In this section...
Financial Assistance
Department funding
Non-resident supplemental tuition (NRST) fellowships
Conference stipends
Dissertation writing fellowships
Financial aid
Internal fellowships from the office of graduate studies
Graduate student appointments
Graduate student eligibility checklist
Financial Assistance
Department funding
The Graduate Program Committee would like to ensure that all graduate students know how much financial aid they can expect to receive during their graduate studies in the Spanish Department. This financial aid policy is determined by university and departmental regulations (based on the department’s fellowship allocation and instructional needs) which have been in place over the past decade.
All graduate students making satisfactory progress towards the degree can expect to receive financial support as follows: 2 years for M.A. students 5 years for Ph.D. students
Financial aid can include student employment, Non-Resident Tuition Fellowships, and any other grants and/or fellowships received from the university (for example, dissertation-year fellowships). All students should remember that Teaching Assistantships are normally granted for 15 quarters of teaching. Given these limitations, we encourage all graduate students to plan accordingly and obtain appropriate on-going advice from their major advisor in order to complete their degree in a timely fashion. Please keep in mind that given our limited block grant, the department cannot provide financial support beyond the limits stated above.
Non-resident supplemental tuition (NRST) fellowships
An international or domestic non-resident student may be awarded a Non-Resident Supplemental Tuition Fellowship. Fellowships offered from the Graduate Program are charged to the graduate program’s Fellowship Allocation funds. As these funds are limited each year, the number of NRST Fellowships the program can offer varies each year. Domestic Non-residents can expect to receive an NRST fellowship during their first year only. During that year, they can take steps to become a California resident in order to pay resident tuition starting their second year.
Conference stipends
The program attempts to reserve a portion of the Fellowship Allocation funds to award fellowship stipends for students traveling to present their work at conferences. Students will be advised throughout the year when funds are available for this purpose. Stipend amounts will be based on the location of the conference and the availability of funds each year. Funds vary from year to year.
Dissertation writing fellowships
When funds are available, the program will offer one or more students a quarter of support (monthly stipend + fees/tuition). Students will be notified when to apply for this support as funds are available. Awards are competitive.
Financial aid
It is highly recommended that graduate applicants who are US citizens, permanent residents or immigrants are file a "Free Application for Federal Student Aid" (FAFSA): Although the FAFSA can be filed at any time, it is strongly suggested that you file by the priority processing date of March 1. This form, submitted directly to the Federal Student Aid Program Office at www.fafsa.gov/, is used to determine financial need only. Financial need is a component of the eligibility criteria for many fellowships, and for all forms of financial aid. The FAFSA may be obtained from any US institution of higher education. Financial Aid, which is only available to US citizens, permanent residents or immigrants, is awarded on the basis of demonstrated financial need, and is administered by the Financial Aid Office. Federal financial aid includes student loans, grants, and work-study funding. You may apply for financial aid before you have been admitted. The Graduate Financial Aid Office can be contacted by phone at 530-752-9246 or in person in Dutton Hall, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Monday-Friday.
Internal fellowships from the office of graduate studies
Fellowships and Graduate Scholarships are awarded primarily on the basis of scholarship and the promise of outstanding academic and professional achievement. Consideration is given to the extent and quality of previous undergraduate and graduate work, evidence of ability in research or other creative accomplishment, evidence of intellectual capacity, and promise of productive scholarship. Considered in evaluations are undergraduate and graduate grade point averages, academic transcripts, statement of purpose, letters of recommendation, and other documentation such as publications or awards. The minimum cumulative undergraduate or graduate grade point average required for any fellowship is 3.0 (out of 4.0). Financial need or the availability of other sources of support in your graduate program is not relevant to the evaluation of academic merit, but may be an additional criterion for some fellowships. Students must establish eligibility for need-based awards by filing a FAFSA with the Federal Student Aid.
Fellowship awards can include a stipend (living allowance), resident fees/tuition, nonresident supplemental tuition, research equipment funds, and/or travel funds. Applications for continuing student fellowships are due December 1st for awards beginning the following Fall quarter. New applicants for admission to the graduate program are automatically considered for fellowships, so long as they complete all required admission materials by the priority deadline, January 2nd. Unless otherwise specified, awards are for one academic year (three consecutive quarters).
Students must reapply for awards each year. Students must submit the on-line Internal Fellowship Application form in order to be considered for fellowships. All students must submit a statement of purpose for fellowships. All applicants must request three letters of recommendation. Awards are generally offered in March and must be accepted or refused, in writing, by April 15 or by the date stated in the offer letter, whichever is later. Awards not accepted by the response date may be withdrawn.
Graduate student appointments
Teaching Assistantships and Graduate Student Research positions afford excellent opportunities to gain invaluable experience in areas of intrinsic importance to your graduate education and to receive financial support at the same time. Information and application materials for TAships are available from the graduate program coordinator. Contact the faculty directly about the availability of GSR positions. A minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA is required to hold an academic appointment. GSR appointments, above 25% provide full remission of resident fees; TAship appointments, above 25% and not exceeding 50% time, provide partial remission of resident fees. This policy is reviewed for renewal each year. You can look at a listing of currently available TA, GSR and Reader appointments on the Graduate Studies online listing (http://gradstudies.ucdavis.edu/employment/index.html). Additional employment & restrictions can be found at http://gradstudies.ucdavis.edu/facstaff/policies/Policies%20for%20Gradua....
New students must complete SPA 390 during fall quarter of their first year of teaching. This course is only offered in fall.
Some students may be offered additional employment during the quarter as Graduate Readers for courses with large enrollments. Domestic students may work up to 75% time. Students are paid an hourly rate for this work and must submit on-line timesheets in order to be paid. In compliance with federal regulations regarding employment of international students, we cannot employ international students more than 50% during the quarter. However, international students can accept additional employment up to 100% during winter, spring, and summer breaks.
Each year the program is allocated work study units to be used to employ students as Graduate Student Researchers. Students should contact individual faculty to determine if they have grant funds to employ them.
Graduate student eligibility checklist [pdf]
The graduate student eligiblity checklist must be completed one month prior to the beginning of each quarter in order to determine if the student is eligible for employment and/or fellowships for that quarter. Note that there is a maximum amount of time that a student can be employed in a "teaching title", which includes the following tiles: Teaching Assistant, Associate Instructor, or Reader. Students cannot work more than 18 academic-year quarters combined in these titles during their graduate career at Davis.