Fellowships, Assistantships and Awards

A limited number of the following assistantships and fellowships are available to accepted PhD candidates.

PhD Funding Opportunities

  • Academic year stipends of $23,000 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.

A limited number of the following assistantships and fellowships are available to accepted PhD candidates: 

  • Graduate Teaching Assistantship (Tuition scholarship + $23,000 stipend per year)
  • Presidential Fellowship (Graduate Teaching Assistantship + $10,000 stipend per year)
  • Schomburg Fellowship (Graduate Teaching Assistantship + up to $12,500 stipend per year (for up to 5 years)
  • Diversity Fellowship (Graduate Teaching Assistantship + $12,500 stipend per year)

Accepted Master's applicants, and accepted PhD applicants who do not receive an assistantship or fellowship, may be eligible for assistance through the College of Arts and Sciences or the University at Buffalo

Further Fellowship Opportunities for Current Graduate Students

In addition to the teaching or research positions offer, the department awarded in 2017/18 fellow- and scholarships totaling more than $80,000 to current graduate students. The following awards have been made available to graduate students through the Department of Physics and the generosity of donors. 

For further information on these awards, as well as general financial aid information for graduate students in physics, please contact Prof. Priya Banerjee, director of Graduate Studies.