Revised December 2025
The Ph.D. in Politics is a fully funded five-year program. In some circumstances, students may need up to six years to finish, particularly when their dissertation research requires extensive fieldwork. In these cases, the department and university strive to make resources available.
Students who enroll in year six typically move into “Dissertation Completion Enrollment” (DCE) status (please refer to the Graduate School’s DCE Handbook for more information). Programs and centers that cover a student’s full or partial stipend in year six can be found across the University.
University and Graduate School Support
- The Interdisciplinary Doctoral Program in the Humanities (IHUM). Students accepted into the IHUM program in year three receive an additional year of support (tuition and stipend) to be used in year six.
- The Graduate School awards Honorific Fellowships to exceptional students in their later years of study. Selected students receive an additional year of support (tuition and stipend) that may be used in year six.
- The Dean’s Completion Fellowship/PGRA Program (this information is for current G5s who will apply this spring 2026 for 2026-2027):
- This program provides one semester of DCE tuition and full standard stipend funding for selected students. Students who successfully complete their dissertation and Final Public Oral (FPO/defense) before the end of the fellowship semester (January 31, 2027, for fall recipients or May 31, 2027, for spring recipients) will have the opportunity to be appointed as a salaried Postgraduate Research Associate (PGRA). For fall recipients, the PGRA appointment runs through July 31, 2027; for spring recipients, it runs through December 31, 2027.
- If you receive the Dean’s Completion Fellowship but do not defend by the end of your fellowship semester, there is no penalty, and you may continue in DCE status. However, fall recipients will be responsible for securing their own spring-term DCE tuition and living expenses through teaching appointments, RA work, other fellowships, self-pay, or other means.
- Current fifth-year students who choose to take the Dean’s Completion Fellowship in Spring 2027 will be responsible for securing their own fall 2026 stipend and living expenses funding, as department resources are not available for the fall term when the spring option is selected.
- Other university sources of funding that provide DCE tuition and full or partial stipend include:
- External funding may also be available through organizations such as the National Science Foundation.
Department support for academic years 2025-2026 (current G6s) and 2026-2027 (current G5s) ONLY:
Eligibility for Department Support
To be eligible for sixth-year support from the Department, students must be eligible for DCE enrollment (please refer to the Graduate School’s DCE Handbook for more information) and be making satisfactory progress toward completion of the Ph.D. Satisfactory progress is determined by the Director of Graduate Studies (DGS) and is based on successful completion of the following milestones:
- Successful completion of generals and all coursework requirements by the end of the 3rd year. No incompletes can remain beyond July 1st of the end of the third year.
- Approval of a dissertation prospectus by the end of the sixth term of enrollment in order to remain in good standing. For this purpose, the end of the term is three weeks after the end of classes (when grades for graduate classes are due).
- Submission of at least one full draft chapter to the dissertation committee, Department Manager, and the Graduate Program Manager (GPA) by June 1 of the 4th year.
- Submission of at least a second full draft chapter to the dissertation committee, Department Manager, and the Graduate Program Manager (GPA) by December 1 of the 5th year.
Department funding expectations for academic years 2025-2026 and 2026-2027 ONLY:
Option 1: DCE tuition and 100% stipend in fall only
At current 2025-2026 rates, this provides a stipend of $21,465* for one semester. This is the best option for students who expect to complete their dissertation and the FPO in the fall semester. Students who choose this option should not serve as a teaching assistant (TA; formerly known as assistant-in-instruction, AI, or preceptor), since the TA salary will replace, rather than supplement, a portion of the stipend.
Option 2: DCE tuition and 50% stipend in fall and spring
At current 2025-2026 rates, this option provides a stipend of $10,732.50* per semester for two semesters. Students who choose this option may also serve as a teaching assistant (TA; formerly known as assistant-in-instruction, AI, or preceptor), since the TA salary for up to 3 TA hours will supplement, not replace, their stipend from the department. For example, students who teach 2 TA hours in a semester can expect to receive approximately 83% of their usual stipend for that semester through a combination of stipend and TA salary (50% stipend from the department and 33% TA salary). Sixth-year students may teach courses within or outside Politics and may teach in fall and/or spring. However, the Department does not guarantee the availability of teaching assignments for sixth-year students.
*DCE tuition rate for 2025-2026. Subject to change in subsequent years.
Sixth-year students who have obtained partial support from other sources and who are making satisfactory progress toward completion of the Ph.D. (as defined above) are eligible for “top-up” support from the Department, as long as total support from all sources does not exceed DCE tuition and 100% stipend for two semesters. For example, if a sixth-year student receives a fellowship that provides DCE tuition and a 75% stipend for fall and spring, the Department will provide a 25% stipend for fall and spring. Top-up support from the Department is capped at DCE fees and a 50% stipend for two semesters. Sixth-year summer support is not available.
Department funding expectations for academic years 2027-2028 (current G1-G4s) and beyond:
All students in years six and seven will have their DCE fees covered by the department. In addition, the department will have a competitive application process for stipend support in the sixth year. A call for applications will be made to G5s in the spring of their G5 year, and students will be asked to provide a description of their work and plans for their sixth year, including timing of defense, as well as a letter of recommendation from their advisor. Applications will be due at the same time as the DCF/PGRA applications and students will learn the results of the process in April. Those awarded department funds will receive one semester stipend, which may be taken in one semester or be split at a rate of 50% over both the fall and the spring.
Sixth-year support is contingent on departmental and university budgets, which may change over time. We strive to maintain current information on our website and, whenever possible, provide 12 months’ notice regarding changes to support.
Questions regarding financial support in the sixth year should be directed to Kimberly Borden, Senior Manager, Finance and Administration.
Schedule
Here is the application timeline from last year for several of the awards so G5s may get a sense of the deadlines.
Honorific:
- Nominations email was sent to graduate students on February 4, 2025
- Nominations materials from students were due to GPA by February 24, 2025
- Student received award letter from Graduate School on April 1, 2025
DCF/PGRA:
- Nominations email was sent to graduate students on March 31, 2025
- Nominations materials from students were due to GPA by April 7, 2025
- Students received award letters from the Department on May 1, 2025, with decision deadline of May 5, 2025
PIIRS:
Applications from students were due to PIIRS by March 15, 2025
- Decisions were sent on April 30, 2025
PLAS:
- Applications from students were due to PLAS by March 10, 2025
- Decisions were sent at the end of April 2025