Students who are eligible for external financial support such as fellowships from the NSF or from their home countries are expected to apply for the external support before relying on ISDS support. Pointers to external funding can be found on the Graduate School financial aid web page. or a Beloit College web page about graduate school financing. Students working on assistantships help ISDS faculty with either teaching or research during the academic year. Assignments change from semester to semester. Additional assistantships are often available over the summer.
Many students also find summer internships in industry.
The Graduate School sets the rules for admission and collects applications. After an application arrives in the Graduate School, it is sent to ISDS for a thorough review. ISDS then makes a recommendation to the Graduate School and the Graduate School makes the final decision. Only the Graduate School can extend an offer of admission. Later applications are considered if places and funding permit.