Financial Aid

In-State Tuition Status
Teaching and Research Assistantships
Graduate School Fellowships
Loan-Term Loans and Work Study

In-State Tuition Status:

Students are normally eligible to apply for in-state status and tuition after one year of residency. The Department strongly encourages students to apply for in-state status as soon as possible. For more information, see the Graduate School's "North Carolina Residency for Tuition Purposes" page.

Teaching and Research Assistantships:

The Department considers all admitted applicants for first-year funding. Some receive non-service fellowships; some are given work as teaching associates (helping faculty teach large courses) or, occasionally, as teaching fellows (teaching their own courses). Although yearly support is contingent on state funding, over the past decade we have been able to support all of our graduate students through at least five years of study. As of 2006-2007, our basic assistantships (instructional and teaching assistantships) provided a stipend of $7,000 per semester, plus full tuition and health insurance.

Teaching is a critical part of the mission of our Department, and UNC-CH is particularly notable for the many opportunities that our graduate students have to teach. Students are eligible for teaching assistantships upon completing 18 hours of graduate work in their field. Most students enrolled beyond their first year receive funding as teaching associates.

Each student may have up to one assistantship per semester, and to date, all students seeking assistantships have received them. Teaching assistantships are assigned on a yearly basis; securing varied teaching experience is emphasized. A student who receives an assistantship must be making good and timely progress toward the degree.

After completing their Ph.D. exams, most students have the opportunity to serve as a teaching fellow, where they will have the primary responsibility for teaching a course of their own.

Graduate School Fellowships:

The Graduate School dispenses a variety of grants and fellowships. Entering students may be nominated by their Departments for a number of financial awards, including multi-year fellowships such as the Royster Fellows and University Fellows. You do not need to do anything to apply for these awards. Our faculty will nominate you if we feel that you meet the eligibility requirements. Timely submission of your application ensures that we will be able to fully consider your eligibility for Graduate School funding.

In addition to awards for entering students, the Graduate School offers research and writing fellowships to advanced graduate students and provides small grants to help cover travel to conference presentations and research expenses.

For more information, visit the Graduate School's "Fellowships and Funding" page.

Long-Term Loans and Work Study:

Long-term loans and work-study employment are available from the University based on financial need. To be considered for this funding, you must complete the forms indicated by the Office of Scholarships and Student Aid. March 1 is the priority deadline for applying for need-based financial aid for the coming school year.

If a student is seeking work-study funds, the Department should be notified that the appropriate paperwork is being completed. Financial aid packages may also include remission (reduction) in tuition to in-state levels.