Financial Support

All admitted Ph.D. students receive a full financial aid package from the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences.
 
LIVING SUPPORT (STIPENDS AND FELLOWSHIPS)
 
2019-20           $31,800 for the period September 1 through August 31
 

YEAR 1

Fall

University Fellowship

10 pay periods

Spring

University Fellowship

9 pay periods

Summer

University Fellowship

6 pay periods

 

YEAR 2

Fall

University Fellowship

9 pay periods

Spring

University Fellowship

9 pay periods

Summer

University Fellowship

6 pay periods

 

YEAR 3

Fall

Teaching Fellowship

9 pay periods

Spring

Teaching Fellowship

9 pay periods

Summer

University Fellowship

6 pay periods

 

YEAR 4

Fall

Outside Funding* or Teaching Fellowship

9 pay periods

Spring

Outside Funding* or Teaching Fellowship

9 pay periods

Summer

Outside Funding* or University Fellowship

6 pay periods

*Outside funding may include MacMillan International Dissertation Research Fellowships (see next page) and other internal Yale awards, as well as external research grants. A list of some internal and external grants is available here.
 

YEAR 5

Fall

University Dissertation Fellowship

9 pay periods

Spring

University Dissertation Fellowship

9 pay periods

Summer

University Dissertation Fellowship

6 pay periods

 

YEAR 6

Fall

Teaching Fellowship (if not used in Year 4)*

9 pay periods

Spring

Teaching Fellowship (if not used in Year 4)*

9 pay periods

Summer

University Fellowship (if not used in Year 4)

6 pay periods

*Students who are on track to submit their dissertation by the March deadline of Year 6 (as confirmed by their advisor) are eligible for an additional two terms of guaranteed teaching in Year 6.
 

YEAR 7

There is no guaranteed Yale funding beyond Year 6. Students who are registered may apply to teach and will be given a position if one is available.  The compensation for this is $4,000 per section per term. Students may lead up to three sections if enrollment merits. Students also may seek external funding support for their research and writing.
 
GENERAL NOTES ON GRADUATE STUDENT SUPPORT:  There is a great deal of flexibility in the timing of the above depending on a student’s specific circumstances.  Each student is guaranteed four terms of University Fellowship, four terms of guaranteed teaching fellowship, two terms and one summer of University Dissertation Fellowship, and four summers of University Fellowship.  None of this funding may be deferred beyond the end of Year 6 under any circumstance.
 
Students who enter the program with a Master’s degree from a different program and who successfully apply for course waivers may begin to teach as soon as they have met the coursework requirement.  This would advance one term of Teaching Fellowship and defer one term of University Fellowship, for example. For information about your specific situation, please see the Graduate Registrar.
 
MacMillan International Dissertation Research Fellowships support Ph.D. students engaged in international research on their doctoral dissertations. The fellowships provide up to $18,000 for the academic year and may be combined with other external or internal awards, subject to the Graduate School’s policies on holding multiple awards. Each Yale Ph.D. student who meets the eligibility criteria will be guaranteed one international dissertation research fellowship for research to be conducted outside of the United States.
 
PAYMENT SCHEDULE
First year students receive 25 payments beginning August 31 and subsequently on the 15th and the last day of each month or the closest business day before.
Students in Year 2 and beyond receive 24 payments beginning September 15 and subsequently on the 15th and the last day of each month or the closest business day before.
All students are urged to sign up for direct deposit to avoid gaps in receiving payment due to holidays or staff absences.
 
Other components of the Financial Aid package include the following:
 
TUITION FELLOWSHIPS
Each student is given a fellowship that covers the full cost of tuition for the first four years in the program.  Full tuition is only charged for those first four years.
For Years 5 and 6, each student is given a fellowship that covers the Continuous Registration Fee which is charged in lieu of tuition during those years.
For any subsequent years of Extended Registration or Dissertation Completion Status, the student is responsible for paying the Continuous Registration Fee.  In 2019-20, that fee is $675/term or $1,350 for the year.
 
HEALTHCARE FELLOWSHIPS
All students receive a fellowship to pay for full coverage in Yale Health for the student. 
As part of the Family Support Policy, married students receive 50% of the cost of two-person coverage when they enroll a spouse in Yale Health.  Students with children receive a fellowship to cover the full cost of family membership in Yale Health, which includes all children and the spouse.
For more details about health coverage and the Family Support Policy, please see: https://gsas.yale.edu/funding-aid/fellowships/phd-student-family-support-policy