Financial Assistance
For entering students
Research assistantships are provided to virtually all Ph.D. students. Students entering with funding from GSBS are offered assistantships for the first two years of study. Assistantships are also offered by Programs, Departments, or individual faculty within GSBS. These awards require no service other than degree-related academic activities. They include:
- a stipend of $29,000 per annum in 2012-13
- payment of the student’s tuition and required fees (valued at over $3,000 for a full-time student who registers for the 12-month academic year)
- multiple health insurance plans are available
Cost of Living
The stipend a student receives is relative to the cost of living in the area the school is located. Houston has the most affordable housing of the 10 largest U.S. metropolitan areas and the second lowest cost of living among major American cities. Figures provided by the UT-Houston Office of Student Financial Services indicate that for the academic year 2012-2013, the budget for a single student amounted to approximately $24,000. Clearly, the stipend provided by GSBS is sufficient to meet the costs associated with obtaining a graduate education in Houston.
For continuing students (beyond the second year)
After the second year, GSBS students are supported by their faculty advisor through traineeships, research assistantships, or through a number of special fellowships. All these awards carry the same benefits and at least the same level of stipend as described above for entering students.
In addition, however, a variety of additional awards and opportunities are available to current GSBS students:
- Over two dozen fellowships and scholarships, totaling over $400,000 annually, are offered. These competitive awards range from $500 to $5,000 and supplement the student's assistantship or traineeship stipend. GSBS also offers several competitive fellowships. A full list of scholarships and fellowships available through GSBS can be found here.
- For students who wish to gain teaching instruction and experience, GSBS makes available teaching assistantships.
- Internships are also available for interested students.
- GSBS provides approximately $40,000 each year to help students defray the costs of attending scientific meetings. These travel awards range from $350 to $500 and are granted to students who have been selected to make a presentation (talk or poster) at a regional, national or international meeting.
- Loans are also available to students in all years of study through the UT-Houston Student Financial Services Office.
Financial Policies and Information
- GSBS Stipend Policy
- Guide to Tax Benefits (from the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administration)
- Lifetime Learning Credit (an IRS Website)
- Tax Information on Scholarship and Fellowship Grants (an IRS Website)
