Financial Aid | Northwestern Physics Department

Graduate Financial Aid

The deadline for submitting an application to our graduate program with a request for financial aid is December 31. (It is acceptable for test scores to arrive after the deadline, if the exams were taken before the deadline.) There are no forms to fill out except the Graduate School's on-line application form. Unless the student requests otherwise, all applicants are automatically considered for full financial support.

First-year graduate students are normally supported as either Teaching Assistants or University Fellows.

Teaching Assistants receive a monthly stipend and full tuition scholarship. Teaching Assistants normally spend approximately 10 hours per week teaching undergraduate laboratories, leading discussion sections, grading, and tutoring.

University Fellows also receive a monthly stipend and a full tuition scholarship. Fellows are not normally assigned any departmental duties. It is expected that University Fellows will take advantage of the time provided by a Fellowship to become involved in research with one of our faculty.

Teaching Assistants and University Fellows generally find employment during the summer in research groups. A small number of summer Teaching Assistantships are also available, and first-year students are given priority in filling those. Once a student has selected a thesis advisor and begun their PhD research, it is normal for them to be supported as a Research Assistant (by their thesis advisor) until their thesis is completed.

Stipends
The stipends for TAs, Fellows, and RAs vary, depending on the student's qualifications. However, the University-mandated minimum 12-month stipend for any student on full support will be $21,276 in 2007-08. If a student is granted financial support, they are immediately sent a letter specifying the precise details and amount of the award.