The Bienen School of Music PhD program is committed to providing comprehensive financial support to enable students to focus on their doctoral studies and research. This policy outlines funding guidelines that complement The Graduate School (TGS) policies while addressing the unique needs and circumstances of music PhD students.
All admitted PhD students in the Bienen School of Music are provided with a guaranteed funding package for their first five years of study, consisting of fellowships, assistantships, and tuition scholarships as outlined by TGS policies.
Internal/External Fellowships and Grants Funding Policy
Students who receive internal or external funding during the guaranteed funding period (first five years) may not bank TGS funding for use after their guaranteed funding period unless such banking of quarters was guaranteed without condition in the student offer letter. Students who receive internal fellowships (such as TGS fellowships or interdisciplinary assistantships) or external awards (such as grants, Fulbright awards, or other competitive fellowships) during years 1-5 must use this funding during the award period.
Students receiving an external award will receive a ‘top up’ payment of $500 per month during the period of their external funding, provided that their external award supports a minimum of 50% of their monthly stipend.
It is important that students carefully manage their degree progress over the course of their guaranteed funding period to ensure they are making adequate progress towards completion by the end of the 5-year funding period.
Extended Bridge Funding
The Bienen School of Music, at its discretion and dependent on available resources, may provide non-guaranteed quarters of funding beyond the guaranteed funding period for students who received internal or external funding opportunities during their guaranteed funding period.
Eligibility Criteria:
- Students must have received internal or external competitive funding during years 1-5 of study that supported a minimum of 50% of their monthly stipend
- Students must be in good academic standing
- Students must have completed all coursework and comprehensive examinations
- Students must be actively engaged in dissertation research and writing
Selection Process:
- If resources are available, the selection process will be conducted annually during the spring quarter for the following academic year
- Eligible students may apply by submitting:
- A current CV highlighting funding received during the guaranteed period
- A brief progress report on dissertation research (maximum 2 pages)
- A statement of funding need and projected timeline to completion (maximum 1 page)
- A letter of support from the dissertation advisor
- The number of available funding quarters will be determined based on school budget and resources
- Recipients will be chosen at random from among all eligible applicants who meet the criteria
Extended Need-based Funding
If additional funding remains at the conclusion of the bridge funding award process outlined above, requests for need-based funding for extraordinary circumstances will be considered.
Eligibility Criteria:
- Students must be entering their 6th year or beyond and may not have other active sources of funding, such as fellowships
- Students must be in good academic standing
- Students must have completed all coursework and comprehensive examinations
- Students must be actively engaged in dissertation research and writing
Selection Process:
- The selection process will be conducted annually during the spring quarter for the following academic year. A solicitation for requests will be sent to students if funds remain once bridge funding requests have been fulfilled.
- Eligible students may apply by submitting:
- A statement of funding need addressing the circumstances preventing progress towards degree and the number of funded quarters requested
- A timeline for degree completion and anticipated progress that will be made during the additional funding period
- A letter of support from the dissertation advisor that addresses the need and proposed timeline.
- Decisions will be made by the Assistant Dean of Admission & Financial Aid after the submission deadline communicated in the solicitation.
General Internal/External Funding Guidelines
Students are encouraged to pursue all forms of internal and external funding. Fellowships and assistantships received after the period of guaranteed funding are an excellent means to ensure continued funding beyond a student’s 5th year. Students are encouraged to review opportunities on The Graduate School website. Opportunities include:
- Fellowship and Grants: All PhD students within their first five years may apply for internal or external fellowships as outlined in TGS fellowship policies
- Interdisciplinary Assistantships: Students are eligible for interdisciplinary assistantships in their third through sixth years
This policy is effective for PhD students entering in the 2026-2027 academic year and all cohorts thereafter. It supersedes all previous student funding policies specific to the Bienen School of Music PhD program. For questions regarding this policy, contact the Bienen Graduate Services Office.
Last Updated: December 10, 2025
Next Review Date: September 1, 2031