Financial Support and Cost of Study
About 120 students now serve as teaching or research assistants. Students are usually teaching assistants in
laboratory or recitation sections for introductory physics during the first year of graduate study. Later they
transfer to research assistantships in their chosen area of doctoral research specialization. Half-time graduate
assistantship stipends begin at $11,475 for the 1997 - 1998 academic year. Summer assistantships are available.
Assistants spend up to 20 hours a week on their duties. In-class contact hours for teaching assistants range from 6 - 8 hours
per week for recitation and laboratory classes. The normal load for assistants is 6 to 9 credit hours. The duties of
research assistants are commonly in the general area in which the Ph.D. thesis will be written.
The following support is also available for exceptionally skilled incoming graduate students:
- College of Natural Science Doctoral Fellowship;
- Center for Fundamental Materials Research Fellowship for outstanding applicants in materials research;
- NSCL Fellowship;
- and supplemental Herbert Graham Scholarships for qualified applicants.
Students with outstanding records are automatically considered for and nominated for these fellowships. Health
insurance is also provided for the academic year (the cost of this premium is about $600).
Tuition for 1996 - 1997 was $210 per credit hour for Michigan residents. Teaching and Research Assistants pay in-state rates
and receive a tuition waiver of 6 credits per semester. Out-of-State tuition was $424 per credit hour. Half of the
matriculation fees will be paid by MSU for all graduate assistants begining in 1997 - 1998. Registration fees
for students in 1996 - 1997 were $275 per semester.
Living and Housing Costs
Single rooms in Owen Hall, the graduate residence center, rented for $2,000 per semester and double rooms for $1,900 per
student per semester in 1996 - 1997. This cost includes credit toward 20 meals per week. Food may be obtained from
several campus cafeterias and local restauraunts. The university owns and operates more than 2,000 one- and two-bedroom
apartments to help meet the needs of married students. These rent for $ 375 and $445 per month respectively, and include
utilities, essential furniture, and a private telephone. Privately-owned off-campus rooms and apartments are also available.
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