Student Financials and Funding

Understanding the financial aspects of graduate education is an important part of planning your academic journey. The UChicago Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering offers funding resources, financial aid guidance, billing information, and support services to help students navigate educational costs and financial planning. Explore the section below that best matches your program:

PhD Student Financials & Funding

Master’s Student Funding & Financials

PhD Student Financials And Funding

Educational costs include more than required tuition and fees. Tuition and fee information is available on the Bursar’s office website. For the full cost of attendance and for more information, please visit the Office of Graduate Financial Aid website.

All UChicago PME PhD student funding, whether Research Assistants, Teaching Assistants, or external fellowship recipients from entities such as the NSF GRFP, DoD NDSEG, etc., is managed by the UChicagoPME Dean of Students Office. All questions about funding should be directed to thePUChicago PME Dean of Students Office.

Students who are admitted into the UChicago Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering (UChicago PME) doctoral programs are provided a funding package that includes a stipend, required tuition and fees, and health insurance premiums. The funding package continues for the duration of enrollment in the program, assuming satisfactory academic progress.

The total PhD funding package includes:

Tuition remission*
Tuition costs are credited to PhD student accounts prior to the start of each academic quarter, assuming course registration is completed.
Health insurance premium*: PhD students are required by UChicago policy to enroll in the University Health Insurance Plan (U-SHIP)
The cost of the U-SHIP premium is credited to PhD student accounts prior to the start of each academic quarter, assuming course registration is completed.
Graduate Student Services Fees (GSSF)*, charged in each quarter of enrollment.
The cost of the Graduate Student Services Fee is credited to PhD student accounts prior to the start of each academic quarter, assuming course registration is completed.
Stipend to cover living expenses**:
The PhD student stipend is adjusted annually as specified in the GSU-UE collective bargaining agreement. Annual adjustments are usually effective on October 1 of a given year. All students enrolled in the PhD program receive the annual adjustment regardless of the year they entered the program.

PHD STUDENT STIPEND PAY DATES
Incoming PhD students will receive 4 equal payments for their first Autumn quarter of enrollment, as follows:

The first payment will be in early October
The next payments for Autumn Quarter will then be on the final business day in October, November, and December.

All students, including PhD students after their first Autumn Quarter:
Students will be paid three (3) equal payments for each quarter, on the last working day of the month.

Payment of the Lifetime Transcript Fee (one-time fee upon matriculation to the University)
The cost of the Lifetime Transcript Fee will be credited to PhD student accounts prior to the start of Autumn Quarter, assuming course registration is completed.
Discretionary Spending Stipend (one-time payment).
PhD students will receive their one-time discretionary spending stipend in September of their first year, assuming onboarding paperwork has been received. The UChicago PME Dean of Students Office will reach out to eligible students with instructions.

* For students in Research Assistant and Teaching Assistant positions, no action is required from the student for these credits to be processed. For students on external funding/fellowships, usually no action is required but the Dean of Students Office will confirm if/when tuition and/or fees are paid by an outside agency.

** The UChicago PME provides central funding for all students when they enter the program and prior to their match to a research group. First year UChicago PME PhD students are required to secure a Primary Academic Research Advisor(s) before the end of the first quarter of their first year. Once PhD students join a research group, their funding is provided by their primary research advisor.

Upon approval of the Match Form, students will formally join the laboratory of their designated Primary Academic Research Advisor(s) on the first day of the academic quarter following the quarter in which the match is completed.

All first-year PhD students will need to complete onboarding paperwork as funding sources switch from UChicago PME central accounts to primary academic advisors’ accounts. Students who do not complete their onboarding paperwork in a timely manner will experience delays in stipend payment. Requirements for onboarding, and relevant deadlines, will be communicated to students by UChicago Student Employment and the Dean of Students office.

Billing Statements

Students who receive a billing statement prior to the start of the academic quarter with charges for tuition, graduate student services fee, lifetime transcript fee, or USHIP, should disregard this billing statement. However, if the billing statement has charges other than those previously named, please discuss those charges with the Dean of Students Office.

Fellowships Awarded at Admissions

Admitted students are automatically considered for one of several additional fellowships by a faculty committee when their applications are reviewed. No separate fellowship application is needed. Fellowship awards are paid as a one-time payment during the winter quarter of the student's first year. Some fellowships may also include additional benefits, such as stipend support or tuition benefits, beyond the one-time payment. Full details of each award are communicated to recipients at the time the award is granted.

