The Doctoral Program in Architecture is committed to funding
each admitted student for four years of the expected time to complete the degree, including an annual stipend, full tuition, and health care during the academic year (Sept-April). Additional years of funding may be available through graduate student instructorships, research assistantships, and other sources. We do encourage students to apply for funding from independent sources.
With a student admissions application no additional documents or materials are required to be considered for departmental funding.
Ph.D. Funding
Though funding packages vary from student to student, a typical departmental package for a student admitted to the Ph.d. program consists of:
Years 1–2
Annual stipend, full tuition and health care coverage. Graduate Student Instructorship (GSI) in which the student teaches one class per term OR GSRA (Graduate Student Research Assistant) in which the student assists a faculty member. Typically requires a 12-14 hour work week.
Year 3-4
Annual stipend, candidacy tuition, and health care coverage.
Once a student has achieved candidacy status, tuition is reduced. Departmental funds are available to cover preliminary exam and final defense tuition.
M.S. Funding
Funding is awarded on a case by case basis. A typical funding package covers one of the two terms of tuition required for the degree.
Student Expenses
“The Office of Financial Aid establishes standard student budgets each year as a basis for awarding financial aid funds. These budgets reflect typical "modest but adequate" expense patterns of University of Michigan students based on research conducted by the Office of Financial Aid. While actual expenses will vary based on your lifestyle and level of enrollment, the estimated costs listed below should assist you in planning your own budget.”
Michigan Residents-(In-State) Nonresidents-(Out of State)
Tuition & Fees $15,135 $30,281
Room & Board $10,884 $10,884
Books & Supplies $1160 $1160
Personal & Misc $3936 $3936
Total $31,115 $46,261
Research Funding
A limited amount of funding may be available for research related expenses if those expenses are in connection with a student's dissertation work. Students should submit a request for a Rackham Student Research Grant. These grants are designed to support Rackham graduate students who need assistance to carry out research that advances their progress toward their degree.
To be eligible for additional departmental research support, students must submit a request, along with a complete description of the project, and letter from the advisor supporting the need for such funding.
Presentations and Conference Attendance
The Doctoral Program in Architecture wishes to encourage the development and presentation of papers to conferences if those papers relate to a student's academic program. Students should submit a request for a Rackham Conference Travel Grant. These grants are intended to assist doctoral students to participate and attend conferences and professional meetings. Students must apply prior to the conference dates.
To be eligible for additional departmental support, students must submit a request, along with a detailed budget and letter of invitation to present, to the chair of the doctoral program. Students are eligible for support for one national or international conference per academic year.
Teaching and Research Assistantships:
• Graduate Student Instructorship Positions (GSI)
Doctoral students are eligible for Graduate Student Instructorships (GSI) within the College. The teaching assignments are within the Architecture Professional program and are negotiated by the program chairs of the Architecture Doctoral Program and the Architecture Professional Program and the individual faculty members who require a position.
As a general Rule, these positions will be limited to four terms or two years. Any exceptions to this policy must be clearly in the best interests of the student and must be agreed upon by the Chair of the Professional Program in Architecture and the faculty member involved. Graduate student instructorship positions are reviewed at the end of each semester. Reappointment of a GSI is contingent upon evidence of satisfactory performance and the teaching needs of the Professional Architecture Program. This award allows for a tuition waiver, stipene, and health benefits.
• Graduate Research Assistant Positions (GSRA)
The number of research assistant positions (GSRA) and hourly positions that are available varies, depending on the amount of sponsored research that is currently in progress. In general, project directors have complete responsibility for the management of their projects. Project directors will generally hire those students (either Masters or Doctoral) who they feel have an appropriate background for the project and will contribute the most towards its successful completion. The Doctoral Program helps to facilitate the communication between project directors who are looking for research assistants and doctoral students who are seeking employment. Typically requires a 12-14 work hour work week.
