HCDE PhD students receive funding through a combination of research assistantships (RAs), teaching assistantships and associateships (TAs), staff assistantships and associateships (SAs), predoctoral instructor appointments, fellowships, and other opportunities.
At the time of admission, each PhD student receives a funding guarantee covering a specified number of academic-year quarters. This page explains how the HCDE funding guarantee works, eligibility requirements, and how additional funding opportunities may affect your guarantee.
Students should refer to their admission offer letter for the specific terms of their individual funding package.
HCDE funding guarantee
The HCDE funding guarantee provides employment-based funding during the academic year (autumn, winter, and spring quarters). Eligible graduate student appointments include a tuition waiver, health insurance, and a monthly stipend.
Depending on a student's funding plan and available opportunities, guaranteed appointments may include:
- Research assistantships (RAs), including PhD research rotations
- Teaching assistantships or associateships (TAs)
- Predoctoral instructor appointments
- Staff assistantships or associateships (SAs)
Students employed in eligible graduate student appointments receive a monthly stipend, tuition waiver, and health insurance through the Graduate Appointee Insurance Program (GAIP). Health insurance eligibility is tied to the qualifying graduate student appointment rather than full-time student enrollment alone.
Graduate student employment at UW is governed by the collective bargaining agreement between the University of Washington and UAW Local 4121, which represents Academic Student Employees.
Students must generally enroll in at least 10 credits to be eligible for TA, RA, or SA funding during the academic year. In exceptional circumstances, students may petition for reduced enrollment.
Related links:
- UW graduate student assistantships
- GAIP eligibility and coverage
- UAW/UW Academic Student Employee contract
- Petition for reduced enrollment
PhD research rotations
For students admitted with research rotations as part of their funding plan, two quarters of the funding guarantee are typically completed through research assistantships with two different HCDE faculty members.
Learn more about PhD research rotationsAdditional research funding and fellowships
Many PhD students receive funding beyond the appointments included in their initial HCDE funding guarantee.
Students may match with additional research assistantship opportunities or apply for fellowships that support their studies. At the time of admission, some students may also be offered fellowships or additional research assistantships based on alignment with available opportunities.
Additional research assistantship or fellowship funding typically extends rather than replaces the quarters included in the HCDE funding guarantee.
Explore fellowships and other funding opportunitiesMaintaining eligibility for funding
The HCDE funding guarantee is contingent on satisfactory academic progress and satisfactory performance in employment.
Each spring, HCDE conducts an annual review of every PhD student's progress in the program. At the beginning of summer quarter, students receive a formal letter that includes the number of department-funded quarters remaining in their funding guarantee.
Students should also be aware that leaving a department-funded RA, TA, predoctoral instructor, or SA appointment within 30 days of the beginning of the appointment results in forfeiting that quarter of guaranteed funding.
Academic standing and the funding guarantee
Students who are not in good academic standing may no longer be eligible for guaranteed funding. HCDE's Graduate Student Continuation Policy explains academic progress expectations and how academic notification, academic alert, or final academic alert status may affect assistantship placement and the funding guarantee.
Graduate Student Continuation PolicyInternational student eligibility
International students should review the UW Graduate School's English language proficiency requirements. PhD students who are not native speakers of English must meet the requirements of Graduate School Policy 5.2: Conditions of Appointment for TAs Who Are Not Native Speakers of English to receive a teaching assistant appointment.