Admitted Student Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions About the Cost of Attending Texas Tech University from Recently-Accepted MA and PhD Applicants to the Graduate Program in Spanish

My acceptance and fellowship offer letter from CMLL explains that the academic year, for payroll purposes, spans September 1 through May 31. How do graduate students support themselves for the other three months of the year?

All funded graduate students in good academic standing and with solid teaching records are given the opportunity to teach one 5-week online summer language course, for which they are paid $3,500. Texas Tech’s Summer calendar is divided up into two 5-week sessions, Summer I and Summer II. Due to the fact that graduate students at Texas Tech are required to be continuously enrolled (even in the summer), most Spanish graduate students teach one online course in the summer by choice. Teaching in the summer is not a requirement. In order to teach a course in the summer, students must also take a graduate course of their choosing. Summer graduate courses are usually online.

When do I receive my first paycheck?

October 1. You must have a reserve of funds for the first two months of your studies.

Do MA students pay tuition and fees?

MA students pay approximately $1,250 dollars in tuition and fees each semester of the 9-month academic year (Fall and Spring) in addition to Summer tuition. For information on the cost of Summer tuition, see the Texas Tech University Tuition Calculator. 

Do PhD students pay tuition and fees?

The Department of Classical and Modern Languages and Literatures (CMLL) covers the cost of Fall and Spring tuition and fees for funded Graduate Part-Time Instructors, but not Summer. For information on the cost of Summer tuition, see the Texas Tech University Tuition Calculator.

The CMLL acceptance and fellowship letter mentions an insurance allowance. 
What does this mean?

All International students at Texas Tech are required to purchase health insurance through the university. Texas Tech does not cover the complete cost of health insurance for its funded graduate students. The cost for the mandatory health insurance for International students will be $3,246.00 for the 2026-2027 academic year and coverage runs from August 1st – July 31st. This insurance of not mandatory for US citizens or permanent residents.

All International graduate students who are Graduate Part Time Instructors or Teaching Assistants enrolled in the Romance Languages-Spanish MA or Spanish PhD program will be awarded the Charles B. Qualia Chair Scholarship in 2026-2027 in the amount of $1,000 to assist with a portion of the cost of this mandatory health insurance. This assistance is not in place for US citizens or permanent residents.

In addition, during academic year 2026-2027, the Graduate School will also be providing Graduate Part-Time Instructors a one-time payment of $500 in the fall (November) of 2026 and a second one-time payment (assuming your appointment continues) of $500 in the spring (March of 2027) meant to further assist with paying the cost of health insurance. These two payments will be given to both International students and students who are US citizens or permanent residents.

For updated information on health insurance allowances for Graduate Student Employees, their families and dependents, see Student Health Insurance.

The Graduate School website mentions a Fall and Spring Scholarship for PhD students for 2026-2027. What is this?

All Teaching Assistants (TAs), Research Assistants (RAs), and Graduate Part-Time Instructors (GPTIs) who are admitted to doctoral programs and meet the Tuition/Fee Assistance guidelines and are enrolled in at least 9 credit hours, will also receive a scholarship from the Graduate School each Fall and Spring semester. In AY 25-26 this scholarship will consist of $304. 

For more information on this scholarship, see TA/RA/GPTI Scholarship Information. 

How many years of GPTI funding support will I be granted at Texas Tech, if I have already completed an MA at another institution? 

Your appointment is renewable for four academic years, contingent upon satisfactory academic progress and satisfactory work performance. You will take two years of coursework and have an additional two years (four semesters) to complete and defend your doctoral dissertation.

What is the teaching load for MA and PhD students in TTU’s Spanish program?

Graduate students entering the program (MA or PhD) as  GPTIs will teach a 1-1 load their first year. They participate in the First-Year Mentoring Program to fulfill the other half of their 20-hour workload. Graduate Part Time Instructors (GPTIs) teach a 2-1 load (as needed) in all years after their first year.