Financial Aid

Graduate Assistantships

The Department is able to provide graduate assistantships for the majority of incoming Ph.D. students. Both teaching and research assistantships are available. Research assistantships are funded through faculty research grants. Selection for assistantships is based on merit rather than need. For incoming students, all information included in the application is utilized in ranking students for priority in awarding assistantships.

  • Graduate assistantships include both a stipend and a tuition waiver.
  • Graduate assistantships are available for a maximum of five years of study in the PhD program.
  • Applicants to the Ph.D. program who wish to be considered for a graduate assistantship should indicate this on their application. Students will be notified directly by the department if an admissions offer includes an assistantship. Occasionally a waitlist is created for financial aid. Students will be notified if they are the wait list.
  • Graduate assistantships are not normally available to students in the Masters program.

MSQE Scholarship

Information on the MSQE Scholarship can be found here.

Need-Based Financial Aid

Domestic students are encouraged to apply for need-based Financial Aid through the Office of Student Financial Aid Services.

Graduate Fellowships

https://grad.uconn.edu/gradfellows/uconn-grad-internal-fellowship-awards/

Merit-based fellowships are also available from a variety of sources  each year. The amount of these awards varies. For incoming students, fellowship awards are included in the funding decision and indicated in the offer for admission. For continuing students, fellowships are awarded each spring.

  • Predoctoral Fellowships. These fellowships are awarded annually to students based on academic performance or potential.
  • Doctoral Dissertation Fellowships. These fellowships are designed to assist advanced Ph.D. students in completing their dissertations. Students receiving this award are usually in their 5th year.
  • CLAS and MacKinnon Fellowships. The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences periodically awards these fellowships to outstanding Ph.D. students.
  • Best Third-Year Research Paper. This award is given each year to the  student  who completes the best Third Year Paper.
  • Economics  Research Fellowships. These departmental awards encourage collaborative research efforts between students and faculty, and among students. These awards are typically given during the summer.

 

The Graduate School Fellowships

In order for an applicant to be considered for one of the following fellowships, the applicant must select that they wish to be considered in SLATE. Recipients of these fellowships will be the most academically promising members of the entering class of graduate students at the University of Connecticut. The criteria used to select recipients include the following:

  • Evidence of scholarly or creative achievement highlighted by the department or program in their nomination and evidence that the department or program provides the environment necessary for success in the areas of interest highlighted by the applicant.
  • Evidence of any prior scholarly or creative achievement by the nominee, e.g., publications, presentations, exhibits, performances.
  • Evidence that the nominee has been successful at previous academic institutions, e.g., letters of recommendation.
  • Quantitative evidence of academic accomplishment, e.g., undergraduate grade point average, GRE/GMAT (when available).

The Jorgensen Fellowship (JF) is available to outstanding young scholars applying to doctoral programs. The award consists of a service-free fellowship providing a $20,000 annual stipend for five years.

In addition, to be eligible for either the fellowships below, applicants must demonstrate a commitment to enhancing diversity in higher education and/or a commitment to enhancing diversity in their field of study.

  • The Harriott Fellowship (HF) is available to outstanding young scholars applying to doctoral programs. The award consists of a service-free fellowship providing a $20,000 annual stipend for five years.
  • The Crandall Fellowship (CF)is available to outstanding young scholars applying to master’s programs. The award consists of a service-free fellowship providing a $20,000 annual stipend for two years (MFA is for three years).

For HF and CF fellowships students must submit a diversity statement through the SLATE application system. Students can demonstrate a commitment to enhancing diversity in higher education through participation in organizations or activities that (a) directly relate to increasing access to higher education and retention in higher education of individuals, regardless of age, race, sexual orientation, gender, nationality, cultural background, religion, or beliefs or (b) that help to ensure that individuals are welcomed and included in higher education environments regardless of age, race, sexual orientation, gender, nationality, cultural background, religion, or beliefs. Such organization and activities might include participation/affiliation with TRIO programs, cultural/affinity organizations/centers, volunteer experiences, and college or university committees focused on these goals. Students provide evidence of this commitment through research and educational experience reflected on their CV/resume (articles, presentations, internship, and research experience), in their personal statement, or in letters of recommendations.

Annual Awards

The department recognizes outstanding graduate students through a number of awards each year, including those presented at the Annual Awards Banquet each April. These awards are given to outstanding students who meet the criteria for each award. The amount of each award varies  yearly.

  • W. Harrison Carter Award. This award is given to recognize a student’s excellence in teaching.
  • Abraham Ribicoff Award. The Ribicoff award is given to a Connecticut resident with a strong academic record and an interest in the application of economic analysis to the formulation and implementation of state and national economic policies.
  • Albert E. Waugh Scholarship. This  award is given to a student interested in pursuing a career in teaching economics.
  • Timothy A. and Beverly C. Holt Award. This award is based upon academic excellence and financial need.
  • Eleanor Bloom Trust Fund. This award is given to assist with summer research.
  • Economics Department Graduate Scholarship. This award is given to students who demonstrate academic excellence.