US PhD funding: types of scholarships explained

Without funding, a PhD is a very expensive investment: 3～5 years, with total expenses of at least 1.2～2 million a year. Some students may get a self-funded admission; if so, weigh it against your family's financial situation.

Fellowships (Fellowship)

Fellowships are the largest and most competitive of the non-service awards, and the type of funding most Chinese students receive. A fellowship is also called a full scholarship. It is mainly offered to PhD students, though some are for master's students. It not only waives tuition, housing, fees, insurance and books, but also provides an extra amount for the student's personal expenses.

Because fellowships are hard to get, the requirements across the board are very high. Beyond a very strong academic profile, your experience and application essays are also key factors in winning a full scholarship.

Scholarships (Scholarship)

There are basically two kinds of scholarships. One is a set amount awarded as a particular scholarship (e.g. Economic Scholarship, Graduate Scholarship, Merit Scholarship) to students with excellent grades or who meet the criteria; the other is a full waiver of tuition or fees (Tuition scholarship/ Tuition and Fee Scholarship), where the actual amount depends on each school's tuition and fees.

Scholarships come in many forms. One university can have many scholarships aimed at different groups, offered by the school itself or by outside scholarship programs. As long as you qualify, you can apply for several at once. Your chances of getting a scholarship are often somewhat higher than for a fellowship, but the amount is smaller.

Service-based awards (Service Scholarship)

Teaching assistantships (Teaching Assistantship)

A teaching assistantship, or TA, means being a teaching assistant. The main work is teaching some students or grading assignments on the professor's behalf, for at least 12～20 hours a week, and the school pays you a salary/stipend based on your hours.

TAs generally require strong English, especially speaking. Score requirements differ by school/department, but ideally you'd have a TOEFL of 100+ with 23+ in speaking.

Research assistantships (Research Assistantship)

A research assistantship, or RA, means being a research assistant to your advisor/professor. This salary/stipend usually comes out of the professor's research funding. Likewise, an RA has a set number of research hours each week, about 20; the work varies by field and research project.

As a research assistant, you receive a certain amount of RA funding. This kind of award requires solid research ability, and it depends on the professor happening to have a suitable position.

How to apply for funding

PhD full scholarships (fellowships) are usually offered directly by the school, so if you're admitted to a PhD, the full-funding offer is assigned to you automatically.

Different types of awards have different application methods. Here are some common ones:

• Details of MIT's full funding for PhD students: scholarships offered directly by the university are generally part of the program's online application. You just check the scholarship box in the online application and submit it before the deadline.

• For the Merit-based scholarship offered by NYU's Wagner Graduate School of Public Service, you only need to submit the program's online application to be considered, and the school awards it based on merit.

There are also some university scholarships that require a separate application. Some don't require an application at all: when the school reviews your application and admits you, the admission letter tells you directly how much scholarship you've received, but these are usually small amounts, mainly meant as encouragement.

Outside scholarship programs all require a separate application, and the requirements and materials vary by program.

Universities usually provide a way or links on their official websites for students to look up scholarship programs. You need to do your own research to find out which kinds you're suited for. Below is how Yale University lets students look up outside scholarships.

There are three main ways to get a TA position

1. When the school sends your admission, the school or a professor who knows you offers you a TA position

2. If you only have an admission, ask the school whether there's funding or a TA opportunity

3. Reach out to professors to ask whether they have a suitable opening

RA positions mostly come from reaching out to professors directly. Students who want one should email the professors they're interested in, highlighting their strengths and their interest in doing research with the professor, to improve their chances of getting an RA.

Funding requirements and materials

Academic record

Your academic record shows up in two ways: GPA and class rank. GPA is the most direct measure of academic ability; if your GPA is a bit low, an excellent rank is another way to show what you can do. Grades are the first hurdle for getting funding.

Standardized tests

Besides GPA, US universities also use standardized tests to decide on funding. TOEFL/IELTS scores need to meet each university's minimum; GRE/GMAT are academic aptitude tests that reflect your learning and thinking ability, ideally GRE 320+ and GMAT 700+.

Work experience and extracurriculars

Relevant work and research experience also strengthens your application, especially for TA or RA positions, where relevant experience helps you stand out from others.

Beyond that, well-rounded qualities matter a lot in US education, and the quality of your activities is also considered. Taking part in high-value activities and competitions helps your application a lot.

Awards and honors

Awards and honors are proof of a student's ability, such as scholarships won at school, competition awards, honors outside school, association memberships and published papers. All of these raise your chances of winning funding.

A full application package includes, but isn't limited to:

1. Application forms - either forms the school sends you or the program's online application form

2. Proof of financial support

3. Language test scores

4. GRE/GMAT scores

5. Transcripts in Chinese and English

6. Résumé

7. Study plan

8. Proof of degree

9. Statement of research interests

10. 2～3 letters of recommendation

11. Required essay prompts

TIPS

• You can ask university offices, professors, the financial aid office or academic advisors for help, and ask about scholarships and application routes they may know of. Email them directly, including your background so they understand your profile and can recommend suitable scholarships.

• Because there are so many kinds of scholarships, be sure to do thorough, careful research. Make a list of scholarships open to international students, then filter for the ones that fit you best. The more you can apply for, the more financial aid you can get.

• Prepare your documents carefully. Polish your résumé and refine your essays to show your strengths as much as possible and convince the committee you're the best candidate for the award.

• Watch the deadlines! Every scholarship program has a different deadline, so prepare your online applications, materials and essays in advance and plan your application and submission timing. Missing a deadline means losing your chance at that scholarship.