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DEFINING FUNDING SOURCES
Graduate students in the Physics Department are primarily funded through GSI (Graduate Student Instructorship) positions, GSRA (Graduate Student Research Assistant) positions, or fellowships (internal or external). A bit rarer is the opportunity to be funded through a GSSA (Graduate Student Staff Assistant) position. Sometimes students are funded by a combination of these in a single term. There are additional forms of funding beyond these, so be sure you're in communication with the Graduate Program Coordinator about your funding so that they can help you navigate what it means for your program.
GSI
GSI
Students receive financial support (monthly stipend, health care benefits, and full or partial tuition waiver) from teaching. Teaching in Physics includes a variety of responsibilities, like teaching an introductory lab, leading discussion sections, grading for a course, or offering curricular support to a faculty member. Please be conscientious of the fact that a GSI appointment is employment through the University of Michigan.
GSRA
GSRA
This is an appointment which may be provided to a student in good standing in a University of Michigan graduate degree program who performs personal research (including thesis or dissertation preparation) or who assists others in performing research that is relevant to their academic goals. GSRAs include a monthly stipend, health care benefits, and a full or partial tuition waiver. In Physics, GSRAs are typically awarded by faculty advisors to students in their research group/lab.
Fellowship
Fellowship
Fellowships can be either internal to UM (i.e. Rackham Merit Fellowship) or external (i.e. National Science Foundation Fellowship). Fellowships are either applied for by the student, recommended for application by the department, or given through a competition. Fellowships vary, although they typically provide a monthly stipend, health care benefits, and full or partial tuition waiver. Fellowships do not typically come with specific work expectations. Instead, it is generally expected that a student will focus on their studies and/or conduct research that will advance their progress.
GSSA
GSSA
The title of Graduate Student Staff Assistant is given to a graduate student whose employment meets at least one of two criteria: (1) fulfills a degree requirement or (2) is otherwise considered academically relevant by the department or degree program in which the degree is being pursued. GSSAs perform administrative, counseling, or educational duties that differ from those traditionally done by GSIs. GSSA positions within the University are rare.
Please pay close attention to the application and nomination processes for Rackham awards. For many awards, the nomination needs to come from the department and can only be submitted by department administration. In addition, some awards only allow a limited amount of nominees per department, so an internal competition is held first. Please speak with the Graduate Program Coordinator if you have questions about any awards or the internal competition process for various awards.
Academic Human Resources is responsible for administering bargained-for contracts with educators and lecturers, including the GEO Contract.
Understanding Appointment Fractions
Understanding Appointment Fractions
When awarded funding in an academic term, it is assigned an appointment fraction. These fractions come with associated work hour expectations of the student. A fully funded term would see a student awarded a 50% (or .50) appointment. The other half of the student’s time is expected to be used for pursuing personal research, academic study, or managing life commitments.
Students may be appointed at a 25%, 35%, or 50% fraction in any type of funding. If one source of funding is not equal to 50%, then it will be combined with another source until reaching that fraction. For example, you can have a 25% GSI position and a 25% GSRA position to equal a full term appointment.
Fraction and Approximate Hours of Work Expected
50% (or .50) = 20 hours a week
35% (or .35) = 14 hours a week
25% (or .25) = 10 hours a week
Tuition and Tuition Waivers
Tuition and Tuition Waivers
The tuition for attending the University of Michigan can be found here on the Office of the Registrar website.
A tuition waiver is issued when either the department, the College, or another UM unit agrees to pay a student's tuition for the semester. The waiver excuses the student from paying the bill and only, in most cases, requires them to pay the fees associated with registration. A tuition waiver for up to ten (10) terms is included in Physics PhD student guaranteed funding packages as long as the student remains in good academic standing and is making satisfactory progress toward their degree. PhD students only enroll during Fall and Winter term; tuition is covered in these terms by your GSRA, GSI, or fellowship appointment. Students do not enroll in Spring/Summer Term, therefore tuition is not paid during that time. The only time a student will enroll during Spring/Summer Term is if they are defending, and they must have the permission of their faculty advisor.
