Financial Aid & Awards
Financial Awards and Fellowships
Financial aid at Northeastern University is available through two major sources. First, the University’s Office of Financial Aid, located at 375 Richards Hall, provides information and applications for a number of university-wide, state, and federal grant and loan programs. Second, the Department of Political Science offers financial support through Teaching Assistantships, Northeastern University Tuition Assistantships, Research Assistantships, and, for advanced doctoral students, opportunities to teach courses as adjunct lecturers.
Students can apply for loans, scholarships, and work-study opportunities through Northeastern University’s Office of Financial Aid in 375 Richards Hall, or by calling (617) 373-5899. To be eligible for financial aid through this office, a student must maintain full-time student status and be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident alien.
Departmental Awards
Departmental financial support consists of Teaching Assistantships, Northeastern University Tuition Assistantships, Research Assistantships, and, for advanced doctoral students, opportunities to teach courses as adjunct lecturers.
Teaching Assistants
Teaching Assistants (TAs) receive a tuition scholarship as well as a stipend in return for academic assistance to the department, such as leading discussion sections in introductory undergraduate courses, grading student exams, and supporting faculty research. Teaching assistants work approximately twenty hours per week.
Northeastern University Tuition Assistants
Northeastern University Tuition Assistants (NUTAs) receive full or partial tuition remission in return for ten hours of service per week to the department. Duties include grading, research, and/or administration. Recipients of the NUTA should note that the Internal Revenue Service has classified the value of tuition remission as taxable income.
Research Assistants
Research Assistants (RAs) receive a tuition scholarship as well as a stipend in return for twenty hours per week of research assistance to a faculty member in the department.
Students wishing to be considered for these awards must complete an application form, which is available in the office of the Administrative Assistant for Graduate Programs. The priority deadline to be considered for these awards is February 15th for the succeeding academic year. Award decisions for TA, NUTA and RA positions are made by a committee of the department and are based upon merit. Initial appointments are usually for a period of one academic year. Reappointment is dependent upon the student maintaining a satisfactory academic record, satisfactory performance in the assigned duties, the relative merit of the student compared to other students in the pool that year, and the availability of these awards from the University.
Adjunct Lecturer Opportunities
Adjunct lecturer opportunities are available for advanced doctoral students who are the instructors of record for a course and are responsible for all aspects of the course, typically an introductory course. Lecturers are hired either as Senior SGAs, in which case they receive tuition remission as well as an annual stipend for teaching three courses during the year, or as part-time instructors, in which case they receive a per course stipend only. Students seeking such a position should demonstrate their preparation to give lectures and perform other tasks required for a lecturer. This includes the delivery of at least two lectures in an undergraduate class and a recommendation from a full-time faculty member. Typically, this preparation will be done during one of the semesters in which the student serves as a TA. All adjunct lecturer assignments are made by the Chair of the Department of Political Science in consultation with graduate program faculty.
Students with financial awards through the Department of Political Science must maintain the minimum grade point average mandated by their particular program at all times. In addition, if a RA, TA, or NUTA takes an incomplete grade in a course, all coursework to satisfy the incomplete must be completed within six weeks of the final exam week of the semester in which the incomplete was taken. Failure to comply with these rules will mean the loss of financial aid through the Department of Political Science.
Students who accept a financial award from the Department of Political Science must maintain full-time student status at all times. For recipients of NUTA awards, full-time status is defined by the university as a minimum of eight semester hours of credit per semester. Since the department’s courses carry three semester hours of credit, full-time status means the student is typically registered for three courses, for a total of nine credits. For recipients of TA awards, full time status is defined by the university as six or more semester hours of credit. For recipients of Senior SGA Lectureships, full-time status is defined as registration for dissertation or dissertation continuation credit.
The period of eligibility for a departmental award is limited. For a TA award, M.A.and M.P.A.students are eligible for consideration for up to four semesters. Ph.D. students are eligible for consideration for TA awards through the completion of required coursework. For Ph.D. students entering with a bachelor’s degree only, eligibility extends up to six semesters. For Ph.D. students entering with a master’s degree and receiving advance standing for such work, eligibility continues through the completion of required coursework.
Lecturer positions are available only to Ph.D. students and, typically, only after successful completion of comprehensive examinations. Continuation as a lecturer is dependent upon performance, available funding, and the teaching needs of the department.
