Pitt financial support

[ukiitm]

I'm an international student (with a master's from the US) that recently got accepted into the PhD program in Bioengineering at the University of Pittsburgh. The offer of financial support includes a $24k stipend for the "first full year", and, in addition, something called a Dean's Fellowship.

Now, I think the "one year" clause means that I would have to satisfy certain minimum conditions in my first year of study (like GPA, etc. - the usual I suppose) if I want the support to be extended into later years. Is my assumption correct? Has anyone else here received such an offer from Pitt or anywhere else and got this issue clarified?

Also, does anyone know what the Dean's fellowship thing means (I did not apply for it separately, so I have no clue. Am not complaining though :wink: ).

Edit: Previous subject - Pitt Bioengineering financial support.

[manda190]

Pitt offered me a scholarship for GSPIA and they said in the award letter that it will be for the first year. They explained in my award letter that continuation of the scholarship into the second year of my program is contingent upon several things:

1. Number of credits

2. Minimum Grade Point Average

Basically, they want to make sure that you are passing all of your classes and are taking the minimum number of credits to retain your scholarship for the second year. It sounds like to me that you are in the same scenario, and as long as you fulfill the minimum requirements for the scholarships, you will not have any trouble keeping them. But every department is different, so I would advise you to double check with your department officials.

Hope this helps and congrats for getting into Pitt!

[ukiitm]

Thanks and thanks! So are you taking up the Pitt offer?