Financial Information

Financial assistance to support graduate students is available in the form of teaching assistantships, research assistantships, fellowships, internships and loans. Entering students awarded either teaching or research assistantships or fellowships will receive official notification pertaining to the type and level of financial assistance from the Graduate Studies Office.

The academic standing of students holding awards for teaching and research assistantships is reviewed annually. To remain eligible for a graduate assistantship, a student must demonstrate acceptable progress toward degree requirements, be registered continuously, and maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0 in courses and research work (A = 4.0).

Teaching Assistantships

Teaching assistantships are awarded to graduate students on a competitive basis. They include tuition support for a maximum of 10 credit hours per semester and a monthly stipend. Teaching assistants (TAs) are generally assigned duties that support faculty in their teaching responsibilities. Typical duties of TAs include (but are not limited to) grading of undergraduate and graduate student course paperwork, supervision of undergraduate science and engineering laboratory course sections, as well as individual and small-group conference sections associated with faculty lecture courses. TAs are required to be on campus and available for their assignments 10 days before undergraduate classes begin in the fall, and every day the university is open during the academic year until Commencement (see Academic Calendar). TAs are expected to work 20 hours per week on their assigned duties. Some departments have more stringent requirements. Consult specific departmental descriptions for details.

Research Assistantships

Research assistants (RAs) are selected by the faculty to participate in sponsored research projects in connection with their academic programs. Typical duties of RAs include (but are not limited to) conducting laboratory experiments and assisting in the development of theoretical advances related to faculty research projects. Research projects are typically supported by grants and contracts awarded to the university by government agencies, industrial firms or other private organizations.

RAs who perform research directly connected to their thesis/dissertation must recognize that research is a full-time professional commitment.

The financial support provided to graduate students who have been selected for an assistantship varies depending on the specific nature of the coursework, project and student’s status. Funds may also be available to support summer research activities for students through university or departmental sources, or sponsored research projects.

Fellowships

Fellowship assistance for graduate students is available in a number of areas. Some departments offer fellowships provided by corporate gifts or philanthropic agencies. The university also directly supports graduate research programs through Goddard and Institute fellowship awards. Fellowship awards are administered through the Graduate Studies Office.

Completed fellowship applications are due in the Graduate Studies Office no later than January 15 for the class beginning the following fall. Recipients receive a monthly stipend typically for 9 or 12 months and tuition for 12 months and full tuition. Criteria for eligibility are available in the Graduate Studies Office and on the Web at Graduate Admissions.

WPI offers the following fellowships:

• Goddard Fellowships
• WPI Multi-year Fellowship
• Marietta Anderson Fellowship
• Robert and Esther Goddard Fellowship Fund
• Institute Fellowships
• The Norton Graduate Fellowship
• Robert S. Parks Graduate Fellowship
• Harold Lesher Pierson Memorial Fellowship
• Helen E. Stoddard Fellowship in Materials Science and Engineering
• Carl and Inez Weidenmiller Fellowship

Internships

Graduate internship programs are offered in several departments. A graduate internship is a short-term work assignment (3 to 9 months) in residence at a company or other external organization that forms an integral part of a student’s educational program. For international students, if not a mandatory part of the degree program, credit must be awarded. Where credit is involved, academic advisors will assign grades and may require written reports detailing the internship’s accomplishments. Students pursuing internships at not-forprofits and government agencies typically pay tuition themselves.

Students participating in graduate internships must be registered in a specific course. An internship will appear on the transcript either with or without credit. Students may not participate as interns at their place of employment.

Special Notes for International Students:

An international student on an F-1 visa must maintain full-time status for the duration of their stay. If the student is participating in a full-time graduate internship (one that is not administered through the Office of Cooperative Education), the student must be registered for nine credits. International students in F-1 status may apply for two types of practical training:

  1. Curricular Practical Training (CPT): CPT is used for internships and cooperative education while students are pursuing their degrees. CPT is authorized by the university and the requirement is that the internship or co-op is an integral part of an established curriculum. Internships should be for credit, co-op education does not have to be for credit if it is based on a cooperative agreement between WPI and the employer and approved by the Career Development Center.
  2. Optional Practical Training (OPT): OPT is typically used by students for one year of employment after completion of degree. It can also be used in part for summer jobs or part-time employment during the academic year if employment is in the student’s field of study. OPT requires approval by U.S. Customs and Immigration Services.

Student Loans

Financial assistance is also available through the WPI Financial Aid Office in the form of student loans. To qualify, students must be enrolled in a degreegranting program or certificate on at least a half-time basis and must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents of the United States. Available loans include the Federal Subsidized Stafford Loan, the Federal Unsubsidized Stafford Loan, and private education loans.

For information on loan programs and copies of the forms, contact WPI’s Financial Aid Office at 508-831-5469, or at Financial Aid.

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Last modified: July 15, 2008 15:19:56