Assistantships & Financial Support Many graduate students in PSLS are provided with financial assistance in the form of graduate research (GRA) or teaching (GTA) assistantships, sponsored by the Tennessee Agricultural Experiment Station, by the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, or by individual faculty through grants. Appointments are normally on a one-fourth to one-half time basis, and the annual stipend is typically payable in twelve monthly installments. Graduate research and teaching assistantships are usually awarded to students before their first semester, during the application process. Announcements for specific assistantships are occasionally posted on the department's Position Announcements page (good idea to check there from time to time). What are my chances of getting a graduate assistantship, and how do I apply for one? You accepted me into your graduate program but did not offer me an assistantship. Does this mean that you consider me a less qualified student? Applications for special university graduate fellowships: Hilton A. Smith Fellowships Herman E. Spivey Graduate Fellowships Black Graduate Fellowships Lori Mayer Re-Entry Women's Graduate Fellowships Yates Dissertation Fellowships For more information contact the GRADUATE FELLOWSHIPS AND OTHER FUNDING SOURCES pages on the web site of the UT Office of Graduate Studies. UT Office of Financial Aid & Scholarships The PSLS department provides assistance to all graduate students by way of furnishing plants, greenhouse space, outdoor research areas, laboratory facilities and equipment, and professors' time. Tuition exemptions In addition to the stipend, Graduate Teaching Assistants and Graduate Research Assistants are entitled to a waiver of fees for the period of appointment in accordance with university policy. University fees include a maintenance fee (required of all students), tuition (different rates for in-state and out-of-state students), and a program and services fee. The waiver of fees for assistantships applies to maintenance and tuition fees (several thousand dollars per year: current tuition rates). Maintenance fees and tuition waivers apply to appointments at a one-fourth time basis or higher. Graduate Student Health Insurance Funding for student travel Please contact Dr. Bill Klingeman with questions about our graduate programs. Current students   Recent graduates Courses:   Undergraduate   Graduate Application procedures for both masters and doctoral programs PhD program Assistantships Examples of jobs our graduate & undergraduate students have obtained Dept Award Match Program UT Forms   Plant Sciences Application Form Plant Sciences Graduate Courses UT Graduate Admissions Plant Sciences Graduate Handbooks: Masters   PhD Health Insurance Current PSLS listing in UT Graduate Catalog (will be revised as noted above) UT Graduate Catalog College (CASNR) graduate website UT Graduate School web site Center for International Education Guide to the Preparation of Theses and Dissertations