Financial Aid for Political Science Students

The Department of Political Science provides a number of opportunities for financial support. Students are eligible to receive Teaching Assistantships, Department Scholarships, Summer Research and Training Scholarships, and support to attend political science conferences. Applications for these forms of financial aid are available through the Departmental Forms and Graduate Handbook link. Applicants to the Ph.D. or M.A.-Ph.D. program are considered for Teaching Assistantships and Department Scholarships automatically and do not need to submit another application form. Students may also apply for scholarship offered by the Graduate School at Texas Tech University and for Federal Financial Aid through the Texas Tech Financial Aid Office.

Teaching Assistantships

The primary form of financial aid available to graduate students in the Department of Political Science is the Teaching Assistantship (T.A.). Teaching assistants assist faculty teaching courses, hold office hours, grade exams and papers, and, on occasion, teach their own classes. T.A.'s are part-time appointments (20 hours a week) and receive a monthly stipend over the course of a 9-month appointment for the academic year (September to May). On occasion, the Department will be able to offer Summer T.A. appointments. T.A. appointments are made on a yearly basis and students must reapply every year to be considered for funding.

Department Scholarships

The Department maintains limited scholarship monies that are distributed on a yearly basis.

Summer Research and Training Fellowships

Based on the availability of funding, the Department offers Summer Research and Training Fellowships. These fellowships are designed to provide resources for students who need additional training or to conduct research over the summer. In the past, the Department has funded students to attend both methods and language training programs at other universities.

Conference Support

The Department offers each student a stipend to defray the travel and hotel costs while participating at a political science conference each year. Students who apply for Department funds are also required to apply to the Graduate School for conference travel support.