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Financial Assistance

Every student admitted into the program is guaranteed five years of full funding. In addition, the department has an excellent record of success in securing teaching appointments within the University to support its sixth-year students. Students in their first year receive fellowships and tuition scholarships. In subsequent years, they are funded through appointments as teaching assistants and as instructors in University College (Northwestern’s Division of Continuing Education). Tuition for those who hold these appointments is either waived or paid for out of departmental funds. In addition, the Graduate School awards dissertation fellowships on a competitive basis with other departments.

The Northwestern program is designed to give students teaching experience in a manner that is consistent with steady progress towards the PhD. We care about the quality of the teaching among our graduate student teachers and are proud of the recognition their teaching has received within the University.

After the first year, all graduate students are given faculty-supervised teaching experience. By assisting faculty members with undergraduate lecture courses and designing and teaching their own introductory undergraduate seminar, graduate students can develop a repertoire of courses they will be prepared to teach after completing their studies.