Each year, the doctoral programs in the humanities, social sciences, and sciences award approximately 200 GCFs. This award consists of a financial aid fellowship and graduate assistantship totaling $26,612 in the fall and spring semesters, a tuition award, and eligibility for low-cost individual or family NYSHIP health insurance.
The service assignments associated with the Graduate Center Fellowship are intended to develop scholarly and professional skills.
In the first year, fellows serve as research assistants within their own doctoral programs. In the second, third, and fourth years, fellows teach one course each semester at a CUNY college, which is arranged by the student’s doctoral program. In the fifth year, the fellow serves as a Writing Across the Curriculum (WAC) Fellow or in a similar assignment at a CUNY college.
Below is a breakdown of the package components by year.
Year 1: Annual Funding of $26,612 and Tuition
- Graduate Assistantship: The Non-Teaching Graduate Assistant B (GAB) performs 7.5 hours of service per week during each 15-week semester, comprising a total of 225 hours for the academic year. Normally you serve a research assistant within your own doctoral program.
- Non-Teaching Graduate Assistant B Salary: $12,453, paid biweekly through New York state payroll checks over 12 months (normally starting from the first day of the fall semester).
- Financial Aid Fellowship: $14,159, paid in two installments by the Office of Fellowships and Financial Aid. One half is normally paid at the start of the fall semester; the second half is normally paid at the start of the spring semester. This Financial Aid Fellowship and GAB salary total $26,612. In order to ensure timely payment, students should be registered as full-time and have accepted their fellowship by the financial aid deadline for that semester.
- Tuition Award: In the first year of study, Graduate Center Fellows receive tuition up to 16 credits per semester at either the in-state or out-of-state tuition rate depending on their residency status during the previous 12 months. International students are considered to be out-of-state residents.
Years 2 Through 4: Annual Funding of $26,612 and Tuition
- Graduate Assistantship: The Teaching Graduate Assistant B (GAB) teaches one course in the fall and one course in the spring semester at one of CUNY’s four-year undergraduate colleges. The executive officer of your program arranges the college teaching assignment.
- Teaching Graduate Assistant B Salary: At least $12,453 paid biweekly through New York state payroll checks over 12 months (normally from the first day of the fall semester through the last day before the start of the next semester). The GAB salary may increase based on terms of the existing contract.
- Financial Aid Fellowship: $14,159, paid in two installments by the Office of Fellowships and Financial Aid. One half is normally paid at the start of the fall semester; the second half is normally paid at the start of the spring semester. This Financial Aid Fellowship and GAB salary total $26,612. In order to ensure timely payment, students should be registered as full-time and have accepted their fellowship by the financial aid deadline for that semester.
- Tuition Award: Starting in their second year and for the remaining three years of their fellowship, Graduate Center Fellows who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents receive a tuition award up to 16 credits per semester at the in-state tuition rate. If they are not already New York state residents or do not choose to establish New York state residency by the beginning of their second year, they must pay the difference between the in-state tuition award they will receive and the out-of-state tuition rate they will be charged. Graduate Center Fellows who are international students on a visa receive tuition up to 16 credits per semester at the out-of-state tuition rate for the four remaining years of this fellowship.
Year 5: Annual Funding of $26,612 and Tuition
- WAC Fellowship: The Graduate Center Fellow serves as a Writing Across the Curriculum (WAC) Fellow at one of the CUNY undergraduate colleges.
- Graduate Assistantship: In the fifth year, GCFs work 10 hours per week as WAC Fellows (300 total for the year). For their service, the fellows are compensated by a Graduate Assistant B (GAB) to cover 7.5 hours of service per week/225 hours for the year. The additional 2.5 hours are professional development.
- Salary: At least $12,453 paid biweekly through New York state payroll checks over 12 months (normally from the first day of the fall semester through the last day before the start of the next semester). The GAB salary may increase based on terms of the existing contract.
- Financial Aid Fellowship: $14,159 Graduate Center Fellowship award paid by the Office of Fellowships and Financial Aid. The stipend is paid in two installments. One half is normally paid at the start of the fall semester; the second half is normally paid at the start of the spring semester. This stipend and GAB salary total $26,612. In order to ensure timely payment, students should be registered as full-time and have accepted their fellowship by the financial aid deadline for that semester.
- Tuition Award: In year 5, as in years 2, 3, and 4 of their fellowship, Graduate Center Fellows who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents receive a tuition award up to 16 credits per semester at the in-state tuition rate. If they are not already New York state residents or do not choose to establish New York state residency by the beginning of their fifth year, they must pay the difference between the in-state tuition award they will receive and the out-of-state tuition rate they will be charged. Graduate Center Fellows who are international students on a visa receive tuition up to 16 credits per semester at the out-of-state tuition rate in all five years of their fellowship.
Each year, the doctoral programs in the humanities, social sciences, and sciences award approximately 90 five-year Tuition Fellowships.
These fellowships cover full tuition (up to 16 credits per semester) and are awarded in recognition of academic achievement and in expectation of scholarly success.
As a Tuition Fellow, you will receive full tuition up to 16 credits per semester in your first year of study, whether or not you qualify for resident tuition. After that, you will receive tuition credit only at the resident rate of tuition.
If U.S. citizens or permanent residents who are Tuition Fellows choose not to establish New York state residency following their first year, they must pay the difference between the full in-state tuition which they will receive and the out-of-state tuition rate they will be charged.
All Tuition Fellows who are international students on a visa receive full tuition up to 16 credits per semester for the four remaining years of this fellowship.
Each year, the doctoral programs in computer science, earth and environmental sciences, psychology, and speech-language-hearing sciences award approximately 20 Science Fellowships to incoming and current students.
Effective fall 2020: Science Fellowships provide $25,612 per year for two years. In many instances, faculty grants supplement Science Fellowships in years 3 through 5.
Science Fellows who entered in fall 2018 or later receive full tuition up to 16 credits per semester in their first year of study. International students who entered during this period receive full tuition up to 16 credits per semester for the four remaining years of this fellowship.
If U.S. citizens or permanent residents who are Science Fellows choose not to establish New York state residency following their first year, they must pay the difference between the full in-state tuition which they will receive and the out-of-state tuition rate they will be charged.
Science fellows who entered prior to fall 2018 receive in-state tuition coverage for their first 10 semesters, regardless of their residency.
Clare Booth Luce Fellowships are offered to entering female students in mathematics and computer science programs.
Fellowship recipients are nominated by their doctoral programs to the Henry Luce Foundation, which selects the students who will receive the fellowship.
CBLs provide $35,000 in years 1 and 2. The package consists of a research Graduate Assistantship B (GAB) and a financial aid fellowship provided by The Graduate Center as well as a CBL fellowship provided by the Henry Luce Foundation. In years 3 and 4, the award is $35,000 funded by The Graduate Center, including a graduate assistantship to teach one course per semester at a CUNY college. In year 5, the award is $35,000, including a GAB service-related assistantship (assigned by your program) and a financial aid fellowship.
In years 1 and 2, the Henry Luce Foundation will provide a $1,200 housing allowance and a $1,250 travel and summer school allowance. In years 3 through 5, The Graduate Center will provide a $300 travel allowance.
Fellows receive full tuition up to 16 credits per semester in their first year of study. Beginning the third semester, your tuition award will only cover the in-state rate. If, at that time, you choose not to establish New York state residency, you must pay the difference between the full in-state tuition you will receive and the out-of-state tuition rate you will be charged.