Students can only receive either one of the fellowships mentioned above or the UChicago PME External Award Fellowship in any given year.

External Award Fellowship

UChicago PME encourages students to apply for external funding from agencies such as the National Science Foundation, Department of Energy, Department of Defense, Fulbright, or other equivalent organizations. (Please review next section on External Fellowship Opportunities for resources.) Students who secure an external award are eligible for the UChicago PME External Award Fellowship, valued at $6,000 per year. This fellowship is typically disbursed in the winter quarter of the first year, if applicable, and in the autumn quarter in subsequent years.

If the stipend from the external award is less than the standard UChicago PME stipend, students will receive a supplement to make up the difference.
Students who receive external awards of $6,000 or less may retain the award without any adjustment to their funding package but are not eligible for the UChicago PME External Award Fellowship.

Students can only receive either one of the fellowships listed above or the UChicago PME External Award Fellowship in any given year.

External Fellowship Opportunities

Applying for grants and fellowships is a critical skill in every graduate student's professional socialization by providing the durable skills necessary to become independent grant seekers and competitive applicants in the future. The resources provided by UChicagoGRAD will enable students to become well versed in navigating databases and curated lists of awards, assessing fellowships and fit, and preparing a competitive application.

Please visit Fellowships - UChicagoGRAD | The University of Chicago for Fellowship information. Students should also be sure to enroll in the UChicago GRAD Fellowships course on Canvas, Enroll in UChicago GRAD Fellowships.

Emergency Assistance Programs

The University has both emergency loans and emergency grants available to students. Examples of Emergency Assistance eligible emergencies include:

Unanticipated/extraordinary medical and health expenses.
Theft of personal items.
Urgent travel and/or transportation needs.
Temporary loss of housing and/or unanticipated moving expenses.

To read more and to apply for emergency financial assistance, please visit the University Bursar's site.

Students who may be facing issues of food security can find resources at the Center for Identity and Inclusion.

Taxes

All students who are receiving stipends and wages at the University are responsible for reporting their income for tax purposes. While University staff are not permitted to provide individual tax advice, staff can guide students to resources that they should review to determine their tax status and the forms they need to complete.

Taxes are filed annually in the US and the tax filing season runs from the end of January to the middle of April to reconcile the prior calendar year’s income tax obligations.

UChicagoGrad provides detailed tax information for students, including tax workshops and information sessions.

To understand better what estimated taxes are and how students should plan for them, students may view the information and webinar on UChicagoGRAD’s site or visit the IRS’s estimated taxes page.

The Office of the Bursar generates the 1098-T tax form to assist students and parents with filing education-related taxes with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Forms can be accessed on the my.uchicago.edu student portal. Not all students qualify to receive a 1098-T form. Visit https://bursar.uchicago.edu/taxes/student-tax-forms for more information.

For US Persons

For US Persons (citizens, permanent residents, and residents for tax purposes), depending on the nature of the income, a student may receive a W-2 from the University.

Generally, income from the quarter prior to joining a research group in the PhD program is not considered wage income per IRS classification and no income taxes will be withheld from the payment, and no W-2 will be sent by the University (per IRS regulations). For more information, view Tax FAQs.

For International Students

Depending on the nature of the income, a student may receive a 1042-S or a W-2 from the University. Generally, income from the quarter prior to joining a research group in the PhD program is not considered wage income per IRS classification and is not reported on a W-2. International students will likely receive a 1042-S for this period.

Please review the Office of International Affairs' website for eligibility, requirements for, and instructions on how to pay taxes in the US. OIA has tax workshop recordings on its website students may review as an additional resource, as well as links to tax filing software for international students. Students can also visit the IRS website for detailed information. International students need to have an SSN or an ITIN in order to be able to file their taxes.

International students may also be eligible for tax treaties.

If students need more guidance, they should contact the UChicago PME Dean of Students Office, as well as UChicagoGrad at gradhelp@uchicago.edu.

Other Funding & Financial Aid

University of Chicago Office of Graduate Financial Aid works with all graduate students to explore funding options and consequences. Students can learn more about financial aid and funding education from this office.

U.S. citizens and eligible non-citizens may also apply for U.S. federal student aid by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The FAFSA and loan applications can be completed on the Federal Student Aid website. If you have questions, Graduate Aid can be reached at gradfinaid@uchicago.edu.

