As a PhD student, funding is essential and can come from a variety of sources including assistantships, training grants and fellowships. Not all PhD programs are fully funded and it's important to explore your options. UB's PhD Excellence Initiative seeks to ensure that our PhD programs remain among the strongest in the world.
Understanding the Funding Process
There are a range of ways to fund your graduate education. At the University at Buffalo, funding decisions are made by the programs to which you apply. Some programs admit with full funding packages, including tuition, stipend and waived fees, while others admit with partial or no funding packages.
Admissions and funding decisions.
Admissions and funding decisions are made by the specific graduate program(s) to which you apply rather than by a centralized process. Due to the diversity of graduate programs on campus, our graduate programs differ in how they make admissions and funding decisions, including the timing in which funding is offered. You should always start your search for information about funding by contacting your intended program(s).
Funding packages.
It is important for you to be aware and understand the funding that you receive. Your particular funding package is explained in your offer letter. A funding package is an offer of financial support put together by your program for a specified number of years and may include a combination of different types of appointments.
The terms and conditions of those appointments, including your stipend, may vary from year to year or from term to term. The funding letter sent to you by the program should outline all the components of the package being offered.
Make sure to read carefully and discuss with your program if you have any questions.
Opportunities for funding.
Are you seeking funding for your graduate education? Graduate students should be thinking about all these opportunities as they apply to their graduate program and continuously throughout their academic journey. It's important to be proactive and stay informed about new funding opportunities as they become available.
Master's programs are largely self-funded and most master's students require additional financial support. Graduate students should continuously search for internal and external funding opportunities.
Fellowships and scholarships are focused on attracting and supporting the most exceptional graduate and professional students. It's never too early to search for appropriate funding.
Assistantships and traineeships are often part of a funding package. Graduate students who are not admitted with funding packages or whose time to degree exceeds the end date of the funding package can seek graduate assistantships.
Working through your graduate degree is more than a source of income. It's your opportunity to network and gain valuable professional development skills.
The financial aid process for graduate and professional degree students is similar to that of an undergraduate student; however there are additional factors that may influence your financial aid awards.