All students in good standing in the Program of Neuroscience receive financial support in the form of an annual stipend, out-of-state tuition waiver, and health insurance. First-year students are supported by Program funds while they take courses and do lab rotations. Students in their second and subsequent years are funded by research assistantships from their advisors, teaching assistantships, training grant funds, or individual fellowships.
Students who are not legal residents of Arizona receive a waiver of the out-of-state tuition fees charged by the University of Arizona. Enrollment in the University's student health plan for the student only is covered.
Student Funding 2024-2025 Example
Level 1: Students who have not yet passed comprehensive exams
Level 2: Students who have passed comprehensive exams.
| Level 1 | Level 2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Student stipend | 29,700 | 30,800 |
| Waiver out-of-state tuition & registration | 12,348 | 10,584 |
| Health insurance (ERE) | 3,934 | 4,066 |
| Total Gross Value | $45,982 | $45,450 |
|
Student Responsibilities: Books, living expenses, etc. |
variable | variable |
These amounts assume that the student is in residence in Tucson and a student in good standing with the Program in Neuroscience on July 1st of each year. Students arriving at the University after July 1 will receive a prorated stipend level for that fiscal year.
Methods of Funding
Students on research assistantships are non-benefit-eligible employees of the University. They are paid through the payroll system on a biweekly basis. Students must sign an appointment contract, must enroll for a minimum 6 units of class credits, and must adhere to University policies regarding reporting of time and employee conduct. As this is employment, appropriate federal and state taxes are withheld from the student's pay.
Students on teaching assistantships are bound by the same employment conditions as research assistants. Teaching assistants must attend a teaching workshop. The dollar amount of a teaching assistantship varies from department to department, so students on Teaching Assistantships may receive supplemental funding from other sources approved by the Program.
Students with the highest academic records may be supported with funds from training grants awarded to awarded to various programs at the University. These are stipends that paid through the Bursar's Office and are generally paid in several lump-sum installments: one at the beginning of fall semester, one at the beginning of spring semester, and one at the start of summer session. Generally, students on training grants do not pay registration fees from these amounts as most training grants provide registration payment. If the total training grant award (including registration fee payment) is less than the Program's funding levels, training grant fellows will be supplemented to the appropriate Program in Neuroscience level (Level 1 or Level 2).
Students are encouraged to apply for individual, competitive awards such as National Research Service Awards (NRSA), ARCS, as well as funding from other training programs. These awards are predicated on enrollment in the program and the use of University resources. These awards will be considered part of the student's overall funding package. If the award is greater than the funding level for Program in Neuroscience students, the student will receive no additional funding from the Program. If the award is less than the funding level for Program in Neuroscience students, the student will receive supplemental funding to bring the student's total package the appropriate Program level. In recognition of the competitive and special nature of these awards, the Program will consider a portion of the funding, usually $1,000-$1,500, to be exempt from inclusion in the student's funding package.
These programs are not considered part of the student's funding package through the Program in Neuroscience.
Grant & Fellowship Opportunities
The purpose of the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP) is to help ensure the vitality and diversity of the scientific and engineering workforce of the United States. The program recognizes and supports outstanding graduate students who are pursuing research-based master's and doctoral degrees in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) and in STEM education. THE GRFP provides three years of support for advanced study to approximately 2000 outstanding graduate students who have demonstrated their potential for significant research achievements in STEM. Awards (April 2016) carry a stipend for each fellow of $34,000 for a 12-month tenure and an annual cost-of-education allowance of approximately $12,000 paid to the Fellow's institution in lieu of tuition and fees. Eligible applicants must be United States citizens or nationals, or permanent resident aliens of the United States. NSF especially encourages women, members of underrepresented minority groups, persons with disabilities and veterans to apply. Those eligible to apply are college seniors, first-year graduate students, and others who have completed a limited amount of graduate study in science, mathematics, or engineering.
Institutes award NRSA individual predoctoral fellowships (F31) to promising applicants with the potential to become productive, independent investigators in the scientific mission areas of these Institutes. This program will provide predoctoral training support for doctoral candidates that have successfully completed their comprehensive examinations or the equivalent by the time of award and will be performing dissertation research and training. Applicants must be citizens or non-citizen nationals of the United States, or have been lawfully admitted to the United States for permanent residence and have in their possession an Alien Registration Receipt Card (I-151 or I-551) at the time of award. Individuals on temporary or student visas are not eligible for support from the NRSA. Applicants must have received, as of the activation date of the award, a baccalaureate degree and must be enrolled in a program leading to a research doctorate such as the Ph.D. or D.Sc., or a combined clinical and research degree such as M.D./Ph.D.
National Research Service Awards (NRSA) for Individual Predoctoral Fellows
ARCS (Achievement Rewards for College Scientists) Foundation, Inc. is a national volunteer women's organization dedicated to helping the best and brightest U. S. graduate and undergraduate students by providing scholarships in natural sciences, medicine and engineering. The ARCS Foundation, Inc., does not grant scholarships directly. Scholars are selected by the 43 colleges and universities to which ARCS chapters make allocations. The students, who must have a university grade point average of 3.5 or above, are recommended by their departments, which are in the scientific and technical disciplines. Your school's financial aid office will be able to tell you if ARCS grants scholarships in your school and department, and if you might be eligible to receive an ARCS scholarship.
Achievement Rewards for College Scientists (ARCS) Scholarships
The Graduate College, in conjunction with the Graduate and Professional Student Council provides travel funds to graduate students to present invited papers or posters at professional meetings, conferences and symposia that are directly related to their educational development. Eligible applicants must be currently enrolled University of Arizona student in a graduate or professional degree program, be in good academic standing, (3.0 or higher cumulative graduate GPA), and their application must be complete and in the format specified to receive evaluation. Deadlines are 5 pm by September 20, November 1, January 20 and April 1.
Award The Trainee Professional Development Award (TPDA) recognizes undergraduate and graduate students and postdoctoral fellows who demonstrate scientific merit and excellence in research. TPDA recipients are offered complimentary registration to attend the SfN annual meeting, where they present an abstract during a scientific poster session, attend Professional Development Workshops, meet peers, and network with senior scientists. Recipients also receive access to specialized learning opportunities on Neuronline throughout the year following their award. Additionally, an award of $1,000 is given to recipients based at institutions within North America.