What Happens with Funding?

[KellyB]

I wasn't really sure where to put this topic.  I've been attending a fully funded program for a year now (I have a stipend, tuition remission, and a scholarship) but it's just not working out.  I wanted to be absolutely certain before I make any final decisions or commitments though... I won't have to repay any of the funding I have received or something underhanded like that, right?  I mean I know it's not a loan, but I just wanted to make sure I wouldn't have to reimburse them for funding already received toward this year...?  Please help!

[anthropologygeek]

You will not have to repay anything

[KellyB]

Thank you for your reply!  I didn't think so, but I don't want to make any further mistakes at this point.

[lewin]

I mean I know it's not a loan, but I just wanted to make sure I wouldn't have to reimburse them for funding already received toward this year...?

 

 

 

You will not have to repay anything

 

That's not necessarily true. For example, I have a government fellowship that would definitely require repayment if I dropped out mid-term. This really varies by institution and award, you should check with a local admininstrator.

[fuzzylogician]

As lewin00 says, ask officials at your school and don't trust answers you get here, or it may end up costing you a lot of money! I've never heard of anyone having to pay back a stipend they received in good faith, but I wouldn't be surprised if it does happen sometimes under some circumstances (I can imagine some situations but I have no real knowledge of anything aside from what lewin00 pointed out so I'll refrain from speculation).

[juilletmercredi]

True, it depends on your school and where the funding comes from.  NIH fellowships require 12 months of payback for every 12 months of received stipend; your "payback" can be another 12 months of working on NIH-funded research as well as a variety of other things, but a person who dropped out in year one could potentially be liable for that.  I've also heard that some programs are starting to maybe look towards requiring payback for students who drop out pretty early, so I'd check on it.

 

Generally speaking, the vast majority of programs will not require you to pay anything back.

[KellyB]

Ok, thank you for all of the replies.  That's what I was kind of concerned about.  I'm trying not to reveal just yet that I am leaving, just because the politics in the department and the general atmosphere tend to have everyone playing it pretty close to the chest, so I was trying to avoid contacting anyone at the school directly.  I will try to find a way perhaps to contact them anonymously and pose it as a hypothetical question. 

[fuzzylogician]

Ok, thank you for all of the replies.  That's what I was kind of concerned about.  I'm trying not to reveal just yet that I am leaving, just because the politics in the department and the general atmosphere tend to have everyone playing it pretty close to the chest, so I was trying to avoid contacting anyone at the school directly.  I will try to find a way perhaps to contact them anonymously and pose it as a hypothetical question. 

 

In my department I would ask an admin person, not a professor. Maybe try them? They might also be less involved in whatever politics is going on in your department.

[sansao]

In my department I would ask an admin person, not a professor. Maybe try them? They might also be less involved in whatever politics is going on in your department.

 

You could maybe go to the Graduate College administration first, and start there.  It might make less waves to start with, and maybe one of their admin people could find out for you while maintaining your anonymity.  Good luck!

[lewin]

As postscript to my comment -- I would also have to repay some of my fellowship if I graduated early in the term or took a leave for some other reason. i.e., they're not penalizing dropouts per se, but no longer being a student.