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Financial support — a variety of sources at FSU and outside — plan early!
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Outside fellowships. Scholars funded by competitive and special-intent programs, such as Fulbright, McKnight, Auzene, and also by several foreign governments, find the department a productive environment.
Private funding, savings, sabbaticals, loans. Both fully, and as supplements, a number of students utilize these sources. |
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Departmental Resources
The Departmental Application, with the requested recommendations and transcripts (unofficial copies are acceptable for departmental evaluations), is necessary for consideration for admission and/or funding. Departmental consideration of Fall (and SU C) applications will begin on January 18 and awards are made on a rolling basis up until the April 15 Council of Graduate Schools deadlines.
Teaching Assistantships
Most students who receive financial aid are supported as teaching assistants (TAs); stipends vary by academic standing, teaching skill and assignments. TA duties include both recitation-style instruction, computer assisted recitations, exam proctoring, office hours, grading, and, for advanced TAs, solo teaching. The working-time commitment is 10-12 hours per week. Assistantships include a waiver of tuition and most fees. Health insurance is available, usually with FSU subsidies. Some who begin programs as self-paying students demonstrate strong doctoral capability and are awarded TA/RA the second year.
TA stipends depend on the experience and academic standing, as well as the number of months the TA studies and works. Examples of 2008-2009 stipend levels: An academically advanced TA who teaches multivariate calculus and works and studies 12 months receives $20,000. A beginning TA who chooses to work and study only 9 months is paid $13,400. Florida funding appropriations do not allow summer stipends to be guaranteed, but given the same relative funding levels as preceding years, then TA appointments will be prorated for periods more than the 9-month academic year (7/6 or 4/3 of the academic year stipend). Thus, a new 2008-2009 TA with maximum available summer work earns at least $17867, whereas another wanting work for only half the summer would earn $15,633. Current TAs in Year 2 who have progressed to more teaching responsibility earn $19,200 for the year.
Most international students who work as TAs must pass, after arrival on campus, a spoken English test called the SPEAK that is similar to the ETS Test of Spoken English. Those who do not pass it on the first attempt participate in formal classes and group activities to improve spoken English and take the test again during the first semester. As a result of Florida legislation, a student, prior to passing SPEAK, must be assigned a reduced job classification with a consequently reduced stipend. This results in 12-month stipend of $16,000. The FSU International Center has information, programs and workshops and classes focus on the areas of speaking, reading and writing English as well as conversational skills and vocabulary building.
Research Assistantships
RAs work closely with a faculty member, or members, on a research project typically funded by a research grant to the lead investigator. RAs are generally in their second graduate year and beyond. The pay and work terms are similar to teaching assistantships and fellowships; typically these require more hours work per week, but the work may be related to the RAs own graduate research. Tuition waivers are provided and health insurance is available.
Fellowships
FSU Math has a GAANN grant which will allow us to appoint 3 to 5 new 2008 GAANN Fellows and fund them at the FSU Cost of Attendance less their FAFSA EFC (Expected Family Contribution) (cap $30,000), plus tuition, fees, and some fringes. The Departmental Applications , which have been submitted by January 18 are used to determine GAANN-eligible competitive applicants; they will be invited by the department to submit a supplemental application.
The University Fellowship, for new and continuing Masters and PhD students, with minority consideraton, carries a stipend of $18,000 for one academic year. The Presidential Fellowship, for new doctoral students only, carries a stipend of $23,000 per academic year for the first and fourth years. The student is a departmental TA during the second and third years. Both of these fellowships provide tuition waivers and health insurance. No duties are required except full-time study. The College of Arts and Sciences Fellowships are also awarded through the Office of Graduate Studies application procedure. Some other fellowships may be available through that source.
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Last modified: 14 August 2008