There are several types of financial support available for students in the Mathematical Sciences graduate programs. Each type of support is awarded to qualified students on a competitive basis. Continuation of all support is based upon satisfactory progress towards degree. (The following dollar amounts are current as of Fall 2008.)
Assistantships and Fellowships
Graduate Teaching Assistantships are the most common type of financial support for departmental graduate students. The duties usually entail teaching two or three undergraduate courses per academic year or serving as a teaching assistant in a large section of a course. Master's students normally receive graduate teaching assistantships for two consecutive academic years and one summer session, which is the typical time required to complete their degrees. The current stipend for two semesters and both summer sessions totals $17,000.
R.C. Edwards Research Fellowships and Graduate Alumni Fellowships are awarded by the Graduate School. The department nominates candidates who compete with other nominees throughout the university. These fellowships currently pay $5,000 to $10,000 per academic year in addition to the assistantship granted by the department. Fellowships require no explicit duties. Applicants to our department have been quite successful in winning these awards in recent years.
Research Assistantships are available to graduate students through research grants and contracts held by faculty members in the department. These assistantships require approximately twenty working hours per week (one-half time). They often pay a somewhat higher rate than the teaching assistantships and are awarded based on availability and the qualifications of the recipients.
SC Graduate Incentive Fellowships are available to minority graduate students. These renewable awards are $5,000 or $10,000 for doctoral students.
Tuition and Fees
Graduate Assistants pay a flat fee per semester (currently $950), which is substantially lower than the regular cost of tuition and fees ($3641 for in-state students and $7285 for out-of-state students). The flat fee of $950 includes the semester medical fee ($110), which entitles students to all the medical services of the Student Health Service including a complete pharmacy. The usual graduate assistant course load is 9 credit hours per semester. Approximately $300 per semester is needed for textbooks and supplies.
Specific information concerning tuition and fees can be found in the Graduate School Catalog.
Housing
Housing is available in the student residence halls (about $1000 per semester) for double occupancy, (about $850 per semester) for single occupancy, or at student apartment complexes: $1057-$1260 per semester for double occupancy per bedroom, and $1010-$1195 per semester for single occupancy per bedroom. They are paid on a semester basis and some require vacancy during the summer. There is a non-refundable Housing Application Fee of $50. Utilities, cable, phone and LAN internet services are included.
Thornhill Village apartments, specifically for graduate students, are double occupancy with private bedrooms. They are rented at a rate of $1057.50 per semester. Utilities, cable, phone and LAN internet services are included.
Click here for more information on On-Campus Housing.
University Housing is pleased to announce that Tiger Properties has been selected as the preferred leasing agent for your graduate, family and international student housing needs. You may visit them on the Web at www.tigertownevillage.com or you may reach them by phone at 864-654-RENT. Other off-campus, two-bedroom furnished apartments rent in the range of $400-$1175 per month. Utilities are generally paid separately.