Graduate Financial Support
Graduate Assistantships
Overview
Most supported graduate students in Mathematics are Graduate Assistants (GAs). Within this category, students are assigned as either:
- Teaching Assistants (TAs) – primary form of support, usually offered with admission to the PhD program.
- Research Assistants (RAs) – based on availability of individual faculty and research funds.
TA Expectations
All TAs have opportunities to gain training and experience.
- Training: First-year TAs must take MATH 5000 (Pedagogy in Mathematics), a one-credit course in the fall.
- Experience: TAs generally begin with lower-level or service courses, and some may advance to upper-division courses. This experience strengthens the CV for academic jobs.
- Duration: GA support is normally available for up to five years, contingent on continued availability of funds, departmental needs and policies, satisfactory progress in degree program, satisfactory job performance, and eligibility as provided in the Graduate Catalog. Extensions beyond five years are reviewed individually.
Pay Scales
Graduate Assistant pay depends on academic progress and credentials:
- Level 1 – Beginner: Entry with a bachelor’s degree and fewer than 30 UConn graduate credits.
- Level 2 – Master’s: Entry with a relevant master’s degree or 30+ UConn graduate credits.
- Level 3 – PhD: For students who have passed required general/oral exam.
See the Graduate Payroll Pay Scales website for current rates.
Additional Funding Opportunities
GAANN Fellowship Program
UConn mathematics Ph.D. students can apply for the Graduate Assistance in Areas of National Need (GAANN) Fellowship Program. Supported by the U.S. Department of Education and administered by the UConn Department of Mathematics, this program awards three-year grants to five Ph.D. students annually who demonstrate academic excellence, financial need, and a commitment to pursuing a doctoral degree in mathematics.
Teaching and research opportunities
- Summer TA Positions — teaching roles during summer terms (must be in Connecticut to hold these).
- Predoctoral Fellowships — awarded to selected PhD students who have passed their preliminary exams, completed their oral exam, and are actively working on their dissertation.