PhD Research Assistantships
The Delaware Model at work
A component of your experience as a Ph.D. student in the School of Urban Affairs and Public Policy is your Research Assistantship. Students gain real world professional experience while earning their degree.
- While studying program evaluation, you could be asked to teach a statistics lab
- While studying poverty in neighborhoods, you could co-author an article on how welfare reform is affecting the local community
- While studying sustainable development, you could present your research to the United Nation’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
Research assistants work in tandem with faculty and staff on applied research and public service projects to collect and analyze information, evaluate policies, develop management systems, plan for future needs, train community leaders, and support the activities of the School and College. This community partnership is what makes the Delaware experience unique.
Research assistantships include tuition waivers for fall and spring semesters, and stipends for living expenses. Students awarded research assistantships are expected to work on sponsored research projects 20 hours a week during the contract period from September 1 to May 31 and receive a stipend. These funds are not tax-exempt. Students with research assistantships must register for a minimum of nine credit hours. As often as possible, students' interests are taken into account when assigning students to research projects.
Your concentration area, center affiliation, availability of funds, and ongoing projects can determine your assistantship.
