UNC-Chapel Hill Funding

[ATLeducator]

Hi, all! I was recently accepted to UNC-Chapel Hill (Education, Ph.D.). Has anyone else heard about when they make their funding decisions? 

[JackOfStyle]

Hi there, I was accepted too! The professor who contacted me told me she hopes to find out  at the end of February or early March.

[ATLeducator]

Hi there, I was accepted too! The professor who contacted me told me she hopes to find out  at the end of February or early March.

 

For what program did you apply? 

[JackOfStyle]

Education PhD - specifically PLS. 

[iphi]

Did you go to their Admitted Student's Day last weekend? We had a funding info session. 55% of students in the SoE are funded. For my program (School Psych) we do NOT get funding details until the summer, meaning we have to accept the offer before knowing about funding. Fellowship is obviously different.

[ATLeducator]

Did you go to their Admitted Student's Day last weekend? We had a funding info session. 55% of students in the SoE are funded. For my program (School Psych) we do NOT get funding details until the summer, meaning we have to accept the offer before knowing about funding. Fellowship is obviously different.

 

Darn, I didn't hear anything about that weekend. Do you have any electronic files you could pass along via PM? 

[iphi]

Darn, I didn't hear anything about that weekend. Do you have any electronic files you could pass along via PM? 

 

No e-files, but I can type up my notes for everyone to see. Personally, UNC was my top choice until I saw what the funding situation was like. The general SoE talk about it was encouraging - and that's what my notes below are based on - but I found it to be unacceptable for my department. Also, I have to accept their offer before I find out about funding (another dealbreaker for me).

 

Here are the notes from the general SoE funding info session:

 

Types of funding:

1. Fellowships/Scholarships (you have to be nominated for these): 19 awards/year for SoE

2. RAships

3. TAships

All of the first 3 options pay your tuition. #4 & #5 do not (i.e. just a job to pay bills, NO tuition remission)

4. GAships (General Assistantship)

5. Other on-campus jobs, e.g. Planetarium, art museum

 

I don't know what other departments are like, but in mine (School Psychology) 31/32 students are funded, but only half of those have tution remission.

 

Minimum stipend per semester to qualify for tuition remission is $7600. That counts as "full-time" (20 hours) and qualifies you for tuition remission.

If an assistantship does not pay your tuition, it should give you higher pay. If it doesnt, you can ask for it.

 

Out of state students:

-IF you have your tuition paid for you through funding, the out of state part is waived.

-You MUST apply for residency after 1st year.

 

Miscellaneous:

-You can only be eligible for assistantships with tuition remission for a total of 10 semesters. So don't take more than 5 years to graduate!

-1st years will not be approved for overload (can only work max of 20 hours/week)

-Supposedly after your first year it is easy to find funding (students told me otherwise - at least funding that pays your tuition)

-Supposedly 1st Years and International students get "priority" for funding from SoE.

Edited February 18, 2014 by iphi