Stipends
Stipends
When receiving a stipend from a fellowship or GSI/GSRA/GSSA appointment, students are paid monthly. Fellowships issued by the Physics Department disburse during the last week of the month; if a fellowship is issued by another unit, check with them as stipend disbursement can vary. GSI/GSRA/GSSA appointments disburse on the last business day of the month; this can sometimes be altered during months where holidays conflict with pay dates.
Graduate students can earn supplemental income and apply for loans if they choose to. Students wanting to earn a supplemental income should consult first with the Graduate Program Coordinator, as certain types of employment or fellowships can have restrictions. Also, international students on an F-1 or J-1 visa should be aware of work restrictions imposed on them and speak with the International Center before taking on additional work.
Travel - Funding and Reimbursements
Travel - Funding and Reimbursements
Faculty, staff, and students who are travelling for university-related purposes (domestic or international) are asked to register their travel via Global Michigan. (See also the University's International Travel Policy here.)
If your faculty advisor is reimbursing for travel related to your research (example: attending a conference to present a paper or visit a lab to conduct research), you can fill out a travel reimbursement form here and return the form, with applicable receipts, to Physics-BusinessOffice@umich.edu. The Physics Business Office handles all student reimbursements. Please note receipts must show form of payment.
Parkinson Travel Fund
The Parkinson Travel Fund is for Physics Graduate Students to provide students the opportunity to attend conferences, present posters, give talks and participate in other research-related travel opportunities.
Students can request up to $500 per academic year (September - August) if also awarded a Rackham Grant, and up to $750 per academic year if not awarded a Rackham Grant
Students must also apply to Rackham Conference Travel Grant or Rackham Research Grant
Students must also request funding from their advisor
Please note the Department of Physics cannot guarantee funding for all expenses
Awards are provided on a rolling basis
Applicants must be PhD students enrolled in the Physics Department and must be in good academic standing
Funds should be requested ahead of the conference. No application will be considered for funding retroactively.
Funds should be requested ahead of attending the conference. No application will be considered for funding retroactively
Please apply through this link or speak with the Graduate Program Coordinator.
Rackham Conference Travel Grant
Students can apply directly to the Rackham Conference Travel Grant on their own, without department permission. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. Awards are between $800 to $1,300 depending on you destination. Students can receive one travel grant per fiscal year (July 1 to June 30).
Taxes
Taxes
Taxes are not taken out of fellowship payments and must be paid independently. Taxes are taken out of GSI, GSRA, and GSSA payments. The department is not permitted to give tax advice to students. Any earned income in the United States is subject to federal and state taxes. Below is a list of resources for student taxes and financials.
Resources:
Current tax legislation, international treaty exemptions or the University deduction policy, contact Financial Services
Other Rackham Grants
Other Rackham Grants
Employment Rules for GSRAs
Employment Rules for GSRAs
Remote work:
International remote work for GSRAs is not allowed, absent a compelling business reason. Assuming a compelling business reason exists, there may be university-level tax and legal compliance issues. All students planning to conduct GSRA work outside of Ann Arbor (including within the US) should let the Physics Graduate Program Coordinator know well in advance when possible by emailing physics.sso@umich.edu. These rules apply to all students uniformly; however, each individual’s circumstances will be reviewed and generally, no two situations are identical.
Vacation:
GSRA appointments do not include vacation time. GSRAs who intend to stop/pause working during their appointment must be placed on an unpaid work break. If you intend to stop/pause work, please notify the Graduate Program Coordinator well in advance when possible. Work breaks do not impact I-20 or F-1 status, though international students should be in contact with the International Center when traveling either for work or vacation.
Sick Leave:
GSRAs qualify for paid sick leave. More information can be found on the HR website.
Community Building Funds
Community Building Funds
The Physics Department has funds available for social or community-building events for students enrolled in the PhD program. Physics Grad Council is also allocated funds at the start of each academic year for social functions.
To request funds for social events, please submit your request to Physics Student Services (physics.sso@umich.edu) with a detailed description of your event and the anticipated budget.
Funds can pay for things such as food, room rentals, and event fees. Note that things such as prizes have strict limitations. There are funding maximums, especially for food, that are set by the university and we are required to follow.
Anything the department funds must be open to all Physics graduate students; restrictions on the funds do not allow them to be used for students outside of the program or for subsets of graduate students (i.e. only theory students).
