Because our PhD candidates complete extensive individualized research, we want you to complete your degree with the fewest possible interruptions, thus allowing you to move on to industry or academia expeditiously. Most of our doctoral students enroll full-time and are funded for five years. Funding includes a competitive fellowship, a full-tuition scholarship, and health insurance benefits. All doctoral candidates teach some semesters as part of their academic program, with the type and number of teaching assignments varying by degree program. The Graduate School of Arts and Sciences will work with you to help you to realize the greatest return on your educational investment.
All awards are contingent on the conditions set out annually in the University Bulletin, including (but not limited to) satisfactory academic progress and changes in student status.
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Scholarships are awarded on the grounds of scholarly ability and are to be used exclusively for remission of tuition fees. Full and partial scholarships are available for PhD students and are generally awarded at the time of admission. Full-scholarship students are liable for all but tuition charges. Both international students and U.S. citizens are automatically considered for scholarships.
All awards are granted and accepted with the understanding that the student must maintain a superior level of academic progress.
A fellowship is an academic award of honor to outstanding students to help them in furthering advanced study, research, and training in teaching. A fellowship recipient must pay tuition unless the award includes a scholarship in an amount covering tuition. Often awarded at the time of admission, fellowships do not require a separate application unless noted for a particular program. Both International and U.S. students are considered for departmental fellowships. Fellowships are paid to students biweekly in the form of a stipend check.
Amounts of fellowships vary by program, but you will find them to be competitive with other research institutions in large, metropolitan cities. All awards are granted and accepted with the understanding that the student must maintain a superior level of academic progress.
Research and/or teaching assistantships are available in several programs, especially the sciences. Teaching assistantships are available to PhD students to assist in the teaching and grading of courses. Assistantships do not require a separate application unless noted for a particular program. Both international and domestic students are considered for assistantships. Assistantships are paid to students biweekly in the form of a stipend check. Please note that doctoral student teaching assistantships are covered by a collective bargaining agreement.
PhD students who receive full tuition scholarships and fellowships/assistantships are also eligible for a health insurance grant to cover the cost of the individual student health plan offered by the University.
Established in 2018, the Toshizo Watanabe International Scholarship Program (TWISP) at Brandeis University is committed to providing students from Japan with the opportunity to study at Brandeis University. Watanabe Scholars include graduate and undergraduate students from Japan who have studied, or are currently studying, at Keio University, Waseda University and other top-tier Japanese universities with which Brandeis has a partnership agreement. Read more about TWISP on the International Students and Scholars Office website.
