Funding for Current Students

LS@UIC focuses on understanding learning as it happens in a range of settings, including schools, museums, community-based organizations and families. Our program prepares students to engage in research on learning in diverse contexts with an emphasis on the design, development and implementation of learning environments that support meaningful educational goals and provide sustainable solutions to the challenges learners face in and out of schools. Researchers in LS@UIC conduct research and design activities that are deeply rooted in authentic practices and leverage theories and methods from multiple research traditions with goal of improving learning conditions for those who have been and are disadvantaged by systemic inequities in educational institutions.

Financial Support

Our doctoral students receive generous funding packages in the form of university-based fellowships or graduate research assistantships. Fellowships and research assistantships include monthly stipends, cover tuition costs and are awarded on a competitive basis and vary for each student. All of our doctoral students receive funding for four years of full-time study, with the potential for additional years of funding pending availability of funds.

A typical funding package will include a 9-month 50% appointment (~20 hours/week) through a graduate research assistantship, full tuition remission, the majority of the university health insurance (Campus Care), and a stipend of $23,113.17 ($2568.13/month) per academic year. Note that these figures are subject to change and summer funding is not guaranteed.

Travel Funding

  • Graduate students who are presenting a paper or poster at a conference may apply for $250.00 in travel funds once every academic year. The applicant does not have to be first author but must be the presenting author. Please detail your projected conference-related expenditures below. These funds can also be used for other relevant professional development activities or events, such as writing workshops.
  • A signed copy of this application, along with a copy of the conference acceptance or event description, needs to be filed with the Director of Graduate Studies at least thirty days prior to the conference/event.
  • Please note: this is a reimbursement program, based on the submission of original receipts. Also note that there are additional, supplementary funds for graduate students (up to $200) from LAS. These funds are not guaranteed every year. Please check with the LSRI Director for updates on the availability of these funds.
  • Click here for more information and for the application.
  • This award is first-come, first-serve. Students can apply during the funding quarter on the last day of the conference takes place. See the website for rules, “funding quarter” dates, and application procedures.
  • up to $275
  • https://gradstudentcouncil.uic.edu/awards/travel-awards/
  •  “Applications must be submitted before the closest deadline following your trip.  Applications submitted prior to the proposed trip will be reviewed during the subsequent round of Awards. When a deadline date falls during a weekend, the deadline will be the following Monday.”
  • Up to $300
  • Deadlines (rolling)
    September 30    (June, July, August, September)
    January 31    (October, November, December, January)
    May 31    (February, March, April, May)
  • https://grad.uic.edu/student-presenter-awards (application is linked).
    •  “This competitive award program has been established for the purpose of promoting diversity and the understanding of diversity within the University. Recipients are provided a certificate and funding, not to exceed $600, to travel to a professional conference. Awards will be presented to up to ten (10) University of Illinois students in each biannual awards cycle. The reimbursement of travel expenses through these conference travel awards is intended to support student candidates who will be presenting papers, posters, or creative work at conferences related to issues of diversity or identity, such as those involving race, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, disability, and national origin, in service to the University’s interest in a diverse learning community.”
    • Up to $600
    • https://www.vpaa.uillinois.edu/academic_affairs_programs/diversity_travel_assistance_program

    FAQs

    UIC Graduate College