Prospective Students
Undergraduate
Transfer (Undergraduate)
Accelerated Master's Degree Program
Doctoral
1. Application Procedures
2. Program Requirements
3. Financial Information
4. Admissions FAQ

Financial Information

Prospective Students
Undergraduate
Transfer (Undergraduate)
Accelerated Master's Degree Program
Doctoral
1. Application Procedures
2. Program Requirements
3. Financial Information
4. Admissions FAQ

The department offers a financial package that funds the five years that a student is in the graduate program. This support package can include a combination of Research Fellowships, Graduate Student Instructor (GSI) positions, and paid research positions for a total of 5 academic years of support (fall, winter) and four spring/summer terms. For fall and winter terms, each of these funding sources include tuition coverage, a stipend or salary, and health insurance. In spring/summer terms, a stipend or salary, and health insurance are included.

As a Research Fellow, students engage in their own research and research in collaboration with their faculty mentor in Psychology. As a Graduate Student Instructor, the student is employed to work with a faculty member in teaching a course. The financial offer is equivalent for all students admitted into any of the six areas of psychology with a few differences for students in the Clinical Science Area.

Helping us Determine Your Eligibility for Fellowship Funding

The University of Michigan offers several competitive fellowships—including the Rackham Merit Fellowship (RMF)—that aim to support students whose backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences enrich our graduate community. These fellowships take into account a broad range of factors (see here for the rubric) beyond academic achievements, including:

Overcoming educational or economic disadvantage
Demonstrated commitment to expanding access to education or addressing social disparities
Membership in groups historically underrepresented in graduate education
First-generation college or U.S. citizenship status
Experience with financial hardship
Participation in programs like McNair, MARC, or similar

Most of us consider our own upbringing to be typical, but we all benefit from our experiences in different ways—and we want to understand what makes you unique. For example, you may have learned about sacrifice and hard work by watching your parents work multiple jobs to support your education. Or, perhaps you had access to one-on-one tutoring, GRE prep classes, or academic enrichment programs that helped you thrive. Whether you’ve overcome barriers or benefited from resources, we encourage you to reflect on those experiences in your application.

This can be done anywhere in the application - but consider inserting this material into your short answer questions or your Personal Statement. By sharing more about your personal journey—academic, professional, or civic—you give us the information we need to ensure you’re considered for all relevant funding opportunities. Your voice and perspective matter, and they strengthen our scholarly community.

Timeline

The graduate program is composed of two phases:

Precandidacy: The first two years when a student is taking courses and acquiring specific intellectual and research skills necessary to become a candidate for the Ph.D.
Candidacy: Years 3–5 when a student is conducting their dissertation research and strengthening other skills.

Similarly, the support package is in two phases. During the first two years in the graduate program, a student is supported as a Research Fellow for 1.5 academic terms, and a GSI for 2.5 academic terms. The second term in the first year is split between teaching and Research Fellowship. During the first two summers students are supported as Research Fellows. Support for subsequent years in the program is contingent on having achieved candidacy.

During years 3–5, students begin their dissertation research and have the opportunity to expand their teaching experiences with three additional terms of GSI support. Most students will be a GSI during the third and fourth years. In the final year, students are supported as a Research Fellow for two academic terms to facilitate the completion of their dissertation by the end of the fifth year. During the third and fourth summers students are again supported as Research Fellows.

Clinical Science Program

Additional Funding Sources

While support is guaranteed as described for 5 years, all eligible students are expected to apply for funding from the National Science Foundation during their senior undergraduate year or first year of graduate school and other sources of funding throughout their graduate career. If a student receives funding from an external foundation or institute (NSF, NIMH, etc.), the department can combine funds in a way that will enhance the overall support package, and potentially reduce the teaching requirement.

NSF fellowships give three years of support, provide a larger stipend, and can reduce the teaching requirement to two terms. Information and application forms may be obtained from the National Science Foundation Fastlane website or by emailing info@nsfgradfellows.org. Doctoral students across many of the program areas are encouraged to apply for NIH or NIMH predoctoral fellowships. Further information can be found at the National Institutes of Health website.

An undergraduate who is seriously contemplating study at the doctoral level is well advised to explore the many sources of individual fellowship support available to outstanding students. No later than the end of their junior year, students should consult counselors at their undergraduate colleges or universities regarding fellowships available from both federal and private sources. Students who receive an individual fellowship may use it at any university to which they have been admitted. Many of these fellowships provide several years of support.

Rackham Funding Sources

Other Funding and Awards

Graduate Student Instructors

Please check the UM Careers website for Psychology GSI job postings.

In the Careers website, under Career Interest, select "Graduate Student Instructors (GEO)," then sort by "Department" column to locate "LSA Psychology" job postings. Open the posting and read instructions carefully.

Psychology Ph.D students who will GSI as part of their funding plans are sent instructions to apply through their department.

For applicants outside of the Psychology Ph.D program to be considered for a position, they must apply to the Psychology GSI job posting. Job posting dates are tba.

Note: All students hired for GSI positions must attend REQUIRED TRAININGS (refer to job posting for details).

For more information, interested students should consult with Psychology Student Academic Affairs, the Rackham School of Graduate Studies, or the Office of Financial Aid.

Psychology Student Academic Affairs

530 Church Street
Ann Arbor, MI 48109–1043
Email: psych.phdprogram@umich.edu
Phone: 734.764.2580

Rackham Fellowships Office

160 Rackham
University of Michigan
Ann Arbor, MI 48109–1070
Email: rackham.fellowships@umich.edu
Phone: 734.764.8119
Rackham Fellowships

Office of Financial Aid

2011 Student Activities Building
University of Michigan
Ann Arbor, MI 48109
Email: financial.aid@umich.edu
Phone: 734.763.6600
Office of Financial Aid Website

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