Cost and Financial Support

Ph.D. students in nuclear physics, accelerator physics, and nuclear chemistry working toward their degrees under the supervision of an NSCL faculty member receive sufficient support to allow them to complete the doctoral program without the need for other sources of income or loans, provided they make adequate progress on their Ph.D. thesis.

Usually this support consists of half-time graduate teaching assistantships in the first year and half-time graduate research assistantships after advancement to Ph.D. candidacy and in the summer months. Half-time assistantships include a waiver for tuition and matriculation fees for all recommended physics and chemistry courses in addition to health insurance. A higher stipend is provided after the graduate student advances to candidacy to the Ph.D. degree.

Especially qualified incoming graduate students are considered for and nominated for a limited number of honorific fellowships, e.g., the NSCL Fellowship, the College of Natural Science Fellowship, and University Fellowships. NSCL guarantees the fellowship-level of support for up to four years, provided the student makes good progress towards the completion of her or his doctoral degree and remains in good academic standing.

Housing is likely to be your largest expense as a graduate assistant. Single rooms in the Owen Graduate Center rent for $2,410 per semester, and this includes partial board. University-owned one-bedroom or and two-bedroom apartments rent between $498 and $594 per month and include utilities, essential furniture, and a private telephone. Privately-owned off-campus rooms and apartments are also available.

Most NSCL graduate students own cars, but frequent, reliable public transportation is available in the greater Lansing area. Some commercial apartments in East Lansing have direct bus connections to Michigan State University (Routes 22, 23, 24). The MSU Shaw & Farm Bus Boarding Center is one-minute walk away from NSCL.

The cost of living in the Lansing, Michigan, region is close to the national average and significantly lower than in many other university cities.