Financial Aid and Assistantships

Invest in your future—not just your tuition.

At UB, we believe that cost shouldn't stand in the way of potential. Each year, we offer a competitive selection of assistantships, fellowships and funding options to support PhD students in economics—so you can focus on research, teaching and growing your academic career.

Funding Opportunities

PhD Funding

Join a community of scholars and researchers working together to solve pressing global problems. 

We are committed to recruiting the very best PhD students and preparing doctoral students for career success. UB features:

  • World-class faculty experts mentor PhD students in a dynamic research and learning environment. Students can focus on their research and scholarship alongside renowned faculty while preparing for the careers and professions that await them after graduation.
  • A city on the rise. Buffalo, NY offers affordable housing, arts, culture and community. Learn more about Buffalo.

PhD Funding Opportunities

Academic year stipends of $23,000 and a full tuition waiver for all full-time, funded PhD students on 10-month academic teaching assistant, research assistant, or graduate assistant appointments.

  • UB’s stipend levels are competitive among public Association of American Universities (AAU) member institutions.

Additional Fellowship Opportunities:

  • Arthur A. Schomburg Fellowship Program: Candidates are required to be U.S. citizens or permanent residents and must demonstrate how they have overcome a disadvantage or other impediment to success in higher education. Candidates must also demonstrate a commitment to contributing to the diversity of the student body by facilitating and enhancing diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts in their academic programs and campus activities. Even though financial need is not a requirement for program eligibility, applicants may utilize economic disadvantage as a basis for eligibility. This scholarship program is open to any and all prospective candidates regardless of race, color, national origin, or sex, and is consistent with all current governing federal and state nondiscrimination law. All application submissions will be assessed and evaluated in accordance with the required eligibility criteria. Students may apply for the Schomburg Fellowship on the UB graduate application for their program.
  • Presidential Fellowships: To be eligible for Presidential Fellowships, candidates must meet the criteria listed on the Presidential Fellowship page. Both domestic and international students are eligible, if they meet these criteria. For any questions regarding funding for academic year 2025–2026, contact the director of graduate studies or department chair.

Teaching and Graduate Assistantships

These are more than just financial support—they’re career prep with real-world payoff. Assistantships help you build teaching experience, research skills and meaningful faculty relationships from day one.

Teaching Assistantships (TAs)

A Teaching Assistantship is an instructional position. TAs may serve as the second instructor for a class or discussion section, or (advanced students only) may take full responsibility for an undergraduate course, including all assessments and the submission of final grades.

Graduate Assistantships (GAs)

A Graduate Assistantship is a non-instructional position. GAs may be assigned duties in support of an individual faculty member’s research activities or, in some cases, may be asked to assume the duties normally assigned to Teaching Assistants.

Summer Assistantships

Summer Teaching Assistantships are normally available for advanced students in addition to the academic year assistantships.

How to Apply

No extra forms. No separate application. You’ll automatically be considered for assistantships and fellowships when you apply to the PhD in Economics program by February 1.

Awards

The Kogut Brothers Award

Joseph W. and Kenneth P. Kogut Brothers of New York Mills Economic Development Award, was established in 2007 by Frederick J. Kogut and Nina F. Kogut-Akkum. The purpose of this award is to provide financial support outside the required curriculum to UB undergraduate or graduate students engaged in efforts related to improving the economic development of Africa and/or upstate NY, or any other activity related to the Peace Corps. 

Other Funding Sources

The department funds approx. 8-10 PhD students per year. All master's students and any PhD students who do not receive departmental funding are still eligible for College of Arts and Sciences and university-wide funding. For more information on this and other philanthropic scholarships and awards, please visit UB’s scholarship portal at https://buffalo.academicworks.com/opportunities.

Did You Know?

Domestic students pursuing STEM degrees are eligible for a variety of regional and national scholarships from organizations like the National Science Foundation.