Graduate Student Funding

PhD students are admitted to the program with funding for 5 years. Sociology offers academic year stipends of $23,000 for full-time PhD students on 10-month academic teaching assistant appointments. Teaching assistants work about 20 hours a week, and usually work closely with a faculty member for the first two years of their TAship to work with and tutor students, lead recitation sections, grade, and sometimes deliver lectures. TAs may be invited to teach their own courses in their third or fourth year. MA students are not funded through Department TAships.

Additional Fellowship Opportunities for PhD students

  • Arthur A. Schomburg Fellowship Program: The Schomburg Fellowship increases the TA stipend for students in doctoral programs across the university who can demonstrate that they would contribute to the diversity of the student body, especially those who can demonstrate that they have overcome a disadvantage or other impediment to success in higher education. Only U.S. citizens and permanent residents are eligible to receive Schomburg Fellowships. Applicants should supplement their admission application with a 1-2 page essay that demonstrates how they meet the eligibility criteria.
  • Presidential Fellowships: Presidential Fellowships increase the amount of stipend money associated with TAships offered to new PhD applicants with outstanding academic records. These fellowships are based on GRE scores (315 combined or higher plus 4.0 or higher on analytic writing) and undergraduate GPA (3.4 or higher). Applicants who meet the cutoffs and complete their application before the January 15 deadline are automatically nominated for these fellowships by the department. We currently have five Presidential fellows in the department. Both domestic and international applicants are eligible for Presidential fellowships.

Additional Sources of Funding

PhD students who exhaust their 5 years of Department funding, and MA students may find funding opportunities through other sources. These are a few options that current PhD and MA students have found.

University Financial Aid and Assistance

College of Arts and Sciences Graduate Awards and Fellowships

Every year, several awards are made available to graduate students within the College of Arts and Sciences. Students who apply for and receive an assistantship remain eligible for these awards.

UB Office of Fellowships and Scholarships

Fellowships and scholarships are among the most valuable forms of aid you can receive and are designed to support students who have exceptional academic records and potential, or demonstrate need.

UB Office of Financial Aid

Experience shows that students and families who take the time to understand their options benefit by receiving the maximum amount of eligible aid. The UB Financial Aid team is ready and willing to provide assistance as you navigate this process. 

The Office of Student Accounts

The Office of Student Accounts provides up-to-date information on tuition and fees by semester. You can also receive walk-in assistance Monday-Friday, 8:30am-4:30am, at the Student Response Center, 1 Capen, North Campus.