The University of Georgia offers four types of financial aid for graduate students in chemistry, namely, teaching assistantships, research assistantships, fellowships and traineeships. All graduate students who receive any type of assistantship, fellowship, or traineeship have their tuition waived by the University, and pay only required student fees each semester. Teaching Assistantships Teaching is considered an integral and important part of the graduate education experience at UGA and virtually all graduate students participate in some aspect of the teaching program. Most first-year graduate students are awarded teaching assistantships. This is the usual form of financial aid for entering chemistry graduate students. A candidate is automatically considered for a teaching assistantship when their completed application is received by the Department. These assistantships are competitive in nature and are awarded based on an applicant's academic record. Research Assistantships Advanced graduate students are also eligible for research assistantships, which permit students to perform full-time research duties while pursuing their advanced degree. These research assistantships are awarded by individual faculty from their own research support, and are generally given to students who are in at least their second year of residence and who have already served as teaching assistants. Graduate School Assistantships Graduate School Assistantships are awarded each year on a competitive basis by the Graduate School to highly qualified incoming graduate students nominated by their major department. Selections are based on the applicant's academic record, test scores, recommendations, and other pertinent information. The Graduate School Assistantship is awarded for the first two years of a student's academic study and provides for a waiver of teaching responsibilities for the duration of the award so that the student is able to devote full time to research. The Chemistry Department will automatically consider highly qualified applicants for Graduate School Assistantships whose completed applications are received by January 1. Presidential Graduate Fellowships This prestigious award is the most competitive of the fellowships awarded to the incoming graduate students at UGA. Nominations for this award are presented to the Graduate School by individual departments. This award is guaranteed for five years of support for students entering with a bachelor's degree. Presidential Fellowships provide for a significantly increased stipend, full-time research duties and special professional development activities for the recipient. A maximum of twelve awards are made annually. Only citizens and legal permanent residents of the United States are eligible to receive this award. The Chemistry Department will automatically consider outstanding applicants for the Presidential Graduate Fellowship whose completed applications are received by January 1. Health Insurance The University of Georgia provides health insurance benefits to all graduate students who are supported by any type of assistantship or fellowship through an insurance program administered by the University System of Georgia Board of Regents. Cost of Living in Athens We believe that our graduate stipends are very competitive, especially when you consider the low cost of living in Athens. You can compare for yourself, using this Cost of Living Comparator.
