Frequently Asked Questions on Financial Assistance

Many prospective graduate students inquire regarding financial assistance in the Department of Economics at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. In order to answer as many inquiries as possible in a simple and consistent manner, here is a list of the most common questions asked along with specific answers. If you have additional questions, contact the Director of Graduate Studies at .

Question: Do you consider both M.A. and Ph.D. applicants for funding?

Answer: Yes, we consider both M.A. and Ph.D. applicants, but we give strong preference to Ph.D. applicants.

Question: How many assistantships do you offer?

Answer: We are typically able to offer funding to three incoming students each year, but the number varies.

Question: Do you offer research assistantships, teaching assistantships, or both?

Answer: We offer only teaching assistantships through the Economics Department and research assistantships through the Bureau of Business Research. Teaching assistants will be required to work, typically assisting professors in the first year and then teaching classes in subsequent years. Research assistants will work on research contracts generated by the BBR.

Question: Are there other forms of funding available?

Answer: Yes. Domestic applicants are eligible for some forms of tuition remission/reductions. For further information, see:

• Graduate Student Funding Information

Question: Do you provide funding for first-year international students?

Answer: Yes, we offer assistantships to the best-qualified applicants, including international students. For teaching assistantship, we carefully consider ability to communicate when making funding decisions.

Question: Are all research assistantships through the Bureau of Business Research?

Answer: No, but other opportunities for research assistantships are tied to the flow of external grants received by faculty members. When available, these assistantships are typically given to students that are already in the graduate program.

Question: What are your required GRE, TOEFL, and TSE scores in order to obtain funding?

Answer: We consider GRE, TOEFL, and TSE scores along with other application materials (transcripts, letters of reference, and statement of purpose) in making assistantship funding decisions. We do not use numerical cut-offs to eliminate applicants.

Question: What is the average GRE of those selected for assistantships?

Answer: Typically, our incoming Ph.D. students selected for assistantships have verbal scores above 500, quantitative scores above 700, and a writing score above 4. These scores should not be interpreted as absolute requirements, we evaluate the entire application. Nor should these scores be considered sufficient for financial aid. Again, we evaluate the entire application.

Question: What if I cannot take the TSE?

Answer: There are a number of alternatives. We accept the oral score on the IELTS exam. We can also substitute a personal interview or a video recording demonstrating your oral command of the English language.

Question: Do your assistantships cover all costs?

Answer: Our assistantships provide a full tuition waiver (for up to 12 credit hours of coursework each fall and spring semester) and pay a very substantial stipend. The stipend is more than sufficient to cover on-campus living expenses. In addition, the Department sometimes has summer research funding available to supplement assistantships for outstanding first-year students. All students are responsible for paying some fees, however. A full time student taking nine hours of coursework in a semester can reasonably expect to pay fees of about $330. International students are also required to pay a one-time fee of $65 upon first registration.

Question: Do you provide health insurance coverage?

Answer: Yes, students holding eligible assistantships are provided basic individual student health insurance coverage at minimal cost to the student. The student health insurance plan covers accidents and illnesses to a maximum of $50,000 per policy year. This is a great benefit.