Financial Assistance
At Southern Illinois University, we understand that financial considerations play a crucial role in your graduate education decisions. That's why we're committed to providing a range of financial support options to help you focus on what matters most: your education and future career.
Teaching and Research Assistantships
Many qualified graduate students in Computer Science receive financial support in the form of teaching or research assistantships. Appointments are normally made on a half-time basis, committing the student to 20 hours of work per week. The current stipend associated with such assistantships is stated on the graduate school website various appointment types. In addition, tuition fees are waived. Ordinarily, a student whose academic progress and performance of duties have been satisfactory is eligible for reappointment. Students who hold an assistantship normally take 9 credit hours per semester.
Students who receive an offer of a graduate assistantship are selected, on a competitive basis, from among those who have been admitted to the graduate program in Computer Science. The main criteria used in making this selection are the quality of the academic background of the student and his/her knowledge and skills relative to the assigned responsibilities. In addition, other factors may be taken into consideration. These include GRE scores, TOEFL scores (when applicable), letters of recommendation, and the overall reputation of the student's undergraduate institution. If the Computer Science Program cannot provide an assistantship since the number is limited, you may check the SIU Graduate School's web page on Graduate Administrative Assistantship Job Postings for possible employment, which should include tuition waivers, too. If you cannot find a job before you arrive, our graduate students usually do not have difficulty finding on-campus employment due to their computer skills and background.
Fellowships
In addition to assistantships, a limited number of graduate fellowships are available to academically superior students. Graduate fellowships provide a stipend, along with a tuition waiver. No duties are required of graduate students holding fellowships.
Beyond Assistantships and Fellowships
While our assistantships and fellowships are highly sought after, there are more avenues to explore to ease your financial burdon. We regularly provide the latest information about available scholarships, grants, and on-campus employment opportunities.
We're proud to offer financial assistance that acknowledges and supports the diversity of our student body. Our programs are designed to be accessible to students from various backgrounds and circumstances, reflecting our commitment to inclusive excellence in education.