Graduate students have organized their own seminar series, in which they present their work to fellow graduate students. The department also encourages students to get involved in professional activities. In recent years, many Pitt graduate students made presentations at national and regional conferences. Graduate students have won a significant number of national grants that have aided their research. Pittsburgh's reasonable housing rates, subsidized bus service, reasonable computer-lab fees, and health services enhance the value of a Pitt fellowship.
Financial aid comes in a variety of forms.
The most common are teaching assistantships and teaching fellowships. Other fellowships are also available. Mellon Predoctoral Fellowships include a stipend and tuition benefits, and require no teaching duties. Mellon Fellows are nominated by the department's graduate committee from among students at the dissertation stage. The fellowships are renewable for a second year in outstanding cases.