A basic health insurance program is provided as part of the health service fee. The Department of Chemistry is strongly committed to supporting graduate students for the duration of their degree programs. Those who are making good progress can expect to receive support for five years in the Ph.D. program, and two years in the master's program. Teaching Assistantships For most students, teaching is a highly rewarding part of their graduate training, providing an opportunity for strengthening the student's own knowledge of chemistry, as well as for personal interactions with undergraduates. These assistantships involve 12 to 14 hours per week, with no more than nine contact hours in undergraduate laboratory instruction.
Additional duties can include tutoring and grading for other courses.
Most entering students are supported by teaching assistantships. Research assistantships are usually not available until a student's second year in the program. They are negotiated by mutual agreement with a student's research supervisor, and depend on the availability of grant funding. The stipend is usually the same as that for a teaching assistantship. The research carried out forms part of the student's thesis.