Princeton’s full-funding guarantee ensures total support for all Ph.D. students throughout regular program enrollment. This includes tuition support from fellowships, assistantships, and external sources. Visit our Financial Support Model page for information about tuition & costs. Year 1: Fellowships During year one, doctoral studies for students in the natural sciences and engineering are fully covered with a 10-month First Year Fellowship. The Graduate School also offers additional fellowships to select students at the time of admission, all of which offer a higher stipend rate. Explore Princeton Fellowships Years 2-5: Assistantships & External Fellowships After the first academic year, departments provide support to continuing students, typically in the form of Assistantships in Research (AR) or Assistantships in Instruction (AI) at the university rates. If supported on departmental fellowship or training grant, support is coordinated up to the AR rate. Students are paid at the same monthly AR rate in the summer months, June and July, as during the 10-month academic year. Student support may also come from competitive fellowships or external awards. Regardless of the external stipend amount, students will receive any additional support needed to provide full tuition and stipend or salary up to the AR rate. Assistantships Assistantships in Research (ARs) offer tuition and stipend support for research conducted in coordination with a faculty member. Funding is generally provided by faculty member research grants. Students in the natural sciences and engineering may also be offered Assistantships in Instruction (AIs). External Fellowships In addition to fellowships sponsored by the Graduate School and our campus partners, many students also land competitive national and international fellowships from external sources including the NSF, NIH, and others. Dissertation Completion Funding If the degree is not completed within a department's normal timeframe, up to two additional years of dissertation completion enrollment (DCE) may be available. In general, DCE students are not guaranteed support. However, it is provided in certain circumstances, and tuition grants tied to AI appointments or external fellowships may cover the marginal-cost tuition rate. If available, honorific funds may also be used to cover the first year of DCE enrollment. Resources Financial Support Model - Stipend Rates
