Horticulture Graduate Degree Financial Support
Most students in our graduate program receive financial support for their studies. Some have their entire education funded, while others receive partial support.
Funding comes from a variety of sources, including:
- Departmental graduate assistantships with responsibilities in teaching or research,
- Faculty-supported graduate research assistantships,
- Student-obtained fellowships, scholarships, or grants, and
- External employment or other personal support.
Departmental graduate assistantships are awarded competitively based on academic qualifications and leadership potential. Foreign students may be eligible for departmental assistantships after at least one year's enrollment at WSU. The maximum time period that students may be supported on departmental assistantships is four years for Ph.D. students and two years for M.S. students. Qualifications and eligibility requirements for other forms of funding, including faculty-supported assistantships, vary according to the source of the funds.
All students receiving assistantships, whether departmental or from faculty grants, receive health insurance, and most students also receive a waiver that covers most of the costs of tuition. Students must reside in Washington state while funded on assistantships. Assistantship appointments are from August 16 through May 15. A student's graduate advisor may be able to provide summer support.
To apply for a graduate assistantship, complete and return the "Application for Fellowship or Assistantship" form. This form is sent to all potential students with the application materials from the Graduate School. To assure being considered for assistantship support, return your form and all application materials by February 1 for fall semester admission or September 1 for spring semester admission. Packets received after these dates may be considered for assistantships if any remained unassigned or become available.
The Office of Grant and Research Development at WSU provides assistance with locating potential sources of support for anyone associated with WSU. They have a Graduate Student Support Coordinator who helps graduate students search for fellowships, research support, and travel grants.