There is specific funding available for undergrads if Physics graduate students want to partner with SPS, for example, on an event.
Department funded and/or sponsored events (for both current and prospective students) cannot include alcohol. You can view the University of Michigan's Drug and Alcohol policies in the Standard Practice Guide. You can view LSA's Alcohol Policies here.
Other Rackham Grants
Other Rackham Grants
Rackham Graduate Student Research Grant - The Rackham Graduate Student Research Grant is designed to support Rackham graduate students who need assistance to carry out research that advances their progress toward their degree.
Rackham Professional Development Grants - A Rackham Professional Development Grant is intended to support Rackham doctoral students seeking careers both within and outside academia. This funding is to support short-term experiences that promote the development of professional skills which will further a student’s career goals. The Rackham Professional Development Grant cannot be combined with the Rackham Conference Travel Grant or Rackham Graduate Student Research Grant.
Emergency Funds
Emergency Funds
Rackham Emergency Fund - The Rackham Graduate Student Emergency Fund is intended to help meet the financial needs of Rackham graduate students who encounter an emergency situation or one-time, unusual, or unforeseen expenses during their degree program. Examples include:
Medical, dental, or mental health emergencies for the student or, in some circumstances, for immediate family members who live with the student
Major accidents and events such as fire and natural disasters
Expenses related to the death of an immediate family member
Physics Department Emergency Fund - Students must request and receive the Rackham Emergency Grant before applying. Students can receive up to $1000 for emergency funds from the department only one time throughout their time in the Ph.D. program and are not required to provide documentation. Email physics-ssm@umich.edu with any questions or to request funds.
The Helmut W. Baer Fellowship
The Helmut W. Baer Fellowship shall be awarded annually to an outstanding first year student within the Graduate Program in the Department of Physics. The recipient will be selected on the basis of exceptional work within their first year. The recipient will receive a $7000 stipend in addition to their .25 first-year summer fellowship, removing the need to be supported through a GSRA with a faculty advisor. It is still highly recommended that the recipient find a research advisor for the summer, but it is not required. The recipient of the Baer Fellowship will be decided by the Associate Chair of Graduate Studies in early March each academic year. The student will be informed of the decision at that time by the Physics Graduate Program Coordinator. Preference will be given to students focusing on nuclear physics, but all areas of study in physics will be considered.
The Norman E. and Mary Barnett Fellowship
The Norman E. and Mary E. Barnett Fellowship shall be awarded annually to an outstanding precandidate student within the Graduate Program in the Department of Physics. The recipient shall be selected on the basis of established excellence in a field of physics research that has important potential for technological development, or a student who is pursuing research that has the potential for application over a broad spectrum of fields. Such fields include but are not limited to experimental condensed matter physics; experimental atomic, molecular or optical physics; biophysics; nuclear and medical physics. The fellowship will entirely cover tuition and associated fees and provide a stipend commensurate with a .50 GSI/GSRA position. Benefits (GradCare and dental) will be covered by the Department of Physics during the duration of the fellowship. The Associate Chair of Graduate Studies and Chair of Physics will decide on the recipient of the Barnett Fellowship in the summer before each new academic year. The student, in consultation with their advisor, can then select whether they would prefer to utilize the fellowship in either Fall or Winter term. Students must be nominated by their department advisor; the Physics Graduate Program Coordinator will put a call out to faculty in June with a deadline and decision date in July each year.
The Frank C. Mock Memorial Fellowship
The Frank C. Mock Memorial Fellowship is awarded annually in both the Fall and Winter terms to a student in their fifth year or above within the Graduate Program in the Department of Physics. The recipient shall have a demonstrated need for support and a history of academic and professional excellence within the program. The purpose of the award is to grant students late in their programs time to focus on research and dissertation writing. All research areas of physics are welcome to apply. The fellowship will entirely cover tuition and associated fees and provide a stipend commensurate with a .50 GSI/GSRA position. Benefits (GradCare and dental) will be covered by the fund during the duration of the fellowship. The Associate Chair of Graduate Studies will decide on the recipient each term. Students must be nominated by their department advisor; the Physics Graduate Program Coordinator will put a call out to faculty in June (with a decision date of July) and in October (with a decision date of November). A student may receive the Frank C. Mock Memorial Fellowship up to two times during their career, with preference given to first-time recipients.
