Full-time Ph.D. students admitted to the Department of Applied Psychology are funded for 4 or 5 academic years either as Steinhardt Fellows or as Research Assistants. Starting Fall 2022, all incoming Steinhardt Fellows and Research Assistants will receive a 5-year funding offer. Fellows are funded by the Steinhardt School of Culture, Education and Human Development and select a primary research mentor upon arrival in the fall of their first year. The funding for Research Assistants is provided by specific faculty grants. Research Assistants are required to work with faculty on the grant throughout the course of their Research Assistantship funding.
All Fellows receive:
A fellowship stipend for all years outlined in their funding offer.
A tuition scholarship during your funded years (including fall, spring, and summer semesters), up to the number of required credits for the PSI program (51-66, depending on the student’s prior experience).
Registration and academic services fees as outlined in their funding offer.
Comprehensive student health insurance as outlined in their funding offer.
Note:
Financial support is not available to part-time students;
Fellowship awards cannot be suspended or “banked” for later use by the student.
For medical reasons, with school approval, fellowship funding can be delayed for later use.
Your funding will be renewed each year for up to four years contingent upon:
Maintaining full-time status. Being full-time is generally defined as 12 credits per fall and spring semesters until you near completion of your course requirements, or being equivalent to full-time study with the necessary department and school approvals. In your later years of study you may not need 12 credits each term, but you will need to maintain full-time equivalency status.
Making successful academic progress, as determined by the benchmarks and goals established by PSI. PSI doctoral students are evaluated annually by program faculty. Students are evaluated in terms of their achievement of established academic and professional development and program milestones. These include successful progress through program milestones, coursework ; research, teaching and practice objectives; external funding; and professionally competent and ethical behavior. Students are notified of their academic standing prior to the beginning of each new academic year. Funding is contingent upon earning a satisfactory annual evaluation. Students who do not meet the established benchmarks may forfeit their funding and may be terminated from the program.
Departmental awards: Each semester, NYU Steinhardt provides students with the opportunity to apply to departmental scholarships and fellowships. Student scholarships honor Applied Doctoral students who have achieved distinction in various areas of research and practice. All eligible students are invited and encouraged to submit applications for all applicable scholarships. All information about available scholarships, application materials, and procedures can be found on the scholarship website. PD awards for April 2025 here. Application and recommendation links open in the Fall and Spring semesters.
Student-generated Grants, Fellowships or Scholarships: Students may receive their own externally funded grants, fellowships, or scholarships (e.g., Ford Diversity Fellowship, APA Minority Fellowship, Soros). The stipends from these external funding sources may be used to supplement the funding that the student receives from the school to the extent permitted by the funding agency and the Office of Financial Aid.
In addition students may be eligible for additional compensation if you are hired to teach, conduct research on a faculty project, or other similar activities. Please refer to the Steinhardt Funding Program for Full-Time Doctoral Students for further details.
Teaching and Grading: During the term of their fellowship Fellows may supplement their income by teaching as Adjunct Faculty in the department of Applied Psychology or other NYU departments or schools. Doctoral students teaching in the department receive teaching training and support (e.g., teaching mentorship) through the Applied Psychology Undergraduate Program (APUG). The Department sends out an email survey in the Spring semester for the upcoming academic year. Please note that doctoral students may not be employed to teach other doctoral students.
Conducting research on a faculty project. Often, students can supplement their fellowship during the summer months or their later academic years by serving as an hourly research assistant on a faculty-led project or grant. Students are also encouraged to reach out directly to PSI (and other) faculty about available RA positions. Early to mid Spring is a good time to seek out RA opportunities for the summer months.