Financial Support

MIT scholarships

Incoming students who wish to be considered for financial aid from MIT should indicate this when completing the online application form. These awards are made by April 15 and typically cover the first two years of study.

Department funding

For years one and two, all students admitted to our PhD program are offered (either directly by the department, or as a supplement to other funds) fellowship support equivalent to: full tuition for the academic year, twelve-month individual health insurance, and a stipend for the nine-month academic year.

In years three through six, all students are offered full-time teaching or research assistantships that provide full tuition, a nine-month stipend, and health insurance. This support is contingent on satisfactory academic progress.

The department also offers paid summer research assistantships and summer fellowships as a supplement to academic-year stipends.

Institute rules require every holder of a graduate scholarship or fellowship to pursue a full-time program of graduate study.

Dissertation fellowships

The department is currently able to offer a limited number of competitive dissertation fellowships that allow PhD students in years four or five to have a year free from TA and RA duties.

Outside funding

Incoming students are encouraged to apply for external sources of funding, such as NSF graduate fellowships, UniCredit Foundation Scholarships, SSHRC Doctoral Fellowships, and JASSO scholarships.

For years three through six, the department is able in some cases to provide supplementary funding for students with partial outside fellowships, thereby allowing them to reduce their TA and RA work requirements. Such supplements are provided to all students with active NSF fellowships, and supplements to other fellowships are considered on a case-by-case basis.

Health insurance

Your mandatory health insurance fee is covered by your award (and is not taken out of your stipend) and includes accident and hospitalization insurance. You will receive this insurance unless you can demonstrate that you have equivalent coverage through another source and complete a waiver with MIT Medical.

 

For more detailed information regarding the cost of attendance, including specific costs for tuition and fees, books and supplies, housing and food as well as transportation, please visit MIT's Student Financial Services website.