Funding
Paying for Graduate School
The total estimate cost of attendance at UK, including tuition, fees, housing, meals, books, supplies, transportation, and personal expenses is 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 obtain financial support in several ways:
- We have a limited number of graduate assistantships. Half-time assistantships (10 hours per week) pay half of tuition and a stipend. Full-time assistantships (20 hours per week) pay all of tuition and a stipend. Information on minimum graduate stipend amounts is maintained by the Graduate School and is available here. 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 which are primarily awarded to doctoral students.
- Numerous fellowships are available through the UK Graduate School and external funding sources, consult 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, contact Director of Graduate Studies Dr. Alexander T. Vazsonyi at vazsonyi@uky.edu. In addition to the Graduate School, the college and department awards a limited number of scholarships and fellowships to graduate students.
- 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.
- The university hires students for hourly wage jobs in the library and the cafeterias. You can apply for those jobs when you arrive on campus or call them (Library: 859-257-0500 x2072, Student Center Administration: 859-257-5781) to check for openings.
- 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, contact Dr. Alexander T. Vazsonyi.
