PhD in the US - University Funding

Most US PhD programmes fund the students they admit. Funding comes from the university or department rather than from a single national scholarship, so each programme sets its own terms. An admitted applicant is guaranteed a full-funding package for the whole period. Applications are managed through each university's graduate school.

Full funding: a tuition waiver, a monthly stipend and health insurance. The stipend is paid in exchange for work as a graduate research assistant (GRA) or graduate teaching assistant (GTA). A PhD is typically a 5-year programme.

You need a GPA of at least 3.0 and an English score of TOEFL 80 or IELTS 6.5 or higher, though the requirement varies by programme. The GRE is optional. You also need 3 letters of recommendation and proven research experience.

Not sure what a full application involves? Read my guide to the US graduate school application.

Programmes look for exceptional teaching or research experience that you can prove, through publications, recommendation letters and your CV, alongside a strong academic record.

The more top-tier the programme, the more selective it is. Deadlines vary by university and programme, with applications open now and running until around December 2026. Check each programme's own page for its exact requirements and date.

Documents

• Three letters of recommendationRequired
• CVRequired
• Evidence of research experience, such as publicationsRequired
• TOEFL or IELTS scoreRequired
• GRE scoreOptional