistantship. For each quarter-time, the assistantship holder is required to provide an average of 10 hours per week over the course of the 18-week pay period. Continuation of assistantships depends on a student’s record of fulfilling his/her assistantship obligations (indicated by faculty review) as well as on the student’s satisfactory academic progress.
In addition to the stipend, all graduate assistants receive a waiver of nine credits of tuition per semester in which the student holds an assistantship, a waiver of the out-of-state portion of tuition for any additional credits taken during the year (including summer), and enrollment in the university’s graduate student medical plan.
International teaching assistants must satisfy a specific English proficiency requirement, the details of which can be reviewed online at the Teaching Assistants Program website
To apply for an assistantship, please us the Graduate Assistantship Application Form.
Recruiting Fellowship Awards
The MSU Graduate School and the College of Education offer a variety of multi-year recruiting fellowships for incoming doctoral students. To be considered for these fellowships, students must complete their application by December 1 of the year preceding enrollment. Entering students to the doctoral program in Curriculum, Instruction, and Teacher Education who have compled their application by the December 1 deadline are automatically considered for all of the fellowships for which they are eligible; there are no additional procedures or forms applicants need to complete.
Curriculum, Instruction, and Teacher Education students are eligible for a variety of university and college multi-year awards. The College of Education graduate financial support website outlines these awards, which are typically made in February and March.
MSU Fellowship Program
This program, funded jointly by the Graduate School and the college, will support outstanding students by providing assistantships and fellowships totaling $24,000 annually for five years plus health insurance. In addition, tuition and related fees will be waived within some limits.
Doctoral students receive five years of support. The first and fifth years are funded by the Graduate School, with no teaching or research service required of the student. During the second, third, and fourth years of fellowship support, students receive departmental assistantships that may require them to assist in research and/or teaching.
Recipients must study full time, maintain strong academic performance, and make normal progress toward their degree during the period of their award. Newly admitted doctoral students are automatically considered for this award.
Dean’s Scholars Program
These four-year awards combine a $7,000 annual fellowship with a half-time graduate assistantship. The package can exceed $20,000 per year plus tuition and medical benefits. The awards are made to new students who show exceptional aptitude for doctoral study in education and keen interest in addressing the problems of teaching and learning through scholarly work. Recipients must study full time during the period of their award. Newly admitted doctoral students are automatically considered for the award.
Erickson Research Fellowship Program
These four-year awards combine an annual fellowship with a graduate assistantship, which provides approximately $14,000 plus fringe benefits (tuition waiver and medical insurance) per year to each recipient. The awards are made to entering doctoral students who demonstrate a strong preparation for and aspiration toward a career in educational research. Recipients must study full-time during the period of their award and make good progress toward their degrees. Recipients may also seek additional teaching or research assistantships. Newly admitted doctoral students are automatically considered for this award.
University and College Recruiting Fellowships
These one-year fellowships, awarded to promising new doctoral students, provide $3,000-$5,000. Recipients must study full time during the period of their award. Newly admitted doctoral students are automatically considered for this award.
For more information on the above fellowships and awards, please visit the college of education graduate fellowship page.
Continuing Fellowship Awards
The MSU Graduate School, the College of Education, the Department of Teacher Education, and external agencies all offer various forms of support for graduate students.
Summer Research Fellowships
The college funds about a dozen doctoral students during the summer, providing $6,000 to support their research and scholarly development. In 2011, the Department of Teacher Education provided six additional Summer Research Felloships to Curriculum, Instruction, and Teacher Education students. Applications for these competitive fellowships are submitted in late autumn.
Dissertation Completion Fellowships
The Graduate School and the college support about a dozen students each year, providing a $6,000 fellowship that allows them to devote considerable time to completing their dissertations. In 2011, the Department of Teacher Education provided four additional Summer Research Fellowships to Curriculum, Instruction, and Teacher Education students. Applications for these competitive fellowships are submitted in late autumn.
Travel/Professional Development Fellowships
Doctoral students may request support for travel to national or international conferences in which they present the results of scholarly research. Such funda are available mostly from the Department of Teacher Education but also from the Graduate School and other College of Education. In 2011, the Department of Teacher Education provided each Curriculum, Instruction, and Teacher Education student traveling to professional conferences up to $1,300 of support. Travel/professional Development Fellowships are provided, as needed, on a recurring basis.
Research Enhancement Fellowships
These small fellowships are designed to support auxiliary expenses directly related to students’ research activies. Provided by the Graduate School, College and Department, such fellowships help fund, for example, students’ travel to a remote research location and/or purchase research-related equipment. Applications for these competitive fellowships are submitted early in the spring semester.
Outreach Fellowships
Fellowships are designed to support doctoral students’ educational outreach initiatives that exemplify and enhanced the university’s outreach mission into the community. Applications for these competitive fellowships are submitted early in the spring semester.
Emergency Fellowship funds
These funds are available from the Graduate School for unsusual or unforeseen emergency expenses. Funds are provided on a one-time only basis and are contingent upon eligibility and available funds. Emergency funds may also be obtained under similar criteria from the Department of Teacher Education.
Further information of fellowships available to doctoral students can be found in the Graduate School Funding section
Tuition and Fees
MSU Controller’s Office maintains an up-to-date website that outlines all tuition and fee schedules for the university.