Support for Grads in Years 6-8

Continued support beyond the fifth year of study is contingent upon the student's advancement to candidacy for the Ph.D. degree.

Per Graduate Division rules, students are not permitted to receive financial support from the university or the department beyond their eighth year. Completion of the degree beyond the eighth year is granted only by special exception.

TAships and other instructional appointments (for instance, Associate In (teaching a class) appointments) are limited to a total of 18 academic quarters (exclusive of summer). This 18-quarter instructional limit is set by the University of California Office of the President (UCOP). Thus, grads without external or faculty support, after their 6th year, will be unable to be supported as TAs or as instructors of courses. Any Psychology grad who serves as a TA in the Psychology department at a minimum of 25% time will have his or her fees paid. The payment of spring fees (including health insurance) extends health coverage over summer.

Here are the options for grads that do not have Psychology TA employment:

Obtain employment in another department or be supported by faculty as a GSR.

Obtain employment (in Psychology or in another department) as a Reader.

A reader position is paid at an hourly rate. The pay is about half that of a TA position at the same employment percentage. A reader who works a minimum of 10 hours per week, on average, for the duration of an academic quarter (25% appointment or greater) is eligible for fee remission. If the readership is in Psychology, the fee balance of ~$260 would be covered for the student. If the readership is in another department, the student would be responsible for paying this fee balance. International students, please note that the readership will not pay the fees related to Non-Resident Supplemental Tuition (NRST) if your 3-year (9-quarter) waiver for NRST has expired. Additionally, Readerships cannot be guaranteed, and will typically only be available for students in excellent standing and typically only for a maximum of 1-2 quarters in the final stages of a dissertation.

Finish degree

A student who only needs to finish his/her degree will only need to pay a filing fee ($179) to defend dissertation. This option though does not provide grad health insurance. You may take a leave of absence (LOA) the quarter of defense. Health insurance may be purchased during LOA quarter for ~$1200 but this is only allowable one time, so if you've already purchased insurance during a previous LOA this is no longer available.

Pay fees ($5,543.59/quarter)

Paid fees include health insurance. If Spring fees are paid, health insurance coverage extends over summer. If an international student, fees may also include NRST if your waiver has expired.

Leave of Absence

Students are allowed up to 3 quarters of (LOA) in their career, and up to an additional 3 quarters of parenting leave. A student is allowed to purchase UCSD grad health insurance during LOA for a maximum of one quarter in his or her career only, for ~$1200/quarter. During a LOA or Withdrawal, a student may not receive any funding from the University, use University facilities, or place demands on faculty (i.e., library privileges, computer accounts, discussing dissertation with faculty, etc.) A student may remain in student housing during an approved leave of absence.

Withdrawal

No option of health coverage during this time. Student can be readmitted any time later with $90 fee. During a LOA or Withdrawal, a student may not receive any funding from the University, use University facilities nor place demands on faculty (i.e., library privileges, computer accounts, discussing dissertation with faculty, etc.) In addition, a student may not remain in student housing for more than thirty days if not registered or on an approved leave of absence.

There are additional Health Insurance exceptions/policies so please visit their website.