Ph.D. students are not admitted to the Biology graduate program without financial support in the form of Graduate Teaching Assistantships (GTAs), funded by the Department, or Graduate Research Assistantships (GRAs), funded by grants to individual faculty members. Assistantships are awarded on a competitive basis. Generally there are more assistantships available for the fall semester than the spring semester. Please see the How to Apply webpage for target application dates.

All Ph.D. students enrolled full-time and receiving an assistantship are eligible for in-state tuition regardless of residence. Students also receive STEM fellowships which provide funds to offset 80% of tuition and fees. The Graduate Dean awards small fellowships to outstanding new students.

Beginning with the Fall 2010 semester, the Biology Department is offering a limited number of top prospective Ph.D. students enhanced GTAs that are accompanied by a scholarship that pays 100% of tuition and fees during the fall and spring semesters. Please see Enhanced GTA Criteria for details for Fall 2010.

Also see the Biology Graduate Handbook for more information.