The Walter F. Lewis Fellowship
The Walter F. Lewis Fellowship shall be awarded annually to either a precandidate or candidate student within the Graduate Program in the Department of Physics. The recipient shall have a history of doing exceptional work in the program with proof of conducting ground-breaking or an above normal level of research. All research areas of physics will be considered. If a precandidate, the fellowship will provide 50% coverage of tuition and a stipend commensurate with a .25 GSI/GSRA position. Benefits (GradCare and dental) will be covered by either a GSI or GSRA position that provides the other half of the student's funding. If a candidate, the fellowship will entirely cover tuition and associated fees and provide a stipend commensurate with a .50 GSI/GSRA position. Benefits (GradCare and dental) will be covered by the Department of Physics during the duration of the fellowship. The Associate Chair of Graduate Studies will decide on the recipient of the Lewis Fellowship in the summer before each new academic year. The student, in consultation with their advisor, can then select whether they would prefer to utilize the fellowship in either Fall or Winter term. Students must be nominated by their department advisor; the Physics Graduate Program Coordinator will put a call out to faculty in June with a deadline and decision date in July each year. When funds allow, more than one fellowship may be awarded in an academic year.
The Bissell-Hazen-Kowalczyk Fellowship
The Bissell-Hazen-Kowalczyk Fellowship shall be awarded annually to two candidate students within the Graduate Program in the Department of Physics. The recipients shall have a history of excellence within the program. All research areas of physics are welcome to apply. The fellowship will entirely cover Fall and Winter tuition and associated fees and provide a stipend commensurate with a .50 GSI/GSRA position; recipients will receive a .50 stipend during the summer months, as well. Benefits (GradCare and dental) will be covered by the fund during the duration of the fellowship. The Associate Chair of Graduate Studies will decide on the recipient of the Bissell-Hazen-Kowalczyk Fellowship. A call will go out to all graduate students when a fellowship award becomes available; an application process will be required and students must demonstrate support from their faculty advisor. The award may be renewable annually as long as the recipient remains in good academic standing and makes noted progress towards their program goals.
The Bissell-Hazen-Kowalczyk Gift also provides first-year students with an award in late August upon their matriculation to the program. The amount of the award will be decided and announced to incoming students by late July each year. The funds may be used at the discretion of the student with the hope that they are utilized for either living or technological needs during their transition to graduate school.
STUDENT FEES FAQ
When do I have to pay fees?
Fees are due at the start of each Fall and Winter term. Students must be registered for the minimum number of credit hours and pay their fees by the first day of classes to avoid any late fees. (Note: If you are required to register for Sp/Su Term for your defense or I-20 extension, fees are due by the first day of classes of Spring Term).How do I find out how much fees are each term?
The Graduate Program Coordinator will email all graduate students prior to the start of the term with fee information. In addition, you can always look up fee information through the Office of the Registrar.Why do I have to pay fees?
All University of Michigan students are subject to fees. These student fees assist in the maintenance of a variety of student organizations or services, facilities, as well as provide students access to recreational athletic facilities on campus.What is the current breakdown of fees each term?
You can find the current year's tuition and fees listed on the Registrar's Office website. Make sure to input LSA as the school/college.Are fees different depending on my appointment?
Yes. Your fees will vary depending on your appointment. If you are hired as a GSI, your University Unions & Rec Sports Fee and Student Legal Services Fee are covered by the GEO contract. Many fellowships pay all fees for you. As a GSRA, you are responsible for all fees.How do I pay my fees?
You will find your fees in your Student Account on Wolverine Access.Are there late fees?
Beginning the first day of the term a $50 late registration fee will be assessed for students who have not previously registered for that term. A late registration fee is increased by $25 at the beginning of each subsequent month. If fees are not paid, it can prevent you from registering in future terms. The department is not responsible for any late student fees. If you receive a late fee due to administrative processing (such as a delayed tuition waiver), please contact Physics Student Services for assistance.
Undergraduate Student Loan Deferment
If you have student loans from your undergraduate education, the University of Michigan participates in the National Student Clearinghouse. You can find information regarding verification of enrollment for loan deferment here. Questions? Contact the Office of the Registrar.
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