Funding for Doctoral Students
Many doctoral students at the University of Michigan School of Public Health are fully-funded, though because of the individualized nature of doctoral programs, financial aid and funding at this level is largely determined by our departments. Students are encouraged to connect with department coordinators to learn more.
All students admitted to one of our doctoral programs are considered for financial support. There are four types of financial support that we offer our students: Graduate Student Instructor (GSI), Graduate Student Research Assistant (GSRA), Training Grants, and Fellowships.
Graduate Student Instructor (GSI)
GSIs are appointed at 50% effort, which involves working approximately 20 hours per week. This appointment includes full payment of tuition, health insurance coverage, registration fees, and a monthly stipend. The duties of a GSI can include preparing materials for labs, teaching labs, holding office hours, grading homework and exams, and tutoring.
Graduate Student Research Assistant (GSRA)
GSRAs are appointed at 50% effort, which involves working approximately 20 hours per week on a research project. This appointment includes full payment of tuition, health insurance coverage, registration fees, and a monthly stipend. GSRAs generally work closely with a faculty member who is a principal or co-investigator on the research project. The duties of the GSRA can involve analysis of biomedical research data or statistical research. Currently, GSRAs are working on projects involving statistical methods development and application to bioinformatics, cancer, clinical trials, dentistry, diabetes, environmental health, epidemiology, genetics, health education, kidney disease, and survival analysis.
Training Grants
Some students are supported through involvement in training grants which provide support similar to the GSRA or GSI appointments. Check with your department for specific training grants available.
Scholarships, Fellowships, and Awards
Awards for tuition assistance are available and are granted without a work obligation. These awards are generally made on the basis of academic merit, expected contribution to the field, and to students with underrepresented backgrounds. Some examples of awards our students have received include:
- The Shapiro Award
- The Rackham Merit Fellowship for Historically Underrepresented Groups
- The Rackham Non-Traditional Fellowship
- The Rackham Regents Fellowship
Other award and scholarship opportunities exist for continuing students. They include:
- The Rackham One-Term Dissertation Grant
- The Barbour Scholarship
- The Pre-Doctoral Fellowship
- The Susan Lipshutz Award
- The Rackham Travel Award
Financial Aid for Doctoral Students
Many of our students are offered funding as GSIs, GSRAs, or graduate fellows. If you do not receive such an offer, you may apply for financial aid through the University of Michigan’s Office of Financial Aid. This office requires applicants for any and all types of financial aid to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) provided by the American College Testing Center (ACTC).
A FAFSA will be sent to you directly if you indicate your interest in financial assistance on the admission application form. FAFSAs are available from most high school or college libraries and financial aid officers, as well as from the School of Public Health Office for Student Engagement and Practice. FAFSA is also available at www.fafsa.ed.gov.