Graduate Assistantships (GA)

Graduate Assistantships (GA) are paid opportunities to train individual skills, support research and teaching, and gain tuition assistance. Below are some common resources for graduate assistants:

Graduate Assistantship Overview

• Information on Graduate Assistantships and answers to commonly asked questions.

Graduate Assistant Onboarding

• Checklists and tasks for new and returning Graduate Assistants.

GA Trainings

• Mandatory Trainings for students holding a Graduate Assistantship.

Graduate Employee & Postdoc Union (GEU)

• The Graduate Employee and Postdoc Union advocates for the rights and benefits of graduate student employees and postdocs at the local, state, and federal level.

GA Health Insurance Information

• The Connecticut Partnership Plan offers comprehensive medical and dental benefits similar to those offered to employees in many Connecticut Municipalities. Learn more about the version of the Connecticut Partnership Plan available to graduate assistants and postdocs. For questions, contact benefits@uconn.edu.

• Contact Megan Petsa, Director of Graduate Student Administration, via email at megan.petsa@uconn.edu.

Graduate Financial Aid/Resources

Below are some resources to support a graduate education, as well as short-term financial support for students experiencing a challenging time.

Tuition and Fees

• General overview on tuition and fees.

Graduate Financial Aid

• Information on how to apply for financial aid, who is eligible, types of aid available, and financing options for education expenses.

External Funding Opportunities

• External funding opportunities and resources.

Residency Information for Current and Incoming Students

• Detailed information regarding in-state and out-of-state residency status, including change of residency.

Students First Fund

• The Students First Fund seeks to provide students with limited emergency assistance during a time of need.

Food Assistance

• The Office of Off Campus and Commuter Student Resources has created a list of programs to assist students in navigating food insecurity.

Short-term Loans

• The Graduate School and the Graduate Student Senate offer interest-free, short-term loans to assist graduate students dealing with financial emergencies.

Student Parents

• Information on resources available to graduate assistants to help navigate working on campus as a student parent.

Fellowships and Awards

The following resources are financial awards that can be provided to students. Most require an application process to receive awards but come with no loans attached.

Summer Doctoral Dissertation Fellowship

Conference Participation Award

Office of National Scholarships & Fellowships

Policy on Financial Commitments to Institutional Training Grants and Nationally Competitive Graduate Fellowships

Graduate Funding Opportunities (from Johns Hopkins)

Residency Status

A graduate student who starts at the University in an out-of-state billing status and later changes their permanent residence to Connecticut and seeks in-state billing status must complete an Application for In-State Tuition. Once you’ve completed and submitted the application (including all mandatory documents) to gradschool@uconn.edu, you will be contacted by a staff member from The Graduate School. Please visit Residency Information for Current and Incoming Students page for more information.