We understand the challenges of paying for and funding your higher education goals, and we are transparent with current and prospective students, connecting them to the assistance they need and informing them of the cost and aid available. To identify the best sources of financial support, we encourage potential and current students to review the information below.
Tuition
Tuition rates are set each year by the UW School of Public Health within guidelines approved by the Washington state legislature.
Financial Aid and Funding
Our program, department, school, and university provide various funding options for students.
Our goal is for each student to have sufficient financial aid to support their studies. We will work with each student to put together an aid or work package which meets their particular needs after they’re admitted.
We do our best to match all accepted students with either a training grant or a research assistantship that fund at least the first two years. They both pay stipend and tuition and cover health insurance. In the later years, students often apply for grants or find assistantships, often working for their mentors or at one of our department’s research centers.
Funding could also include fellowships, dissertation grants, outside employment, and/or student loans.
Assistantships
Assistantships are a form of paid academic employment in which students receive tuition reimbursement for the tasks they perform for faculty members, departments, or colleges. Positions include research assistant (RA), teaching assistant (TA), and staff assistant (SA). Students are not limited to working assistantships in their own departments. They’re welcome to apply to any assistantship at the UW.
If English is not your first language, see the Conditions of Appointment for Teaching Assistantships who are not Native Speakers of English.
Admitted students may apply to positions after they accept their admission offers, and are hired directly by the employing department, not this program.
SPH Student Funding and Opportunities
Pre-doctoral Training Grants
Health Services PhD students are eligible for training grants to support their development as researchers. Note, our program’s training grants are limited to U.S. citizens and permanent residents.
- Training in Equity and Structural Solutions in Addictions (TESSA) Training Grant – for students in the TESSA area of emphasis
- Biobehavioral Cancer Prevention and Control Research Training Grant – prioritized for students in later years of the program and post-docs
There is a space on the annual Health Services PhD application to share which training grants prospective students are interested in and eligible for. We encourage you to review our grants before applying.
Scholarships and Funding Guides
Health Services PhD applicants are eligible for the following scholarships:
- Health Systems Excellence, Equity, and Distinction (HSEED) Award – $5,000 to one incoming student from each HSPop program
- UW SPH Student funding guide
- HSPop Financial assistance and scholarships
- Graduate Funding Information Service (GFIS)
International and/or Undocumented Students
We welcome international and undocumented applicants. However, our training grants are federally funded and limited to US citizens and permanent residents. International and undocumented students are often funded through assistantships or bring funding with them. Per U.S. immigration law, admitted international students must demonstrate sufficient financial resources for the first year of study. See the financial ability requirement policy for details.
The Graduate Funding Information Service offers informative pages on finding funding for both International Students and Undocumented Students.
Requirements for International Students – includes information on the financial ability requirement, transcripts, visas, employment options, and other documentation
International Student Services: Frequently Asked Questions
Review our program admissions eligibility criteria and learn more about available financial options on our department’s student resources page.
Employment Outside UW
Local health organizations and businesses also employ doctoral students. Position announcements are often forwarded to student email lists, but it is worthwhile to research opportunities at these organizations directly.
Additional Student Resources
The UW Department of Health Systems and Population Health has a list of financial support and student resources, including student services such as counseling, housing, and/or child care, among others.