Funding and Mentoring Program for Full-Time Ph.D. Students

The Steinhardt School offers all full-time Ph.D. students who matriculate in September 2010 or later a complete funding and mentoring program. All students offered admission to our Ph.D. programs are awarded a full funding package and are assigned to a faculty mentor. There is no special application required. In addition, a small cohort of part-time students are also admitted annually. Part-time students do not receive funding.

Financial Support Overview

The Steinhardt Fellows program is designed to help you undertake full-time study and research, to participate in superior academic and scholarly experiences, and to complete your studies in a timely manner. Depending on your program of study and degree requirements, financial support includes two or three years of full tuition and fees and a generous living stipend of $23,000 through the completion of the student's required coursework, and one to three years with a scholarship, typically $15,000, to support the development and completion of your dissertation. Approximately 75% of new incoming students are awarded Steinhardt Fellowships at the point of admission.

Selected doctoral students may alternatively be appointed to a Research Assistantship. Research Assistants are funded by external grants and work with a principal investigator on a funded research project. Unlike Steinhardt Fellows, RAs agree to work 20 hours per week on an ongoing research project, typically with a team of faculty and other students. RAs receive funding that includes full tuition, fees (excluding late registration fees), student health insurance, a living stipend of $23,000 (paid biweekly), and summer pay. Steinhardt Fellows may become Research Assistants when Steinhardt faculty win funding for projects that require research assistance. If you become a Research Assistant you may not perform additional work assignments such as teaching or grading while you are an RA.

Approximately 25% of new incoming students are appointed to Research Assistantships at the point of admission.

Mentoring Component

Each of the School's academic departments has developed a set of benchmarks and milestones for their doctoral students which prepare you academically and professionally for post-doctoral work. Your faculty mentors will work closely with you to help you prepare conference presentations or exhibitions, author or co-author manuscripts, prepare grant submissions, construct and write sample syllabi, and participate in other experiences essential to your professional education.

At the end of each academic year, you and your mentor will review your progress toward achieving milestones. Your mentor will notify you of your standing in the program no later than six weeks prior to the beginning of the new academic year.

Fellowship and Scholarship Years

In each "fellowship" year of your department's plan, you will receive funding that includes full tuition, fees (excluding late registration fees), and health insurance (the NYU graduate assistant health insurance plan). In addition, you will receive a living stipend payable in 9 monthly payments. You can use your tuition funding to study full time in the Fall, Spring, and Summer semesters (above 12 credits per term requires approval of your advisor).

In each “scholarship” year of your department's plan, you will receive a scholarship only, which you can use for living expenses, including healthcare coverage (you may purchase the University's standard student health insurance). Typical scholarships are approximately $15,000 and are paid in two semester payments.

The preparation of PhD students as effective teachers for the academy is an essential element of most PhD programs. Many department plans incorporate teaching experience and teaching mentorship as a component of their PhD programs. Such preparation will further enhance your CV as you seek academic positions. Teaching may take the form of instructor of record, reader, grader, or academic advising. If you teach, you will be paid above the fellowship or scholarship package for any teaching you undertake, either as an adjunct or an hourly employee depending on the nature of the instructional activity. Instructors of record are paid as adjuncts, while readers, graders, and academic advisors are paid on an hourly basis.

Your department's doctoral funding plan may also include grants to assist you with data collection or travel needed to complete your dissertation. Such grants are typically awarded through a competitive application process within your department. Grants may vary in size and duration depending on the scope of your project.