Students who are admitted to graduate study for the Ph.D. in Physics at Washington University generally receive a complete financial support package including a tuition scholarship that pays full tuition, together with either a Teaching Assistantship that currently pays $19,110* for the 9-month academic year, or a Research Assistantship at a similar rate, or one of the Departmental Fellowships (see below for details). Such financial support is guaranteed by the department for the first five years for students who are making satisfactory progress towards the Ph.D. degree. Thus, graduate study in Physics generally does not require additional student loans, working part-time, or any other outside means of support.

In addition, students who have been admitted to the graduate program have the opportunity to work with a departmental research group in the summer prior to their first academic year and/or during subsequent summers. In addition to the convenience of not having to seek other employment during the summer months, employment in summer research has several advantages, such as finding areas of physics that are of special personal interest, making significant progress towards completion of the Ph.D., and having the opportunity to perform research that results in scientific publications. Students who have been admitted to the graduate program in physics should inquire about research opportunities by contacting the department chairman or the head of the particular research group in which he or she is interested.

University Fellowships are awarded to outstanding first-year physics graduate students. These fellowships provide full tuition and stipend support ($2,123/month*) for Fellows during the first two semesters, with no other responsibilities such as those associated with Teaching or Research Assistantships. Beginning in the second year students receive a Graduate Teaching Fellowship (see below) if their academic progress is satisfactory. Summer support may be provided by a Hughes Research Fellowship or by one of our research groups.

Each year the Physics Department will be able to award one Arthur Holly Compton Graduate Fellowship to a particulary outstanding first-year student. The Compton Fellows have no teaching duties during their first two semesters and receive a substantially enhanced stipend ($30,000) during their first academic year (including summer months).

The Compton Fellowships are named for Arthur Holly Compton, who was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics for fundamental research that he carried out on this campus while he was a Professor of Physics at Washington University.

These fellowships, Graduate Assistantships in Areas of National Need, provide a 12-month stipend of $30,000 and a waiver of tuition, thus covering both the academic year and summer research with a physics department research group. Generally awarded for 1 year to 2nd- and 3rd-year students in lieu of a teaching assistantship or research assistantship, GAANN fellowships recognize strong promise for a career in physics. US citizenship or permanent residency is required.

The Center for Materials Innovation (CMI) will award each year two Fellowships to outstanding first-year graduate students, with the possibility of renewal for a second year. CMI Fellows receive a yearly stipend of $6,000 in addition to their regular departmental support. Each year advanced students are eligible to compete for a Senior CMI Fellowship with the same yearly stipend.

Nine-month academic year stipend of $30,500* plus tuition remission. Renewals for a second and third years are contingent upon satisfactory progress and continued involvement in the space sciences or astrophysics. No duties required. Astronaut Fellows have the option of summer employment with one of the space sciences or astrophysics research groups and are paid the Graduate Research Fellowship monthly salary during the summer.

Nine-month academic year stipend of $25,500* plus tuition remission, for students interested in working in the space sciences or astrophysics. No duties required. May be renewed for a second year and, in exceptional cases, for a third year. McDonnell Fellows have the option of summer employment with one of the space sciences or astrophysics research groups and are paid the Graduate Research Fellowship monthly salary during the summer.

The Olin Fellowships carry awards of $25,250* for the academic year, plus tuition remission. Awards are renewable for a period of four years, contingent upon satisfactory academic performance. Separate application to the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences is required, with a deadline of February 1, 2009.

Nine month academic year stipend of $19,110*, plus tuition remission. Teaching duties amount to approximately 15 hours per week. Generally renewable for a second year. Summer support may be provided by a Hughes Research Fellowship or by one of our research groups.

Monthly stipend of $2,123*. Occasionally awarded during the academic year to first-year graduate students, but more commonly to students in later years. Some are available, in the summer after the first academic year in our program, to students who have shown significant potential for original research in physics.

These fellowships were named in honor of a distinguished former chairman of the Department of Physics. A limited number are awarded annually to first-year graduate students who have demonstrated outstanding academic performance and who show unusual promise as prospective Ph.D. candidates in physics. The Hughes Academic Fellowship, $3,000 for the nine-month academic year, is made as a supplement to other basic awards. No additional service or obligation is involved. The Hughes Fellowship is renewable for one additional year, conditional upon continued demonstration of academic excellence. The Hughes Research Fellowship provides summer employment as a Research Assistant for entering graduate students, either up to two months of the summer prior to the first academic year or during the summer following the student's first year in our graduate program.