GSAS Financial Aid

Financial Aid Package
GSAS Summer Stipends for Incoming Students
Enrollment Time Limits
Satisfactory Progress Criteria

Financial Aid Package
The Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (GSAS) provides five-year funding for incoming doctoral students. This funding consists of: a five-year tuition grant, a living stipend of $18,000 in the first two years, and assignment as a Teaching Fellow for the third and fourth years. The Teaching Fellow guarantee will only equal the $18,000 stipend if the student teaches 2 sections per term each year.
During the first year of study, a student might be covered by external funding such as the Mellon or Javits Fellowships. This funding will substitute for GSAS awards; GSAS will supplement any award amount to match the guaranteed package.
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GSAS Summer Stipends for Incoming Students
In addition to the basic package, students are guaranteed $3,600 summer stipends for the first and second years. The Department advises students to use this money for approved pre-prospectus research plans or further language training.
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Enrollment Time Limits
The Graduate School does not permit students to enroll beyond their tenth year. Students who have not completed the dissertation by the end of the tenth year shall be withdrawn, and may later be readmitted for the degree once the dissertation is complete. Any student who has reached their tenth year and has not completed the dissertation may reapply when sufficient progress has been made to ensure that their dissertation will be finished during one academic year. An exception will be made for one year only (in the eleventh year) if a student plans to complete their degree during that year. A letter from your adviser suggesting readmission to the department is necessary. Students who are not registered are eligible for both borrowing and stack access privileges at Widener and other libraries as alumni. Arrangements may be made with the library privileges desk for a nominal fee. Unregistered students will be billed for individual coverage by Massachusetts Blue Cross-Blue Shield at a higher rate than that of students, but this provides continuous coverage until other arrangements can be made.
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Satisfactory Progress Criteria
Continuing support from the Graduate School is contingent upon maintaining satisfactory progress toward the degree. The Department judges satisfactory progress based on coursework, languages and the Qualifying Paper in the first two years; completing an approved dissertation prospectus, successfully completing the general examination and forming a dissertation committee and performance as a Teaching Fellow in years three and four; then completing the dissertation in the fifth year and beyond. Advisors' reports, G4+ updates are used to discuss each case, generally in the sixth year and above, with the Dean of the Graduate School in February, and as the basis of the Graduate Student Review meeting of the Department in May.
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