In addition to the general areas above, we require our incoming students to have a strong background in mathematics, general chemistry, physics, and physiology. It is helpful to have a good command of statistics. All students pursuing a doctoral degree will be supported by a stipend. In combination with a tuition waiver, this stipend is sufficient to cover the normal living expenses during graduate school. Most students pursuing just a master's degree also receive a tuition waiver, and those pursuing a master's degree with a thesis will usually also receive a stipend as a research assistant.
Students are also eligible to receive federal and state students loans.
The SUNY Graduate School website also lists over twenty additional links to other organizations providing financial resources for graduate studies. Find Funding , Internships , or Grants Resources . On the average at Stony Brook, it takes 5 years to earn a Ph.D. degree. It is reasonable to plan between 4 to 6 years. This is similar to the national average for obtaining a Ph.D. in a biomedical science, which is 5.5 years.