Financial Support

Teaching assistantships are available for qualified applicants, though there are a limited number of positions and they are awarded on a competitive basis.  The normal assignment for a TA is to grade papers and tutor students. TAs are not lead teachers in any section or course.

The teaching assistant award is approximately $15,000 per year, and tuition is remitted, but not any fees.  

A limited number of additional fellowships offering tuition remission and $1,000 a year are available for qualified applicants not receiving TA positions. 

Eligibility for all of these forms of graduate support requires full-time enrollment and maintenance of a GPA of at least 3.0. 

Criteria for Awarding Teaching Assistantships and Fellowships

The Department of Philosophy takes the following evidence into consideration in awarding TA positions and fellowship funding:

• Writing Sample
• Letters of Recommendation
• Transcript
• Personal Statement
• Demonstration of English language proficiency for non-native speakers of English

The primary consideration in funding decisions is whether the applicant shows talent for developing into a philosopher whom we can place in one of the top Ph.D. programs in the country. The candidate’s writing sample is very important. It should demonstrate graceful and clear writing, a talent for philosophical analysis, and sophisticated understanding of philosophical issues in the literature. There should also be convincing evidence of the applicant’s dedication to work in philosophy. Competitive candidates will have a strong record of success in their undergraduate courses. 

For applicants whose native language is not English we expect strong evidence of English language proficiency.  Please consult the UH Graduate School requirement page for details on how to establish proficiency, including, if needed, minimal language test score requirements: 

https://uh.edu/graduate-school/international-students/english-proficiency/