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Doctoral Programs & The Benefits of Choosing CUNY

CUNY Science Scholarships - Five-year support packages

Every student admitted for doctoral study in Biochemistry, Biology, Chemistry or Physics will have financial support for five full years of study, as long as they remain in good academic standing and progress on schedule in their doctoral research. This support package takes the worry out of beginning a doctoral program, and makes it possible to complete it in the shortest possible time.

The three parts of the five-year CUNY Science Scholarship are:

  • a full tuition waiver for up to 15 credits per term at Level I - the maximum number of credits normally allowed a tLevel I, and full tuition waiver at Levels II & III
  • annual health insurance coverage
  • a $24,000/year stipend*

The best of both worlds

CUNY students work in the most exciting city in the world, but are based in welcoming, manageable research settings. CUNY is the largest urban university in the United States and it has an impressive array of resources for research. And, the vast resources of New York City are close at hand. But, graduate students are always in a smaller, supportive environment as well. Students are based for their first year at the Graduate Center, with its warm and elegant atmosphere, and then on one of the consortial campuses or affiliated institutions after that. All of those settings afford easy access to program coordinators, advisors, and other students.

Diversity is important

CUNY is one of the most diverse universities in the world and it has always provided opportunities for students from all backgrounds to succeed. The Graduate Center has a number of programs to support students from under-represented groups and strongly encourages prospective students to investigate these opportunities. The Office of Educational Opportunity and Diversity Programs can provide information about the range of support options. The Graduate Center is also the lead institution in two AGEP alliances and the program provides summer scholarships and other services to doctoral students.

*First-year graduate students do not teach undergraduate sections, but there is a small service component related to lab rotations and professional development. Graduate students will teach at one of the senior CUNY colleges at least some of the time in years two through five of their scholarship.