All Heller PhD students receive a fellowship that covers full tuition, mandatory fees, premium for individual Brandeis health insurance plus and annual stipend in the first and second years and the continuation tuition, mandatory fees, premium for individual Brandeis health insurance plus an annual stipend in the third and fourth years. Students who are on the training grant (NIAAA) receive the federal stipend amount and have additional requirements related to the grant. All PhD student must satisfy the following conditions each year in order to receive their fellowship. Students will sign a letter accepting the fellowship at the beginning of their 1st, 3rd and 4th years to clarify and update the general requirements listed below.
Stipends are paid on the 15th and 31st of every month or the closest business day to these dates. See your individual fellowship letter for payment schedule. All students must make arrangements for direct deposit with their banks. In December and May checks are processed earlier due to semester break and the end of the academic year.
First Year
- Follow Residency Requirements (see Residency Requirements)
- Maintain Student Status (see Maintaining Student Status)
- Maintain records of distinction in all courses
Second Year
- Follow Residency Requirements (see Residency Requirements)
- Maintain Student Status (see Maintaining Student Status)
- Maintain records of distinction in all courses
Third Year
- Complete all 15 courses by final day of classes in Spring of their second year;
- Pass the comprehensive exam;
- Present a full dissertation proposal no later than August 1 of third year;
- Regularly attend your concentration’s doctoral seminar, present in the seminar, contribute to peer learning, and suggest agenda items to fit your research needs;
- Meet with faculty advisor or dissertation chair, at a minimum, at beginning, middle and end of academic year
Fourth Year
- Successfully complete the requirements of the third-year fellowship;
- Successfully defend a full dissertation proposal no later than August 1st of third year;
- Regularly attend your concentration’s doctoral seminar, present in the seminar, contribute to peer learning, and suggest agenda items to fit your research needs;
- Meet regularly with dissertation chair, at a minimum, at the beginning, middle and end of each academic year;
- As part of the fellowship you are expected to work on your dissertation for the equivalent of full-time work during the 28 weeks of the funded semesters.