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M.S./Ph.D. Tuition, Expenses, and Financial Aid

Tuition and Expenses

Tuition for the 2009-2010 academic year is $12,815 per term, which covers instruction, use of instructional facilities, and healthcare service through the College infirmary. Students without their own hospital insurance must purchase a Dartmouth College hospital insurance policy for approximately $1,800 a year. See Dartmouth College Health Service for details.

The total cost of a year, including tuition, books, room, board, and incidentals, will be approximately $56,000 for the academic year 2009-2010. Financial aid can significantly lower the yearly cost.

Financial Aid

Typically, an M.S. or Ph.D. student enters Thayer School with full support on either a Research Assistantship or a Fellowship. For Fellowship students who wish to defer selection of an advisor, the first academic term funding is based upon a teaching commitment. Once the student has identified a thesis advisor—either before arrival or no later than the end of the first term in residence—funding comes from a Research Assistantship.

M.S./Ph.D. Stipends 2009-2010

Most M.S. and Ph.D. financial aid includes full or partial tuition costs plus a monthly stipend.

Research Assistantship for M.S. or first-year Ph.D. student includes full tuition plus $1,860 per month
Research Assistantship for Ph.D. candidate includes full tuition plus $1,960 per month
Research Assistantship for Ph.D. candidate who has passed the oral examination and the oral defense of thesis proposal includes full tuition plus $2,060 per month

Research Assistantships

Graduate research assistantships, funded by contract research, are available to well-qualified candidates enrolled in degree programs with thesis requirements. Graduate research assistantships normally carry an award of full tuition, a monthly stipend, and credit toward medical insurance if purchased through the College. Partial awards may also be made.

Research assistantship appointments extend over 3 to 4 terms and are made on recommendation of the contract principal investigator with the approval of the director of the M.S. and Ph.D. programs. Graduate research assistants normally work in the area of their research interests and apply the results toward the thesis requirement.

Graduate research assistants may enroll in no more than 2 non-research courses in fall, winter, and spring terms. With the permission of the faculty advisor, enrollment in 1 non-research course is permitted in the summer term.

Graduate research assistants are expected to devote 20 hours per week to research when enrolled in 2 non-research courses, 30 hours per week when enrolled in one, and essentially full time between terms and when enrolled only for research. They are expected to be in residence full time, including between terms.

Since assistants are not regular employees of Dartmouth College, they do not earn vacation per se. Assistants may anticipate one-half week of time off for each academic term of appointment, to be arranged with their faculty advisor.

Although responsibilities are defined in terms of hours per week, the emphasis is on the quality of the student's performance. Continuation of any appointment into succeeding terms is conditional upon satisfactory performance and progress toward degree requirements.

Students who accept graduate assistantships may not engage in any additional employment outside or inside Thayer School without prior approval of the director of the M.S. and Ph.D. programs. Such employment is usually limited to 10 hours per week.

Teaching Assistantships

Teaching assistantships are available to well-qualified candidates enrolled in degree programs with thesis requirements. These assistantships normally carry an award of full tuition plus a monthly stipend. Partial awards may also be made. Teaching assistantship appointments extend over 3 to 4 terms and are made by a graduate program director. Teaching assistants are assigned in areas of their competence, and assist with grading, problem sessions, and lab work.

Teaching assistants may enroll in no more than two non-thesis courses in fall, winter, and spring terms. With the permission of the faculty advisor, enrollment in one non-thesis course is permitted in the summer term.

Teaching assistants are expected to devote 20 hours per week to their teaching assignments and the balance of their time on either courses or research toward the thesis. Teaching assistants are expected to be in residence full time, including between terms, and to devote full time to their research.

Since assistants are technically not regular employees of Dartmouth College, they do not earn vacation per se. Teaching assistants may anticipate one-half week of time off for each academic term of appointment, to be arranged with their faculty advisor.

First-year assistants are required, for continuation of their appointment into their third term of residence, to have identified a thesis area and a faculty advisor.

Students who accept teaching assistantships may not engage in any additional employment outside or inside Thayer School without prior approval of a graduate program director. Such employment is usually limited to 10 hours per week.

Hourly Teaching Assistantships

Teaching assistantships are available to well qualified students. A teaching assistant is paid hourly to assist with grading, problem sessions, and/or lab work. Assignments are made on a term-by-term basis. Students who also hold graduate research assistantships or fellowships must have prior approval of the director of M.S./Ph.D. programs and their research advisors to accept an hourly teaching assistant position (or any other employment inside or outside Thayer School).