Assistantships and Fellowships

All accepted graduate students, both at the master’s and doctoral level, are reviewed by our research faculty for possible funding opportunities.  Decisions regarding assistantships and fellowships are made after a student's application is complete and admission is granted.  Some offers of financial assistance, including a stipend and full tuition support, are made to the best students whose background and studies are compatible with the faculty’s research needs.

The typical mode of support is a combined Research and Teaching Assistantship.  While we have many excellent students admitted to our program each year, the number of these awards is limited.  It falls upon many capable and eligible students to support themselves until, and if, support becomes available at a later point in their studies.  As funding offers are made on a rolling basis, based on the recommendations of individual faculty members, applicants are encouraged to directly contact faculty members in their area(s) of interest after receiving notification of admission.

A good place to start your search for a possible faculty sponsor is to determine which faculty members are part of the research/curricular group in which you are interested.  A list of faculty broken down by research/curricular group can be found here.  Further information regarding the specific background, research interests and contact information of individual faculty members can be found in the faculty profiles which are located here.

Please be aware that the Faculty of the ECE Department recognize that many students are capable of excelling in graduate work, and that continued attendance in graduate school is often contingent upon receipt of some form of aid.  Unfortunately, limits on research funds and teaching budgets means that many who are deserving of financial assistance must be denied aid despite the fact that every effort is made to support deserving and needy students.

Other funding options may also be available to you at the college or university level, based on your particular situation.  More information regarding these funding options can be found here.  Students are also encouraged to consider applying for competitive external fellowship awards.  More information about these awards can be found on the website of the Drexel Fellowships Office.