Graduate Funding Opportunities

There are multiple funding opportunities available to graduate students in the Department of Political Science, detailed below. Please contact the Graduate Chair, Dr. Ingrid Haas, with questions.

Graduate Teaching Assistant positions

All Ph.D. applicants are considered for GTA positions at the time of application. GTA positions come with a stipend, tuition remission, and subsidized health insurance. Students have the opportunity to serve as TA for faculty and/or teach their own independent courses. We do not currently have GTA positions available for MA students in the department. International students may be required to complete the Institute for International Teaching Assistants (ITA) at UNL prior to being assigned to a teaching position.

Graduate Research Assistant positions

Some of our students are funded as Graduate Research Assistants, typically by faculty research grants. These opportunities are available on an ad hoc basis depending on faculty funding.

Administrative Graduate Assistant positions

These are assistantships in other offices on campus which are typically advertised in the Graduate Report, and can be viewed on Handshake.

Graduate Fellowships

At the time of application, we also consider eligible M.A. and Ph.D. students for available fellowships from the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) and the Office of Graduate Studies (OGS). No additional application is needed. This typically includes Othmer Fellowships (PhD students), CAS Dean's Fellowships (PhD students), and Edgren Tuition Fellowships (MA students). More information on the OGS Fellowships is available online.

Current graduate students may also be eligible for other Graduate Fellowships from OGS. Students must be nominated for these by the faculty, so current students are encouraged to discuss these with their PhD advisor and/or the Graduate Chair.

Conference Travel Funding

The department typically supports some conference travel for graduate students. Students can apply for departmental travel awards through the Graduate Chair. Other travel awards are available from OGS and through the Graduate Student Assembly (GSA).

Summer Research Fellowships

The department also supports student research in summer months through Summer Research Fellowships. Applications for these awards are typically accepted in Spring Semester and reviewed by the Graduate Committee. Typical awards are around $2000.

Summer Teaching Opportunities

Ph.D. students who have completed a M.A. degree are eligible to apply for summer teaching opportunities in the department. The Graduate Chair takes applications for these positions during Spring Semester.

For additional information: