MA & PhD Program Funding

We recognize the financial barriers to pursuing a graduate degree. We are pleased to offer financial support to RSTC MA and PhD students during their programs in the form of graduate instructorships and, when available, other types of assistantships. We also support students applying for University and external funding opportunities. We encourage you to explore the available funding opportunities before applying.

All RSTC applicants are automatically considered for funding. There is not a separate funding application.

Standard Funding Package

We offer all admitted students a funding package in the form of a 9-month graduate instructorship or fellowship. This funding covers both the Fall and Spring semesters (i.e., the academic year). In addition to providing a salary, Graduate Instructor (GI) appointments cover tuition costs and 95% of a student’s health insurance premium (including summer health insurance coverage). 

RSTC students working as GIs teach one course per semester for the fall and spring semesters. A hallmark of our RSTC program is the opportunity to teach both in rhetoric and composition and technical/professional writing courses. Teaching assignments are typically structured as follows: 

  • In the first and second years, MA and PhD students teach one section of WRIT 1301: University Writing in the First-Year Writing (FYW) program each semester.   
  • PhD students, and MA students who continue for the PhD, transition to teaching WRIT 3562W: Technical and Professional Writing in the third year. 
  • PhD students in their remaining funded years in the program communicate teaching assignment preferences that align with their professional development goals. These preferences, combined with the department’s instructional needs and candidate qualifications, determine teaching assignments for advanced students.

Funding may be renewed through the fifth year of doctoral studies and the second year of master’s studies, subject to satisfactory progress. After their first year, students might work as research assistants or apply for departmental and external fellowships. Although funding over the summer is not guaranteed, we offer summer teaching and research opportunities to which current graduate students can apply. 

Program Costs

Students are responsible for all student fees (which may change annually). A cost-of-living planner and further details about tuition and fees are available from One Stop Student Services. 

RSTC Funding Opportunities

RSTC offers multiple funding opportunities throughout the year, including:

  • competitive summer fellowships that support individual research with faculty mentorship;
  • annual funding for travel, research, and professional development support; and
  • monetary awards to recognize outstanding teaching and service.

Faculty and program staff work closely with students to support them through the application process and provide feedback on application materials.

Additional Funding Opportunities

Students can also pursue fellowships, grants, and graduate assistantships outside of the RSTC program. We circulate opportunities through a comprehensive student website and a weekly newsletter, as well as provide support for application development.

During the application review process, the admissions committee considers nominations for the following awards:

  • Diversity of Viewpoints and Experiences (DOVE) Fellowship: As described on their website, the DOVE Fellowship “seeks to assist graduate research programs to promote a diversity of views, experiences, and ideas in the pursuit of research, scholarship, and creative excellence.” The fellowship includes a stipend, tuition waivers, and subsidized health insurance for one calendar year.
  • Interdisciplinary Center for the Study of Global Change (ICGC) Fellowships: As described on their website, the ICGC Fellowship supports students who “have backgrounds and interests that identify them as outstanding students who are clearly committed to the interdisciplinary study of the Global South in the context of global change.” The fellowship includes financial support during a student’s first year and fourth years to focus on their research. 

Applicants who identify as American Indians are invited to apply for the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community (SMSC) Scholarship.

There are numerous fellowship and grant opportunities for current students, including:

Housed within the Department of Writing Studies, the Center for Writing is an interdisciplinary center devoted to the practice, teaching, and study of writing. We encourage RSTC students to apply for teaching assistant positions in the Student Writing Support program and research assistant positions in the Writing-Enriched Curriculum project. 

RSTC students can apply for graduate assistantships posted on UMN’s Student Job Board.