Financial Assistance
Explore the University’s many financial assistance opportunities as early as possible. Fellowships, research assistantships, and teaching assistantships
are awarded based on academic merit and the availability of funds. Please submit your application to EECS prior to the academic year for which the
fellowship or assistantship is desired.
Fellowships
The EECS Graduate Admissions Committee nominates many of our top applicants for University, School of Engineering, and Department fellowships
based on academic merit and other selection criteria as specified by the selection committees.
Madison A. and Lila Self Graduate Fellowships
The Self Graduate Fellowship provides development opportunities for exceptional Ph.D. students. The prestigious four-year award consists of an annual
payment, full tuition and fees, and a development program.
Current and Past Self Fellows from EECS
KU Graduate School Fellowships
The Information and Telecommunication Technology Center (ITTC) Graduate Fellowship
recruits highly qualified individuals into KU’s doctoral research programs. The two-year award includes an annual stipend. The recipient will also be eligible
for a graduate research assistantship.
External Fellowships
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Assistantships
Our Ph.D. students receive first consideration for available assistantships, which are awarded based
on academic performance and specific skill sets. Approximately 75 percent of EECS doctoral candidates are supported by graduate research assistantships or
graduate teaching assistantships. The Department provides EECS faculty with the credentials of incoming graduate students. Students interested
in assistantships should describe their teaching or research interests and qualifications in their academic objectives statement.
Please do NOT send email messages to individual faculty members asking about positions. List your preferences in your statement and wait for faculty to contact you.
Graduate Research Assistants (GRAs)
With nationally recognized research programs, EECS provides students with unique opportunities to participate in collaborative, multidisciplinary research. GRAs create knowledge by performing original research under the direction of a faculty member. Student researchers expand their skills, apply their knowledge, and
gain a competitive edge. Research is usually a component of the advisor’s research that is directly supported by external funding. GRAs will receive tuition assistance
along with a stipend.

Duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Perform original research and generate new knowledge
- Find and summarize pertinent research articles
- Perform experiments and analyze the results
- Attend conferences to present results
- Collaborate with other researchers
Graduate Teaching Assistants (GTAs)
Graduate teaching assistants will receive tuition assistance along with a stipend. GTAs must be proficient in English (SPEAK Test) and skilled in fundamentals of EECS.
Duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Lead laboratory and/or discussion sections
- Assist in computer labs
- Grade homework, quizzes, and tests
- Teach undergraduate courses
- Hold office hours
- Provide other assistance
** All international students must pass the SPEAK test with a 50 or better to hold a GTA position.
KU’s Applied English Center offers the test several times each semester. International students only need to take this test if they are interested in becoming GTAs.
Domestic students do not need to take the SPEAK test.
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