Texas Tech University

Ph.D. Scholarship & Financial Aid Information

Graduate Studies

Financial Aid

We strongly encourage students to complete the Free Application for Student Aid (FAFSA) at least six months before beginning their studies (www.fafsa.ed.gov). Students who have completed this form and qualify for work study are eligible for assistantships and aid for which other students may not qualify. For additional information about financial aid, please see the Texas Tech Student Financial Aid website: www.fina.ttu.edu

Scholarships

Applications for most scholarships are due December 1 of each year for the following academic year. Applications for some scholarships awarded by the College of Media & Communication must be received at least six months prior to the date you will begin coursework. Scholarship awards of at least $1,000 annually (can be split across semesters) will waive out-of-state tuition rates for domestic students.

Assistantships

Students with this waiver are permitted to pay in-state rates. Students must enroll in nine hours per semester to qualify for most scholarships.Graduate assistantships are intended for superior students in good academic standing. These assistantships involve a variety of duties including, but not limited to: serving as an instructor of record, assisting faculty with specific courses and/or assisting faculty with research projects.

Students with assistantships are expected to work 20 hours per week for the College of Media & Communication, are required to be full-time students and may not hold any other employment. See Appendix G of this document for more information.

Students who receive assistantships are not permitted to use college equipment or supplies for their coursework.

An assistantship (TA, RA, or GA) that is at least 20 hours per week gives a student both the out-of-state tuition waiver and some fee waivers. The $1,000 scholarship only gives the out-of-state tuition waiver.

Ph.D. Assistants

Usually, only doctoral students with 18 or more completed graduate hours in Media & Communication are qualified to serve as Graduate Part Time Instructors (GPTI), and only GPTIs may serve as instructors of record for academic courses.

Doctoral-level assistants who qualify to serve as GPTIs are typically assigned to teach one course each semester and to provide faculty research assistance. They may also be assigned to teach two classes or to work exclusively on research. Assignments are based on student qualifications and college needs.

Based on their academic and work performance, Ph.D.-level assistants may be reappointed for up to six regular semesters.