The Michigan Program in Survey and Data Science offers all admitted students in the PhD program a continuous four-year funding package, including stipend and tuition, plus health and dental insurance. Our graduate students receive a combination of graduate student instructor positions, graduate student research assistant positions, or hourly paid research positions. With this guarantee of support, the program is investing in the potential of a PhD student to contribute basic methodological research to the field and allowing them to nurture and develop their ideas over an extended period of time. 

Graduate Student Instructor Positions

The program offers several Graduate Student Instructor (GSI) positions in the Fall and Winter terms. First-year MPSDS students are first considered for these part-time, 20 hours a week, positions. GSIs predominantly have grading duties and assist MPSDS faculty in grading homework, tests, and final exams in their classes.

Graduate Student Research Assistant Positions

Typically, in years two through four, students are offered Graduate Student Research Assistant (GSRA) positions. Graduate students are hired to assist faculty in performing research that is relevant to the faculty member’s academic goals. GSRA positions are non-instructional and are typically supported by existing research contracts.

Additional Funding and Professional Support

Beyond Graduate Student Instructor (GSI) and Graduate Student Research Assistant (GSRA) appointment, MPSDS provides a range of funding opportunities designed to support doctoral students throughout their academic journey. The program offers one-term candidacy fellowships that allow students to devote their full attention to dissertation research and writing without the responsibilities of a GSI or GSRA appointment. MPSDS also provides short-term research funding to help students pursue projects that advances their progress toward degree completion. In addition, the program offers travel support so students can present their research at professional conferences across the United States and around the world, providing valuable opportunities to share their work, engage with leading scholars, and build professional networks.

The Institute of Social Research at U-M also provides Fellowships and Awards. This funding is managed by different Centers within ISR and have different eligibility, applications, and deadlines. Be sure to see awards offered by the Center for Political Studies, ICPSR Summer Program, Population Studies Center, and Research Center for Group Dynamics at the bottom of their page. Award amounts and terms of use may change marginally prior to applications closing.

The University of Michigan and Rackham Graduate School provides many sources of financial assistance to help students meet educational and living expenses. Rackham is able to provide conference travel grants, emergency funds, and research grants for our student body.