Berkeley Regent's Fellowship

[chuli]

I'm a prospective incoming PhD student at Berkeley. In the email I received from the graduate division saying I'd been awarded a regent's fellowship, it said that the grafuate division would cover the first two years of the program (after which the department would give me RA/TA-ships), which I took to mean I'd be on fellowship for two years. However, the email I received from the head of graduate studies in my department was phrased as if I would only be receiving one year of "duties free" fellowship...

Does anyone have any insight on this? Thanks in advance!

[TakeruK]

Probably best to ask your department and graduate division for clarification. It's possible that the 2nd year, while the graduate division would still cover the costs, would still require TAing/RAing. For example, it might mean the Graduate Division is paying for your TA/RAship instead of your department. However, this is all speculation--the best thing to do is to ask for clarification!

[jujubea]

Hi - I wonder if this is something UC-wide, or common to California schools' "fellowships."

 

I was also awarded a Regents Fellowship, except at UCSB, and only for the first year. It is pretty clear from the writing that I will not be working that year.

 

However, the second and third years I am covered by another Department "Fellowship" also, but it says in the letter what I'll be awarded, "and an additional $X per quarter, either as a stipend or a mix of stipend and Student Assistantship (of no more than 40 hours per quarter) to be determined by the Department."

 

I've never even heard of a "Student Assistantship" but I'm assuming it's similar to TA-ing or RA-ing?

 

Anyway, not sure this helps, except to say, you're not alone in deciphering these things.

Edited March 31, 2015 by jujubea