Funding

Paying for Graduate School

Tuition and fees at UK are very competitive with other institutions, but money is a common concern among graduate students. That said, students who want funding typically manage to find it from one source or another. UK offers a wealth of funding and employment opportunities, so don't let concerns about funding stop you from earning an advanced degree.

In addition to federal student loans, graduate students can ontain fiancial support in several ways:

  1. We have a limited number of graduate assistantships. Half-time assistantships (10 hours per week) pay half of tuition and a stipend of around $8,100 for master's and $9,000 for doctoral students per academic year. Full-time assistantships (20 hours per week) pay all of tuition and around $16,200 for master's and $18,000 for doctoral students per academic year. Assistantships are awarded on a competitive basis and as the department's annual budget for assistantships allows, so we cannot make any guarantees about the availability of assistantships.

  2. Numerous fellowships are available through the UK Graduate School and external funding sources. You are encouraged to browse the Graduate School's funding website to identify which funding opportunities match your qualifications. If you qualify and would like to be nominated for a UK Graduate School fellowship then contact the Interim Director of Graduate Studies, Dr. Alex Vazsonyi (vazsonyi@uky.edu). In addition to the Graduate School, the College and Department awards a limited number of scholarships and fellowships to graduate students.

  3. Some students obtain assistantships in other departments and offices on campus. For instance, our students do well getting full-time positions as hall directors or, for example, if you play an instrument or know how to band birds or can design a website, you may be able to find a use for those skills within the UK campus community.

  4. The University hires students for hourly wage jobs in the library and the cafeterias ($9.00 or so and all you can read or eat). You can apply for those jobs when you arrive on campus or call them at (Library: 859-257-0500 x2072, Student Center Administration: 859-257-5781) to check for openings.

  5. Of course you can also work at jobs found throughout Lexington and surrounding areas if you have the legal status to do so (international students typically cannot work off campus).

If you have questions, please contact Dr. Vazsonyi, Interim Director of Graduate Studies.