Financial Support
All students admitted to the Ph.D. program are financially supported by a combination of a teaching/research assistantship and/or fellowship, which includes a tuition waiver and health benefits. In general, support at the MS level is more limited and is only available to US citizens and permanent residents. There is no financial support for Plan B MS students.
Graduate Assistantships: Half-time graduate assistantships for incoming students carry an annual stipend in the $20,000 to $23,000 range. In addition, nine credits of tuition are waived for all graduate assistants in the fall and spring semesters; five credits are waived for summer semester. Health insurance is provided for all graduate assistants. Except for students on a fellowship, most students are given a teaching assistantship appointment during the first semester and switched to a research assistantship appointment after they select a research advisor in the fall. The duties for research assistantships consist of working on a research project, which is used for the MS or Ph.D. thesis. Continued support is contingent on making satisfactory progress toward the degree.
MSU Fellowships
Several university fellowships available for both current and prospective students with outstanding backgrounds:
- The University Distinguished Fellowship / University Enrichment Fellowship
- Academic Achievement Graduate Assistantships (AAGA)
- Graduate School Fellowships:
- Mildred B. Erickson Fellowship
- Future Academic Scholars in Teaching (FAST) Fellowships
External Fellowships
The following are just a few of the many fellowship opportunities from external sources:
- National Science Foundation's Graduate Research Fellowship Program
- Hertz Foundation Fellowship
- National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate (NDSEG) Fellowships
- NRC Research Associateship Programs (RAP)
- Link Foundation Fellowships and Grants in the Energy Field
- Burroughs Wellcome Fund Collaborative Research Travel Grants
- DOE Office of Science Graduate Student Research (SCGSR) Program
Housing
Owen Hall Graduate Center: Owen Hall was built in 1960 and is part of the River Trail Neighborhood. The hall is ideal for graduate and professional students and undergraduate upperclassmen who desire a living environment conducive to study, along with the privacy of a single room. Contact Information: Owen Service Center: 517-355-5068
University Apartments: Three university apartment complexes are available. Visit the MSU Live On website for three locations with one-, two- and four-bedroom units and the rates.
Off-campus housing: Apartments are available at a wide range of monthly rates. Visit the MSU Off-Campus Housing website for locations and rates.
To obtain additional information see MSU's University Live On website, and for Current Housing Rates. (All housing costs stated are subject to change without notice. Please contact the appropriate source for current rates. http://liveon.msu.edu/contact)
