Types of Financial Support
Funding for Biostatistics students is strictly limited to PhD students and can be competitive.
There are several ways in which PhD students can receive financial support. The most common way is through program fellowships, which support students with stipends, or with graduate studies fellowships. The Graduate Group also offers limited funding in the form of employment as a Teaching Assistant (TA) or as an Associate Instructor (AI) within the group (usually in the Department of Statistics or Public Health Sciences). Reader positions may also be available. More advanced students primarily work as Graduate Student Researchers (GSR). To hold one of these appointments, students must be enrolled in at least 12 units and have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0.
Any TA, AI, Reader or GSR position of 25% (20 hours) or more (most positions are 50%) automatically come with (almost full) fee remission and a salary (however, only a GSR position also reimburses for non-resident tuition).
- Teaching Assistant
TAs are employed at either 25% and 50% time (10 to 20 hours per week), and currently receive a monthly salary of between $1147 and $2294 (2017-18 rates). Typically, Biostatistics PhD students would look to become TAs in the second year; all new TAs must take the TA Orientation. - Associate Instructor
AIs are in charge of instruction for the course, and for supervision of Teaching Assistants. An AI is employed at 50% and is paid more, but has a larger responsibility. An AI receives a monthly stipend of $2453 (2016-17 rates). AI positions are usually offered through the Department of Statistics, dependent on availability. - Graduate Reader
Readers are employed to grade coursework in undergraduate level courses, and are paid $15.78/hour. - Graduate Student Researcher
GSRs are hired by a faculty member to conduct research. They are employed at either 25% or 49% time during the academic year (or up to 100% during the summer), and their monthly salary depends on how advanced they are in their degree. Those who have not yet advanced to Ph.D. candidacy are appointed at Step 4, receiving between $1052 and $2104 per month (2017-18 rates). Students who have passed their Ph.D. Qualifying Exam and advanced to candidacy are appointed at Step 5, receiving between $1122 and $2243 per month (2017-18 rates). GSRs receive full remissions on their in-state tuition and on their non-resident supplemental tuition.
Non-Resident Supplemental Tuition Fellowship (NRST)
The Graduate Group in Biostatistics also offers a limited number of fellowships to cover non-resident supplemental tuition (NRST) costs, which currently stand at $15,102 per academic year. These fellowships usually cover the NRST until a student advances to PhD candidacy, at which point their NRST costs are reduced to zero. Domestic students who are not California residents are also eligible to receive the NRSTF, but are expected to obtain California residency by the end of their first year.
Financial Support from the Office of Graduate Studies
- Internal Fellowships
Graduate Studies administers several fellowship programs, which are usually applied for at the same time as application for the program. Details about these fellowships can be found on the Graduate Studies website. Fellowships are available both for new and for continuing students. - Travel Grants
Graduate Students who are planning to travel to conferences and meetings can also apply for travel awards. These awards are given twice a year, and range from $250 (for travel within the state) to $1000 (for international travel). Applications are made through the graduate program; details can be found on the Graduate Studies website.