Graduate Financial Aid

Graduate students and applicants can apply for graduate assistantships, fellowships, and other awards to help cover the cost of their graduate education. Financial need is not a prerequisite for most of these awards.

Funding offers are made when students are admitted to the Ph.D. program.

  • Anthropology Ph.D. students typically receive at least five years (10 semesters) of teaching assistantship (TA) positions funded by the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (CLAS) and distributed by the department, as long as the student is progressing satisfactorily through the program and remains in good standing.
  • Funding from the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (CLAS) – including teaching assistantships, instructor positions, and CLAS fellowships – cannot exceed 12 semesters.
  • Other sources of funding, such as from the Graduate School, research grants, external fellowships, and the department's Dissertation Writing Awards, should be arranged if a student will need support for more than six years to complete their degree.

Students completing a terminal Master of Arts in Anthropology are not typically eligible for teaching assistantships.

University Assistantships and Fellowships

Ph.D. students in the Department of Anthropology are eligible for a variety of University assistantships and fellowships. These awards do not require proof of financial need.

Open to Incoming Graduate Students

Graduate School Recruitment Fellowships

Incoming graduate students can apply for several recruitment awards available through the Graduate School. Visit the Graduate School’s Internal Awards page to learn more about the application timeline and criteria for these awards.

Open to Current Ph.D. Students

Fellowships and Awards

Current graduate students are eligible for a variety of fellowships and awards offered by The Graduate School and various interdisciplinary Institutes at UConn. More information about these awards is available in the Graduate Program Handbook.

Open to Incoming and Current Ph.D. Students

Graduate Teaching Assistantships

Most anthropology Ph.D. students are awarded a graduate teaching assistantship each semester that includes a tuition waiver, stipend, and health and dental benefits (specifically, the opportunity to purchase highly subsidized medical and dental insurance). Graduate assistants (GAs) are responsible for paying University fees. The stipend is subject to U.S. taxes since GA positions involve work for hire.

Teaching assistantships are typically for 15 hours per week (75% graduate assistantship), though appointments can be for as much as 20 hours per week (100% graduate assistantship) or as few as 10 hours per week (50% graduate assistantship), with pay adjusted accordingly. There are three pay rates for GA positions, varying by experience and the student’s degree program. The levels of pay are published each year on the Payroll Department’s Graduate Assistant Resources webpage. GA positions are governed by a collective bargaining agreement between the University of Connecticut and the Graduate Employee Union.

Per University policy, all teaching assistants (TAs) must present certification of English proficiency in order to qualify for an unrestricted appointment as a graduate teaching assistant with classroom instructional contact.

Anthropology Department Awards

The Department of Anthropology offers several awards and fellowships for graduate students:

  • Summer Research Fellowships help graduate students accelerate progress toward their degrees by providing funds for research, fieldwork, and the study of special methods.
  • Dissertation Writing Awards help advanced Ph.D. students finish their dissertation.
  • Conference Travel Fund provides awards for graduate students planning to present their research or attend a conference.
  • Graduate Student and Postdoc Research Fund offers small research awards for expenses like supplies, equipment, or analyses.

Learn more about department awards and how to apply.

External Funding

External fellowships and research awards are available from a variety of sources, including the National Science Foundation (NSF), the Wenner-Gren Foundation, the Ford Foundation, the National Institutes of Health, and more.

We encourage all students who have not yet completed a master’s degree to consider applying for a NSF Graduate Research Fellowship, which provides three years of financial support, including a 12-month stipend and tuition benefits. Applications are due in mid-October. Learn more about the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship.

Please note that the MA Final Exam, Ph.D. Comprehensive Exam, and Dissertation Proposal must be completed before a student applies for external funding to support their dissertation research. Most funding agencies require students to be a Ph.D. candidate in order to receive dissertation research awards.

More Funding Resources