Other Funding Resources:
Rackham School of Graduate Studies
Fellowships Office
Fellowship Finder
King/Chavez/Parks (KCP) (incoming student)
Rackham Merit Fellowship (incoming student)
Rackhan Non-Traditional (incoming student)
Rackham Pre-doctoral Fellowship
Rackham Regents Fellowship (incoming student)
Rackham Graduate Student Emergency Funds
Barbour Scholarship
Rackham Graduate Student Research Grant
Susan Lipschutz Margaret Ayers Host Fellowship
Michigan Society of Fellows
Rackham One-Term Dissertation Fellowship
Rackham International Research Award
Lurcy Scholarship
Rackham Shapiro/Malik Award
Radcliffe/Ramsdell Fellowship
Yossi Schiff Memorial Scholarship (current/incoming student)
AAUW (American Assoc of University Women)
Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, German Chancellor Scholarship
American Academy in Rome
American Council of Learned Societies (ACLS)
American Council on Germany
American Institute of Indian Studies
American Research Center in Egypt
American Research Institute in Turkey
CASVA-National Gallery of Art
Carter Manny Award, Graham Foundation
Woodrow Wilson Foundation, Robert F. Goheen Prize in Classical Studies
Chateaubriand Scholarship
College Art Association
Council for European Studies (Columbia University)
Council on Library and Information Resources
DAAD- German Exchange Program
Dedalus Foundation
Ford Foundation Diversity Fellowship
Frame Builders Association of Michigan
Getty Research Grants
Harvard Academy for International and Area Studies
Institute of Historical Research for Dissertation Research in the Humanities
J. William Fulbright Grant
The Samuel H. Kress Foundation
Michigan Cool Cities Essay Contest
National Science Foundation
The National Security Education Program
National Italian American Foundation, Grant Program
UM-Nonprofit and Public Management Center
Office of University Partnerships-Doctoral Dissertation Research Grant (DDRG)
Paul Mellon Centre for Studies in British Art
Sir John Soane’s Museum Foundation
Social Sciences Research Council-International Dissertation Research Fellowship
Society of Architectural Historians
Society of Fellows- Harvard University
Tensions of Europe Summer Schools
UM, Arts of Citizenship Program
UM, Center for Afroamerican and African Studies
UM, Center for Russian and East European Studies-Fred Cuny Fellowship
UM, Center for the Education of Women, Cecilia Anne Stiborik Dreyfuss Scholarship
UM, Collaboratory for Advanced Research and Academic Technologies (CARAT)
UM, Comparative Literature Global Ethnic Literatures Seminar (GELS)
UM, Duderstadt Center, Grocs project
UM, Foreign Languages and Area Studies Fellowship (FLAS)
UM, Graduate Student Mentorship Program
UM, Graham Environmental Sustainability Institute (GESI)
UM, Institute for Social Research
UM, Institute for the Humanities
UM, International Institute
UM, Medieval and Early Modern Studies Summer Research Grant
UM, Robert W. Marans Fellowship
UM, Transportation Research Institute
U.S. National Committee of the International Council on Monuments and Sites-ICOMOS
University of Warwick Mellon Visiting Research Fellowship
Victorian Society in America Summer Schools
Winterthur Research Fellowships
Wolfsonian Fellowship
Woodrow Wilson Foundation, Andrew W. Mellon Fellowship in Humanistic Studies
Fellowships Doctoral Program students have
been awarded:
Citation of Special Recognition-Carter Manny Award
Getty Research Institute-Los Angeles
Wolfsonian-Florida International University
J. William Fulbright Grant
American Academy in Rome, Rome Prize in Modern Italian Studies
Institute for the Humanities
Woodrow Wilson Foundation, Andrew W. Mellon Fellowship in Humanistic Studies
Arts of Citizenship Program
Frame Builders Association of Michigan
Medieval and Early Modern Studies Summer Research Grant
Center for the Education of Women, Cecilia Anne Stiborik Dreyfuss Scholarship
Woodrow Wilson Foundation, Robert F. Goheen Prize in Classical Studies
University of Warwick Mellon Visiting Research Fellowship
DAAD-German Exchange Program
Social Sciences Research Council-International Dissertation Research Fellowship
Comparative Literature Global Ethnic Literatures Seminar (GELS)
Michigan Cool Cities Essay Contest
Collaboratory for Advanced Research and Academic Technologies (CARAT)
U.S. National Committee of the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS)
Graham Environmental Sustainability Institute (GESI)
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