MU Department of Chemistry

Graduate Program

<< back

Support

Financial Aid

The Department of Chemistry makes every effort to provide year-round support for all students making satisfactory progress toward an advanced degree in chemistry. Most students are awarded either teaching or research assistantships. The amounts of the stipends vary and are subject to change according to inflation and other factors, but are very competitive. The Department of Chemistry only provides financial support to graduate students enrolled in Chemistry degree programs.

Most first-year students are supported on graduate teaching assistantships, which are normally guaranteed upon admission to the graduate program and demonstration of proficiency in written and spoken English. These positions are 50% FTE, allowing ample time for course work, research and studies. Typically, as a graduate teaching assistant, you will have primary teaching responsibility for a group of undergraduate students in general, organic or analytical chemistry. This responsibility includes supervising laboratory instruction, leading recitation and discussion groups, grading and attending meetings.

Research assistantships generally are made available by specific professors, who have funding through grants and contracts to support students working on their research projects. These assistantships are generally awarded to second-year or more advanced students, because the student must be associated with a specific research group. The research assistantship frees the student from teaching responsibilities and allows full effort to be devoted to research activities.

Usually, research assistantships continue through the summer. Only a few teaching assistantships are available during the summer, but the Department has a number of special summer fellowships and assistantships, and has been successful in providing summer support for those students without regular research assistantships.

In addition, the Department and the University have a number of scholarships with enhanced stipends for highly qualified applicants to the graduate program. When you submit your application materials, you will automatically be considered for these special awards.

Fellowships