Non-U.S. citizens can view resources for international student funding compiled by the University of Chicago’s Office of International Affairs.

Additional Resources

UChicago GRAD: https://grad.uchicago.edu/admissions/funding/

Office of Graduate Financial Aid: financialaid.uchicago.edu/graduate

Information on Citizenship and Eligibility: http://studentaid.gov/understand-aid/eligibility

Federal Student Aid (FASFA): studentaid.gov

University of Chicago Office of International Affairs: https://internationalaffairs.uchicago.edu/students/prospective-students/international-student-funding-options

MEng Student Funding And Financials

Partial Tuition Scholarships

All applicants to the Master of Engineering program are automatically considered for scholarship funding. No separate application is necessary. Partial tuition scholarships are available and are usually awarded at the time of admission. Students must be nominated for the scholarship by UChicago PME faculty.

Tuition scholarships are managed by the UChicago PME Dean of Students office. Students with questions about funding should be referred to the Dean of Students Office.

Students with partial tuition scholarships should see their scholarship credited to their account by the start of the academic quarter, assuming course registration is completed.

Other Funding & Financial Aid

Non-U.S. citizens can view resources for international student funding compiled by the University of Chicago’s Office of International Affairs.

Additional Resources

UChicago GRAD: https://grad.uchicago.edu/admissions/funding/

Office of Graduate Financial Aid: financialaid.uchicago.edu/graduate

Information on Citizenship and Eligibility: http://studentaid.gov/understand-aid/eligibility

Federal Student Aid (FASFA): studentaid.gov

University of Chicago Office of International Affairs: https://internationalaffairs.uchicago.edu/students/prospective-students/international-student-funding-options

Billing Statements

Students will receive a billing statement prior to the start of the academic quarter with charges for tuition, graduate student services fee, lifetime transcript fee, and/or USHIP. Please arrange to pay this bill by the due date.

Students who enroll part-time should expect to see a billing statement for full-time enrollment which will be adjusted after the registration period has ended. Students in this status should make arrangements to pay what they know they owe by the billing due date.

Students with partial tuition scholarships should see their scholarship credited to their account by the start of the academic quarter, assuming course registration is completed. If the scholarship is not credited to the tuition account by the beginning of the quarter, please contact the UChicago PME Dean of Students Office.

Additional Resources For Funding

Investing in a Master of Engineering degree at the University of Chicago offers lasting benefits—enhancing your academic and professional growth while building essential skills and connections with world-class peers. We encourage all students to explore external funding opportunities for which they may be eligible, such as grants, fellowships, and government scholarships. Many students also consider education loans as a funding option. If you are interested in financing your education with student loans, please review the federal student loan application process on the University’s Graduate Financial Aid website. We recommend that applicants carefully consider their individual circumstances and goals when making decisions about funding their studies.

Fellowships - UChicagoGRAD | The University of Chicago for Fellowship information.

Enroll in UChicago GRAD Fellowships, UChicago Grad’s Canvas page that houses critical information about fellowships and application timelines

Visit UChicago Grad’s How to Fund Your Education site – for additional funding resources

Emergency Assistance Programs

The University has both emergency loans and emergency grants available to students. Examples of Emergency Assistance eligible emergencies include:

Unanticipated/extraordinary medical and health expenses.
Theft of personal items.
Urgent travel and/or transportation needs.
Temporary loss of housing and/or unanticipated moving expenses.

To read more and to apply for emergency financial assistance, please visit the University Bursar's site.

Students who may be facing issues of food security can find resources at the Center for Identity and Inclusion.

Taxes

Taxes are filed annually in the US, and the tax filing season runs from the end of January to the middle of April to reconcile the prior calendar year’s income tax obligations.

UChicagoGrad provides detailed tax information for students, including tax workshops and information sessions.

To understand better what estimated taxes are and how students should plan for them, students may view the information and webinar on UChicagoGRAD’s site or visit the IRS’s estimated taxes page.

For US Persons

For US Persons (citizens, permanent residents, and residents for tax purposes), depending on the nature of the income, a student may receive a W-2 from the University.

For International Students

Depending on the nature of the income, a student may receive a 1042-S or a W-2 from the University.

International students may also be eligible for tax treaties.

If students need more guidance, they should contact the UChicago PME Dean of Students Office, as well as UChicagoGrad at gradhelp@uchicago.edu.