Fellowships and Financial Information 2005-06

The Department of Physics at the University of California, San Diego provides financial support for all graduate students in good academic standing. Graduate students are usually financially supported by a combination of the following funding sources: teaching assistantships, research assistantships, extramural fellowships, and research fellowships.

(A) FELLOWSHIPS AND DEPARTMENTAL FUNDING

A few fellowships are available to the most outstanding graduate students. These fellowships are usually for only one year. They are awarded in combination with teaching assistantships and/or graduate student research funds, and include registration fees and nonresident tuition.

(B) ASSISTANTSHIPS

1. General Information

Graduate students in good academic standing who are enrolled full-time (12 or more units) may be employed as Teaching Assistants or as Graduate Student Researchers up to 50% time during the academic year. The normal workweek for a 50% teaching assistant consists of approximately 20 hours. New graduate students who are admitted with financial support are usually appointed as Teaching Assistants (50% time) or Graduate Student Researchers (49.99% time) for one academic year from the beginning of the fall quarter in September to the end of the spring quarter in June. After completing their first year in the graduate program, students are encouraged to affiliate themselves with a research group and receive support as a Graduate Student Researcher. Students should ask the faculty member with whom they wish to work about support arrangements well in advance (spring quarter for the following year, for example). Since the sources of funds for research assistantships are federal contracts and grants, appointments are subject to the availability of such funds each year. Some teaching assistantships are also available for advanced graduate students. Students who receive a fellowship from any source may be able to receive supplementation as part-time TA's or Researchers.

2. Teaching Assistants typically perform a combination of the following duties: preparing and conducting discussion or laboratory sections; proctoring exams; grading student work; holding office hours; overseeing the work of other graders &/or proctors; assisting the instructor with course support/administration. Readers spend most of their time grading and/or proctoring. Readers may also be assigned other appropriate duties, such as assisting with course support/administration. The faculty member in charge of the funded research project assigns Graduate Student Researchers duties.

3. Salary Rates--Academic Year (before deductions for federal and state income taxes)

Note: All graduate student salaries, wages, and most fellowships are subject to federal and state income taxes of approximately 12%-15%.

** Subject to change.

4. UCSD is fully committed to creating a welcoming and supportive environment for all students. Diversity is an asset to the university and to the department. The Eugene Cota-Robles Fellowship and San Diego Fellowship are awards made available to students to enhance the quality of education and research by increasing campus diversity. Recipients may have shown academic achievement in the area of educational, economic and social environment. These fellowships are multi-year, merit based awards and will carry stipends from $15,000 to $18,000, including tuition and fees. Fellowships will be awarded based on applicant eligibility (based on above criteria) and merit (academic preparation and potential). Applicants must be U.S. Citizens or Permanent Residents. Admitted applicants must be nominated by an academic department to be considered.

(C) TUITION AND FEES

All graduate students are required to pay the University registration, educational and health insurance fees of $10,945.50(Res.) and $11,290.50(Non.Res.) per year. In addition to these fees, all non-residents of California are required to pay tuition $14,694.00* per year. Students awarded Teaching Assistantships or University Fellowships also receive full or partial fee and/or tuition scholarships with their financial support packages. Citizens and permanent residents of the United States are usually able to establish residency after living in California for one year. Please contact the UCSD Registrar's Office directly at the following URL for detailed information concerning residency: Residence for Tuition Purposes.
According to University policy, students who are supported as Graduate Student Researchers at 25% time or more during any academic quarter will have their tuition and fees paid for that quarter (including health insurance).

(D) SUMMER EMPLOYMENT Summer research assistantships are often available within the Physics Department for graduate students after they have completed their first year of graduate work. Students will make arrangements for summer positions directly with the professor in charge of a research project. The current monthly salary rate for a Graduate Student Researcher for the summer varies according to the PI's budget. There are also opportunities for graduate students to be employed as Teaching Assistants for the five-week Summer Session, for a total salary of approximately $2828.

(E) STUDENT LOANS The University administers a loan program for students who demonstrate financial need. Detailed information may be obtained by contacting the University Financial Aid Office, http://www.ucsd.edu/current-students/finances/financial-aid/

(F) VISA INFORMATION Before the University can issue the appropriate visa documents, foreign students must certify that they possess sufficient funds to cover all fees, transportation, and living expenses during their first year at UCSD. The minimum amount required is $49,000 for 12 months. (International students financial requirements are tuition and fees $26,000; Living Expenses $21,400; Books, etc. $1600).

Teaching Assistant English Language Skill Requirement: Foreign students whose Bachelor's degrees are not from an English-speaking college or university may not serve as Teaching Assistants until they demonstrate the required English language skills by passing a UCSD-administered test of spoken English. Failure to pass the exam will limit employment opportunities to lower-paying jobs such as Readers. We recommend that students take the Test of Spoken English to help assess their fluency before arriving at UCSD.

Revised May 1, 2009