Financial Support
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The primary source for financial support within the department is the Graduate Teaching Assistantship (GTA). A number of research programs also offer positions for Graduate Research Assistants (GRAs). Even if you do not have an assistantship at the present time, you may apply for assistantships in future semesters. Yellow application forms are available in 829 ESB. These must be renewed every semester.
It is normal and appropriate that doctoral students may be funded as GRAs in connection with funded research projects in which their own research advisor participates. If you are a doctoral student, very possibly you were recruited to come to WVU specifically as a GRA for a particular project. For bona fide doctoral students who do not have a funding source through a research project, the Department will try to provide support as a GTA to the extent possible. This funding, however, cannot be guaranteed. Doctoral students who have passed their qualifiers generally receive a higher stipend than Master's degree students.
International students must provide certification of their abilities in spoken English to be eligible for a GTA. This can be achieved by taking the Test of Spoken English (TSE) administered by the Educational Testing Service, or the SPEAK test given at the beginning of each semester by the WVU Department of Foreign Languages. A score of 50 is required on either test.
Graduate assistants receive a waiver of tuition fees plus a basic stipend for living expenses. Normally graduate assistants work 20 hours per week.
A limited number of meritorious tuition waivers is also available each semester to students without assistantships. To receive such a waiver you must have a demonstrated record of superior performance. Applications must be submitted by the established deadlines each semester. A maximum of 6 credit hours can be waived in one semester by this process. The following rules apply:
- Only regular graduate students may be considered for tuition waivers.
- By law West Virginia residents must be considered first, followed by other U.S. residents.
- Preference is given to PhD students who have completed master's level coursework and/or passed their qualifiers.
- Tuition waivers may not be used to maintain your registration status in your graduation semester.
A number of graduate fellowship programs are also available for outstanding students and students who are in certain special categories. Fellowship can be awarded to current graduate students, not only those entering for the first time. See your advisor for more information.
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