Fellowships and Financial Support

tudents admitted to the Ph.D. program receive full tuition waivers (approximately thirty four thousand dollars for 2007-08), in addition to the guarantee of stipend support for a minimum of five years. Stipends currently average almost sixteen thousand dollars per year. First-year students receive $13,000 as outright fellowship support, and receive a further $2,000 for taking part in a pedagogy workshop during the summer after their first year. Support for students in years two through four is tied to their work as teaching assistants and instructors. English Department Ph.D. students usually teach for three years in the College Writing Program, for which they receive a stipend of $3,000; this, together with a $13,000 fellowship from the Department, brings their stipend levels to $16,000 per year. Teaching opportunities providing a similar level of support for students in the fifth year exist in the College Writing Program, or within the department, where students may serve as teaching assistants for large courses or as instructors of smaller courses.

The University sponsors a number of competitive fellowships, at significantly higher stipend levels, for students with exceptional qualifications. These include the Sproull Graduate Fellowships, the Dean’s Fellowships, and the Provost's Fellowships. The Department nominates candidates for appropriate University fellowships during the admissions process.

For advanced Ph.D. students, dissertation fellowships are available through the College and University, and English Ph.D. candidates have had a good track record in winning these.