While the number of applicants to our programs exceeds the amount of funding available, we do offer several opportunities for students to gain funding.
PhD Funding
All Grainger College of Engineering PhD students are guaranteed a tuition and partial-fee waiving appointment (at least 25%) for 5 years (10 semesters). Please make sure you view the Grainger policy regarding the details. For more information on what is covered by the tuition and partial-fee waiver, please visit the Graduate College Handbook (Chapter 7, Section 7.4).
Limit of Funding
Per the Grainger College of Engineering –
“Per Graduate College policy (https://grad.illinois.edu/gradhandbook/2/chapter8/fellowship-traineeship#ConcurrentAwards), graduate students are prohibited from holding two major awards concurrently (fellowship, traineeship, grant, tuition payment award or comparable support from any government agency, state, federal or foreign, or from any foundation, corporation or similar organization). Unless otherwise restricted by campus policy or the granting agency or unit, graduate students on fellowships may, at the discretion of their department and with the prior approval of the Graduate College, carry an assistantship or graduate hourly appointment of up to 50 percent time. The Graduate College Fellowship Office determines whether two specific awards may be held concurrently and whether an assistantship or hourly appointment may be held concurrently with a fellowship.
For AY 2020/21, it is the policy of The Grainger College of Engineering that fellowship or assistantship appointments from the college or units within the college may be extended to graduate students in the college only if major award funding received from other sources does not exceed an annual award of $34,000 and may only be used to top-up such funding up to a cap of $34,000. The college places no limits on total award amounts from other sources. Exceptions to this cap may be made in instances where an assistantship appointment is a degree requirement or to honor prior commitments to current graduate students made by the college or units within the college.
Consistent with this policy, the $34,000 Carver Fellowship, which is the most prestigious one-year fellowship in the college does not allow Fellows to receive other support, including summer jobs, internships, graduate assistantships (TA, RA, GA, etc.), or any other full fellowship. Similarly, SURGE Fellows who receive major award funding for AY 2020/21 from other sources exceeding $9,000 may defer their one-year $25,000 fellowship to a later year. They are guaranteed departmental assistantship support and the supplementary $4,000 SURGE support in AY 2020/21 provided that the major award funding from other sources does not exceed $34,000 and only up to a total award of $34,000.”
Assistantships
Types of Assistantships
There are several types of assistantships that a graduate student can be hired as. You can find a description of each type of assistantships on the UIUC Human Resources page.
Teaching Assistantships
ISE hires students as teaching assistants for both the fall and spring semesters. The application period for each semester is as follows:
- April 1 - June 1 for Fall
- September 1 - November 1 for Spring
You can apply through the TA Preference Form. If you are an ISE graduate student, you should also fill out the Planning Form so we have an idea of the type of support you are hoping to receive during the semester you are applying to be a TA.
Being a TA requires the English Proficiency Interview (EPI) if certain conditions, including TOEFL or IELTS scores, do not meet the threshold. For this reason, we suggest you look into these requirements as early as possible.
If you are chosen to be a TA, you will be informed via email with your course assignment.
Research Assistantships
ISE faculty members routinely hire students to conduct research as research assistants through the entire academic year. It is important to reach out to faculty to inquire about the possibility of a research assistantship. You can view the ISE Research page to explore the faculty members that work in our varying disciplines. If a faculty member agrees to hire you, they will work with Engineering Human Resources to process your assistantship appointment.
Graduate Assistantships
These are primarily to support administrative functions. These include technical/support services, advising, etc.
Policies Regarding Assistantships
The Graduate College has several policies as they relate to assistantships, including stipends, tuition waivers, and more. Please visit the Graduate College Assistantship page for more information.
Please keep in mind that if your appointment is between 25-67%, in addition to your monthly stipend, will also include a tuition and partial fee waiver. The waiver covers service, Library Technology Fees, AFMFA and health services including vision insurance, dental insurance and partial payment of the health insurance fee. Students are responsible for paying other assessed fees.
Monthly stipend amounts in ISE are determined based on your academic background – pre-MS, post-MS, completion of preliminary exams.
International students can have a maximum of 50% appointments in a semester (both TA, RA, and GA combined).
Graduate Assistantship Clearinghouse
Please visit the ISE Financial support page for a link to the Graduate College Assistantship Clearinghouse, which contains a list of assistantships available across the University.
Fellowships
Fellowships are financial aid awards that provide a stipend with no expectation of service in return. We offer many fellowships to primarily incoming students. In addition, there are opportunities to receive departmental, College, or University fellowships throughout your academic career. You can visit the ISE Financial Support page for more information.