Transitioning Between Funding

Fellowships are paid at the beginning of a month for the coming month. By contrast, funding connected to work (Payroll) is paid at the end of a month, after you complete the work.

Fellowship payments typically come in one of two schedules. In the first, the fellowship for the 4.5-month fall semester is divided into four equal payments (Sept., Oct., Nov., Dec.).  Your last fall scholarship payment will be paid at the beginning of December. In the second schedule, the fellowship for the 4.5-month fall semester is divided into 4.5 payments; the final payment will be half the amount of the monthly payments. You can ask the graduate coordinator which fellowship payment you are on.

Schedule 1

Your first payroll paycheck will be paid out at the beginning of February for half of January (beginning of spring semester). Because of the academic calendar, January 15^th is the end of the fall semester and so the month of January is split in half. Your second payroll paycheck will be paid out at the beginning of March for the full month of February.

 The chart below displays a hypothetical full monthly funding amount of $100. In this scenario, the fellowship payments on are the first schedule with 4 equal payments. Note that the monthly fellowship payment is higher because there are only 4 payments for a 4.5-month period.

Schedule 2

The second chart displays a hypothetical full monthly funding amount of $100. In this scenario, the fellowship payments on are the second schedule with 4.5 payments.

Special Considerations for TA Payments

For those students working as a TA in two consecutive semesters you will receive two half-paychecks in February, one for the first half of January (fall semester) and one for the second half of January (spring semester) because the academic semester divides January in half. Expect February paychecks as described in the chart below.

Also note the transition with health insurance.