Public Policy and Political Economy (PPPE) Program – Graduate Student Financial Support
The PPPE Program offers three types of financial support to highly qualified graduate students. These are (1) research and teaching assistantships, as well as (2) tuition waivers. Also, the Vibhooti Shukla Award is available for those students demonstrating the most academic prowess. Such support provides valuable opportunities for faculty-student professional collaborations that enhance academic learning, career choices, and professional development.
Graduate Research (GRA) and Teaching Assistantships (GTA) provide assistance to a faculty member or members in the conduct of their research or their courses and help students to develop their own teaching skills.
Assistantships are competitive – eligibility includes a minimum GPA of not less than 3.0 and preferably 3.5 at time of entry and during continuation of the Program, as well as a combined GRE score of preferably not less than 1200, as well as related evidence of academic and communications skills at the time of application.
Assistantships typically are awarded starting in the Fall semester with the award covering the Fall and Spring. Funding for Summer is available on a limited and selective basis. Assistantships require registration for at least 9 credit hours of coursework per semester, as prescribed by the UTD graduate catalog and the PPPE Ph.D. Program degree plan, and as advised and permitted by the PPPE Program Head.
Assistantships are awarded and renewable, contingent on satisfactory academic and assistantship performance and availability of funds, for a maximum of 99 semester credit hours of graduate coursework (or 10 long semesters). This means enrollment, as well as strong and timely progress, in the program and in its courses, as prescribed by the UTD graduate catalog and the program degree plan, and as determined by the program head if a research assistantship, then the faculty Principal Investigator who holds the research grant. All assistants also are expected to know relevant university policy and procedures and important dates and holidays as listed in the University Schedule of Classes.
Full-time PPPE students may qualify for funding through appointment as a Graduate Teaching Assistant (TA). Teaching Assistantships carry with them the expectation of 20 hours of work per week with a faculty supervisor or School Center or program. Assistantships for students entering the program with a baccalaureate degree and no masters degree have stipends of $1100, while students entering the PPPE program with a master’s degree or who have completed 30 doctoral hours are provided stipends of $1200. Students who pass their qualifying exam and portfolio requirements and advance to the dissertation phase of the program earn $1300 per month. These stipends are in effect for the 2007-2008 academic and are subject to change.
Students who qualify to teach their own course(s) as approved by the University, qualify for a stipend of $1400 per month. Subject to budget availability and satisfactory performance, TAs may be eligible for funding in the Summer semester.* The minimum hour registration requirements may vary year to year, so students check with the PPPE Program Director prior to registering for Summer.
In addition to the GTA or GRA opportunities, tuition waivers (Graduate Student Scholarships or GSS) for up to 9 hours are also available. These awards are worth up to $4000 per semester. The requirements for obtaining a GSS are the same as for the assistantship. Assistantship and GSS awards are typically awarded together, but exceptions are sometimes made.
Fellowships
The Vibhooti Shukla Fellowship is open to students who enter or are not beyond two years of full-time study in the Economic or in the Public Policy and Political Economy Ph.D. Program, and who have a strong interest in the application of economic theories to public policy and policy analysis and/or in econometric modeling as applied to policy problems. The Shukla Fellowship is valued at $18,000 per year and is renewable annually based on academic performance. The fellowship is accompanied by tuition and fees per semester for a total of ten semesters again based on academic performance. Those who are interested in being considered for the Shukla Fellowship should send, by April 14 of the calendar year:
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A letter of interest in the Fellowship that describes the applicant’s research interests and career objectives – faculty members also may submit letters of nomination;
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Three letters of recommendation by faculty that demonstrate familiarity with the student’s achievements and abilities.
Application materials should be mailed to:
Euel Elliott,
Associate Dean for Academic Programs
School of Economic, Political and Policy Sciences
University of Texas at Dallas
800 West Campbell Rd. Richardson, Texas 75080
One application or nomination cannot be submitted for both fellowships. Each fellowship must be applied for separately. On receipt, application materials are reviewed by the Shukla Fellowship Committee and applicants are notified thereafter.
Expressions of interest in, or requests for information about, assistantships, as well applications, should be addressed to:
Euel Elliott, Public Policy and Political Economy Program Head
Email: eelliott@utdallas.edu
Telephone: (972) 883-2066
or
Judy Robertson, Public Policy and Political Economy Program Assistant
Email: judy@utdallas.edu
Telephone: (972) 883-6406
Inquiries about other forms of financial aid should be directed to the University’s financial aid office.
- Updated: February 11, 2008
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