Financial Assistance

The Office of Graduate Studies maintains an excellent web page on Financing Graduate Education, which you should be sure to read.

The Economics Department offers financial support in several forms: fellowships, research assistantships and teaching assistantships. The number of fellowships and RA positions is quite limited, however, so most support comes in the form of TA assignments. Competition for all forms of support is very keen.

Fellowships

Fellowships are the most desirable form of financial support because they generally don't require you to do anything other than study. Check the Current Dollars Page to find out the latest values of each fellowship. Here is a list of fellowships available to students in the department:

• Gordon Fellowship in Institutional Economics
  Awarded to a current graduate student who has shown high academic achievement
• Hale Fellowships
  Several awarded each year by the Economics Department for summer support. Usually given to advanced students who have demonstrated high academic achievement and the need for ongoing support. Applications are due in May.
• Murray S. Johnson Fellowships
  Several awarded each year to outstanding students to supplement TA stipends.
• Richard Worley Fellowship
  Offered to incoming graduate students who show high academic promise

University Fellowships

University Fellowships are awarded to incoming and continuing students showing unusual promise and ability. Nominations for University Fellowships are made by the Economics Department; recipients are selected through the Office of Graduate Studies. The Fellowships come in two forms:

• University Preemptive Fellowships: Awarded to incoming students who have not previously attended the University of Texas. Provides a stipend for the first academic year, in-state tuition with partial reimbursement, additonal fundning for medical insurance, and a teaching assistantship during the second year (provided the recipient is making satisfactory progress in the graduate program).

• University Continuing Fellowships: Awarded to students already in the program. Provide a substantial stipend per academic year. Fellowship holders are entitled to resident tuition and receive an additional grant each semester towards tuition and fees.

Research Assistantships

Availability of RA positions depends on outside funding for faculty research, the student's personal contact with professors seeking research help, and the student's individual skills. Most RA jobs go to continuing students, but a special Research Intern (RI) position might be available to a newly admitted graduate student. RAs employed 20 hours per week are entitled to resident tuition and health insurance benefits. In addition, each year, the Department awards 4-5 special RA jobs for the summer.

Teaching Assistantships

Teaching assistants help faculty conduct their courses. TA activities typically include grading homework and exams, making up and administering exams, and most importantly, holding office hours for students. Teaching assistants receive a stipend, pay in-state tuition and fees, and also receive a Tuition Assistance Benefit (which offsets most of the cost of in-state tuition) each long semester. In addition, their spouses and children are entitled to pay in-state tuition at The University of Texas, and the University contributes substantially towards the costs of medical insurance for the student and his or her dependents. For up to date values of the stipend and tuition assistance benefit, see the Current Dollars Page.

Students admitted with teaching assistantships can generally expect them to be renewed for up to 8 semesters in the PhD program and 4 in the Master's program provided that: (i) adequate funding is available and (ii) they are making satisfactory progress in the graduate program and performing their duties satisfactorily.

The terms "satisfactory progress toward degree" and "satisfactory performance of duties assigned" are spelled out in a departmental regulations memo which accompanies every TA offer. These regulations include the maintenance of a competitive GPA in required courses, completion of nine semester hours each semester, and satisfactory progress through the core courses and comprehensive exams.

Addtional Information:

International students are required to demonstrate proficiency in spoken English before being appointed as teaching assistants. oughly half of our teaching assistants are international students. However, the ability to communicate effectively in English is essential to performing TA duties and is required by the University. Accordingly, the Department of Economics has established competence in spoken English as prerequisite for receiving a teaching assistantship.

To qualify for financial aid as a Teaching Assistant, an international applicant must pass an oral English exam administered by the University's International TA/AI Program. Any TA offers made prior to an applicant's arrival in Austin are contingent upon he or she passing -- at least conditionally -- this oral English exam. The Test of Spoken English may be used as a substitute for our campus assessment, with the approval of the Graduate School, if the student receives a score of 55 or above. We encourage applicants who are applying for financial support from the Department to take the TSE and have their official scores sent to GIAC, as we will give them serious consideration in making financial award decisions.

Prospective international Teaching Assistants who pass the University's oral English assessment must also attend a brief orientation session for new international TAs before assuming their duties. Students who pass the exam only conditionally are required, in addition, to enroll in a one-semester training course for international TAs during their first semester as TAs. The Department of Economics expects the student to take this course in addition to his or her full graduate courseload (three courses, or nine credit hours). The student must pass the course in order to be eligible for reappointment the following semester. More detailed information about the International TA/AI Program is available from program's web site.

Stipends from TAships and fellowships are usually offered on a nine month basis. Since proof of support for twelve months is required for issuance of an immigration document, the amount of support provided by a TA or fellowship offer may not be sufficient for issuance of an immigration document. In that case students typically are expected to provide verification of additional income before the International Office can issue the appropriate immigration document (form I-20 or form IAP-66). This may be a bank statement or sponsorship document.

All international students are required to carry medical insurance. Teaching Assistants are provided with a medical insurance plan which is partially funded by the University. Thus the medical insurance fees for international TAs are waived.