PhD students in good academic standing receive a yearly-increasing stipend (in 2023-2024 the amount is $40,530*), full tuition (for the first four years), and health coverage. The Graduate School Payroll System (GSPS) is a semi-monthly payroll; checks are paid on the 15th and the last day of each month. Incoming students will receive their first check on August 31st (to be picked up from the department registrar).
* Students who win competitive outside awards such as NIH National Research Service Awards (NRSA) or NSF fellowships receive a stipend bonus of $4,000 (for a total stipend of $44,530 in 2023-24).
Students usually have their checks deposited directly to their banks, which can be setup and managed through Payment Elections in Workday. The university does not withhold federal or state taxes from stipends, but it does still report income to the IRS. All students are responsible for paying taxes on the amount of their stipend that exceeds expenses directly related to their studies. Connecticut also requires a property tax on all cars with a rate determined on a city basis.
Financial support comes from university fellowships, National Institutes of Health (NIH) Training Grants, the National Science Foundation, and private foundations. First year students are provided with $350 that can be used towards travel to a conference in the first year (original receipts or invoices are required for reimbursement). All students are also eligible to apply for the GSA Conference Travel Fellowship.
*PhD students with families are also provided an annual subsidy of $7,500 for having a child under 18 (with an additional $2,500 per year per any other child under 6) by the Graduate School. Enrollment must be completed every term.
*As of spring 2022, there is also a Dean’s Medical Leave Hardship Fund that goes up to $3000 which may help cover serious medical conditions in addition to the standard Dean’s Emergency Fund.
Special note to international applicants: Financial aid for students who are neither U.S. citizens nor U.S. permanent residents is very limited. Although approximately 20% of each entering class is international, we are able to admit less than 5% (on average) of our non-U.S. applicant pool. Please take this into consideration before applying to the program.