The Division of Student Affairs and Services at MSU administers approximately 75 graduate assistantships. Candidates with previous experience in the chosen area or a related one are given preference. The Associate Dean for Graduate Education of each college decides how these funds are dispersed. A number of different models are used. This is strictly a recruiting fellowship.
Doctoral Students receive four years of support.
The first and fourth years are funded by The Graduate School, with no teaching or research service required of the student. Master of Fine Arts students are jointly supported by The Graduate School and their department for three years. In addition, tuition and related fees will be waived within some limits. Fellows must maintain strong academic performance and make normal progress toward their degrees. Ten to twenty fellowships are available to allow students to devote full time to writing the dissertation with the goal that the dissertation will be completed during the tenure of the fellowship.