Research Assistantships (RAs) are awarded by individual faculty from grant funds. Prospective students should contact faculty representing their areas of interest to inquire about the availability of RAs. Selection of RAs is carried out by each individual faculty member.

Teaching Assistantships (TAs) are awarded by the departmental Graduate Affairs Committee. Each year, up to 7 teaching assistantships will be available to new and continuing students. Teaching assignments will be either for Department of Marine Sciences courses or Biological Sciences Division courses. In either case, the usual assignment involves teaching laboratory sections in undergraduate courses.

University-Wide Assistantships are awarded to incoming students in a competition based on GRE scores, letters of recommendation, grades, and other measures of scholarship. Each award is for 21 months, after which students are eligible for TA and RA support.  

Outstanding candidates can be nominated for a Presidential Graduate Fellowship, which provides support at $20,000 per year for 5 years.

Students supported on assistantships have tuition costs waived.

Students pay a mandated semester fee of approximately $435 (which covers University Health Center services, and transportation, athletic facility, and activity fees).