Criteria for Additional Funding of Ph.D. Students
Students entering the UB Ph.D. program without M.A. degrees are guaranteed four years of funding, those with M.A. degrees three or four, depending upon year of entry. It is often possible for a few students to be granted an additional year of funding beyond those to which they are entitled. The number who can be thus supported with TA or teaching positions is a function of the number of students in a given year finishing their guaranteed funding together with the number of incoming students who have accepted offers of admission with funding.
The faculty seeks to use additional funding to help students who have made good progress finish their Ph.D. degrees. Evidence of good progress includes timely completion of requirements (course work and exams) and high achievements in courses, exams, and teaching (whether as sole instructor or TA). Just as important are a workable plan for the dissertation and steps already taken toward its completion. Secondary but significant considerations are conference presentations, external teaching experience, outside grants or fellowships, participation in external programs, and publications. Faculty will give equal consideration to students who have entered with or without the M.A. according to the above criteria.