Nearly all of the full-time graduate students in the ECE Department have some financial assistance. Financial assistance for graduate students is available from the sources listed below. All awards are made in accordance with the Graduate Awards Manual of the Division of Advanced Studies and Research.

Graduate Assistantship (GA)

Graduate assistantships are available to qualified full-time graduate students of the ECE Department including incoming first year graduate students. The assistantship is normally accompanied by a full-time tuition scholarship. In addition, the Department usually pays the quarterly general fee. The graduate assistant is required to provide at least 20 hours per week of service in teaching, research, and/or other work. The student is expected to carry out assigned duties in a professional manner, regardless of what those duties may be.

These assistantships are usually for a 9 month or 3 quarter period with the possibility of the student earning additional compensation during the three summer months as a research or graduate assistant. The appointments are made by the Graduate Program Director, in consultation with the Graduate Council on the basis of the Department's needs in teaching and research.

Assistantship awards are made in writing for a fixed, stated period of time. Continuation of the assistantship award beyond the initial 9 month or 3 quarter period is not implied. Renewals of appointments are made by the Graduate Program Director, in consultation with the Graduate Council, on the basis of the Department's needs in teaching and research as well as the student's performance and availability of funds.

The student must normally register for at least 12 graduate credits per quarter (or more as announced) to receive this award. The Graduate Program Director will monitor and evaluate the activities of the graduate student in consultation with the faculty member(s) supervising the student, and will factor this evaluation, in addition to the Department's needs, into decisions regarding continuation of an assistantship.

Research Assistantship (RA)

These assistantships are available as a result of grants and contracts obtained by faculty members doing sponsored research. Appointments are available for graduate students to participate in particular research projects, which may often serve as thesis/dissertation research topics. Many RA's go to students who have finished one year of study in the Department. First year graduate students with strong research potential may also be considered for research assistantships. These assistantships are normally awarded either for 9 months, sometimes with the possibility of additional compensation during the three summer months, or for 12 months. Appointments for a shorter term are also made. A tuition scholarship usually accompanies a research assistantship. The quarterly general fee and health insurance premium are not included in the tuition scholarship.

These assistantship awards are made directly by the faculty in consultation with the Graduate Program Director. The research assistant is required to devote at least 20 hours per week of effort to the research project to which he/she is assigned. The continuation or termination of the appointment is decided by the faculty advisor and/or principal investigator on the basis of the availability of funds and the student's progress in research and academic areas. The student will be notified by letter of the amount and period of support.

University Graduate Scholarship (UGS)

The UGS pays for full-time tuition of the student. It does not cover the general fee nor does it cover the premium for student health insurance, both of which must be paid by the student. The UGS is awarded by the Graduate Program Director in consultation with the Graduate Council. The scholarship is available to qualified full-time graduate students in the Department on a competitive basis. The student must register for at least 12 graduate credits per quarter (or as announced) to receive a UGS. The UGS is usually for a 9 month or 3 quarter period with the possibility of another UGS for the summer months. The award may be renewed on quarterly or yearly basis, subject to availability of funds, the student's progress and completion of the degree requirements.

Excessive Credit Hours

The Ohio Board of Regents denies state subsidy for graduate students who have earned more than 260 graduate credit hours. Graduate students whose graduate credit hours at the University of Cincinnati exceed 260 (or 209 if the student was admitted with a master's degree) are not eligible for financial aid from general funds (UGS or GA).

Summer Support

The University of Cincinnati awards Summer Research Fellowships to a number of full-time graduate students in the summer for a two month duration. The fellowships are awarded on a competitive basis, based upon proposals for research projects submitted by the students to the University Research Council, the student's academic record and faculty recommendations. Students are required to submit a report to the University Dean's Office after the summer quarter, detailing the accomplishments under the Fellowship.

Renewal of Financial Aid

The Department awards tuition scholarships (UGS's) and assistantships to incoming and continuing students for the purpose of assisting them in the pursuit of their degree objectives. Awards are made for a fixed term with the possibility of renewal if sufficient funds are available and the student is making satisfactory research progress, and subject to the Department's needs in teaching and research. The receipt of an award does not imply a commitment by the Department to subsequent awards. In particular, teaching and research assistantships are awarded for a specified period with the term and amount of the award included in the letter of offer to the student. If there is to be a continuation of the award beyond the specified period, the student will be advised in writing with a subsequent letter of offer.

The student should recognize that the awarding of financial aid, either as a new award or the continuation of previous support, is subject to the availability of funds and any restrictions that may apply. The funds for GA's, UGS's, and Doctoral UGS's are allocated to the ECE Department every year by the University on a competitive basis, based on the quality of graduate studies and research in the Department. The best assurance that a student has regarding financial assistance is to devote his/her best efforts toward high scholastic achievement and the best possible progress toward the completion of the degree objective. Since departmental funds for teaching assistantships are very limited while funding from grants and contracts is more extensive, students should discuss the possibilities for research assistantship support with faculty members when considering the selection of a permanent research advisor.