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Assistantships and Fellowships
Financial aid is administered in the form of Teaching and Research Assistantships and Fellowships. The department makes every effort to award assistantships to as many students as possible. Approximately 85% of Ph.D. students have an assistantship or fellowship. Awards are made strictly on merit, without regard for a student's citizenship status.
Teaching and research assistantships pay a monthly salary and include a tuition waiver, except for non-waivable fees of approximately $229/quarter. Assistantship appointments also include paid health insurance in the Student Appointee Health Plan. The University pays one-half coverage for a student's dependents.
UW Executive Order 28 defines the procedures for TA/RA appointments and grievances.
ASE Contract defines the contract between UW and UAW, Local 4121.
Monthly Salary
Teaching Assistant (M.S. and Pre-Quals) - $1,451
Teaching Assistant I (Post-Quals) - $1,559
Teaching Assistant II (Post-Generals) - $1,676
Research Assistant (M.S. and Pre-Quals) - $1,972
Research Assistant I (Post-Quals) - $2,060
Research Assistant II (Post-Generals) - $2,095
Current Students
Students may apply for TA positions, which are announced to the EE graduation student email distribution list on a quarterly basis.
Students may apply for RA positions, which are announced by individual faculty as positions become available.
Registration Requirements
Students with assistantships and fellowships must maintain a minimum of 10 credits for the entire quarter of an appointment in order to retain the stipend, tuition, and health insurance benefits.
During summer quarter, registration of 2-5 credits is acceptable, and students should confirm the correct number with the Advising Office.
Pay Dates
Students receive paychecks on the 10th and 25th of each month. Autumn Quarter appointments are September 16-December 15; the first paycheck is October 10 and the last paycheck is December 25. Winter Quarter appointments are December 16-March 15; the first paycheck is January 10 and the last paycheck is March 25. Spring Quarter appointments are March 16-June 15; the first paycheck is April 10 and the last paycheck is June 25.
Summer Quarter Teaching Assistantship appointments are June 16-August 15; the first paycheck is July 10 and the last paycheck is August 25. Summer Quarter Research Assistantships are variable and may be from one to three month appointments.
Teaching Assistantships
Approximately 35 teaching assistantships are awarded every quarter to exceptional students. Students are eligible to receive an award anytime during their period of study; however, renewal of teaching assistantship status is not guaranteed. Applications for renewal will be considered with those of new students. Students who receive teaching assistantships will help instruct an undergraduate or graduate course within the EE department. All new teaching assistants, international and domestic, will be required to attend a fall series of orientations hosted by the Graduate School and the College of Engineering. Students who do not complete their Masters degree within two years are normally not eligible for additional appointments.
Research Assistantships
Students who receive research assistantships are exposed to a wide range of current research topics. The EE department typically employs over 100 students as research assistants at any one time. Research assistantships are funded through faculty grants and are awarded as they become available. Faculty research and contact information is available on the EE homepage: http://www.ee.washington.edu/people/faculty, and http://www.ee.washington.edu/research.
Fellowships and Grants
To see a list of fellowships typically awarded to EE graduate students, scroll to the Fellowship heading on the graduate student website at www.ee.washington.edu/academic/graduate/.U.S. citizens who are pursuing a Ph.D. degree are eligible to compete for additional graduate fellowships. For more information please visit the Graduate School "Fellowship Desk".
Information for grants and other funding is also available through the University Library system.
Return to the Graduate Studies Manual index.
