Summer Research Awards and TF/RA Supplement

Summer Research Awards and TF/RA Supplement

Information for PhD students in the following departments:

GSAS Summer Research Awards Following the G1–G4 Years

PhD students in the above departments, who were awarded the standard financial support package when admitted, will be eligible to receive a summer research award equal to two months of stipend for the summers following the first four academic years.  The grants may not be deferred to later years.  In the event that a student goes on leave or attends another Harvard school during the first four years, they will forfeit the summer research award during that year(s).  Outside awards with 12-month tenure ordinarily substitute for the ten-month academic year stipend and the two-month summer research award in the standard GSAS offer of financial support.

TF and RA Supplement in the G3 and G4 Years

PhD students in the above departments, who were awarded the standard financial support package when admitted, are guaranteed the equivalent of two sections of teaching per term in the third and fourth years by their academic department.   Students who are teaching as part of this guarantee, whose total income is less than a term’s standard stipend ($12,260 for 2012-13), will receive a small supplement to bring the student’s funding up to the standard stipend amount.  When determining eligibility for the supplement, all income and funding a student is receiving is taken into consideration including, but not limited to:  at least two sections of teaching, concentration advising, thesis advising, tutorials, research assistantships, outside awards, and other stipends.  The goal of the supplement is to ensure that a student’s total income is not less than the standard stipend amount for that term.

The standard student stipend for one term in 2012-13 is $12,260, while the salary for two sections of teaching is $9,940.  Therefore, students who have two sections of teaching for the term and no other funding will receive an additional $2,320 in the form of a onetime only stipend.  The most any student may receive as a supplement for the term is $2,320.  Students receiving less than $12,260, but more than $9,940, will receive a partial supplement.  Students receiving more than $12,260 are not eligible for the supplement.  Students who are registered as non-resident or who have turned down teaching are not eligible for the supplement.  Students who have not met the departmental requirements for teaching, and therefore do not have teaching appointments, are not eligible for the supplement.

Eligibility for the supplement is determined on a term by term basis.  In the case of a student who teaches 3/5^th in the fall, the department is still required to provide 2/5^th in the spring based on the original guarantee.  In this case, the student would not receive a supplement in the fall, but would receive a supplement in the spring (assuming they have no other funding).

The guarantee of teaching and the supplement is only for the third and fourth consecutive years from the time of admission and cannot be deferred to a later year.  In the event that a student goes on leave, registers as a traveling scholar, or attends another Harvard school during the third and fourth years, they will lose the guarantee of teaching and forfeit their eligibility for the supplement in that year(s).  Despite not being guaranteed, individual departments may be able to provide teaching to students in later years.  Students should consult their department directly about this possibility.