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Types of Graduate Support

The Nittany Lion Shrine

Assistantships

The most common form of graduate support, teaching and research assistantships, include a stipend, tuition remission, and a subsidy for medical insurance. Recipients are assigned to a faculty adviser who supervises the experience. Graduate assistants support undergraduate instruction or undertake research projects. Appointments are available only to graduate students who are registered for courses and enrolled in degree programs. Students whose first language is not English will be required to demonstrate a sufficient level of English language proficiency in order to receive a teaching assistantship.

Fellowships

Fellowships are highly prestigious financial support packages that typically include a stipend, tuition remission, and a subsidy for medical insurance. They derive from University or outside awards. Unlike assistantships, they do not have a required instruction or research responsibilities. Recipients must be enrolled in degree programs and be registered full time. 

Traineeships

Training grants are derived from agencies outside the University and are intended to support specific student learning experiences in core curricular areas and research methods. Institutional awards, typically under the direction of a faculty principal investigator, afford funding to support selected students with stipends, tuition grants-in-aid, and often include a subsidy for medical insurance.

Scholarships

Scholarships are financial awards that support graduate study. Most are awarded by colleges, graduate programs, or outside funding agencies and are based on academic merit. Some awards factor in financial need or other grantee-specified criteria.

Loans

Educational loans are available through the Office of Student Aid and eligibility criteria apply. For details about student loan options, visit the Office of Student Aid's Loans page.

Employment

Opportunities for work are available on campus in a variety of locations. Visit the Office of Student Aid's Employment page for information or the University's Job Opportunities website to begin your search.

 

This page was generated on March 28, 2024 at 5:31 PM local time. This may not be the most recent version of this page. Check the Penn State Graduate School website for updates.