Taubman College

Doctoral / Funding

The Urban and Regional Planning Ph.D. Program is committed to funding each admitted student for four years of the expected time to complete the degree, including a stipend, full tuition, and health care during the academic year (September-April); students typically work and/or are funded through campus or outside research projects during the four summer months. Additional years of funding may be available through graduate student instructorships, research assistantships, and other sources. We do encourage students to apply for funding from independent sources. With a student admissions application no additional documents or materials are required to be considered for departmental funding.

Ph.D. Funding

The program will cover two years of pre-candidacy tuition and two years of candidacy tuition. Achieving candidacy before the third year is expected.

Student Expenses

The Office of Financial Aid establishes standard student budgets each year as a basis for awarding financial aid funds. These budgets reflect typical “modest but adequate” expense patterns of University of Michigan students based on research conducted by the Office of Financial Aid. While actual expenses will vary based on your lifestyle and level of enrollment, the estimated costs listed below should assist you in planning your own budget.

  Residents
(In-State)		 Nonresidents
(Out of State)
Tuition and Fees $17,525 $35,183
Room and Board $11,762 $11,762
Books and Supplies $1,192 $1,192
Personal and Misc $4,092 $4,042
Total $34,571 $52,229

More information on financial aid and scholarships.

Research Funding

A limited amount of funding may be available for research related expenses if those expenses are in connection with a student's dissertation work. Students should submit a request for a Rackham Student Research Grant. These grants are designed to support Rackham graduate students who need assistance to carry out research that advances their progress toward their degree.

To be eligible for additional departmental research support, students must submit a request, along with a complete description of the project, and letter from the advisor supporting the need for such funding.

The Taubman College Research Administration assists faculty and students in finding project funding and submitting proposals.

Find out more about research, outreach and funding opportunities at Taubman College.

Presentations and Conference Attendance

The Urban and Regional Planning Program wishes to encourage the development and presentation of papers to conferences if those papers relate to a student's academic program. Students should submit a request for a Rackham Conference Travel Grant. These grants are intended to assist doctoral students to participate and attend conferences and professional meetings. Students must apply prior to the conference dates. To be eligible for additional departmental support, students must submit a request, along with a detailed budget and letter of invitation to present, to the chair of the doctoral program. Students are eligible for support for one national or international conference per academic year.

Teaching and Research Assistantships

Doctoral students are eligible for Graduate Student Instructorships (GSI) within Taubman College. The teaching assignments are within the Urban and Regional Planning Program and are negotiated by the program chair of urban and regional planning and the doctoral program coordinator and the individual faculty members who requires a position.

The number of graduate student research assistant (GSRA) positions and hourly positions that are available varies, depending on the amount of sponsored research that is currently in progress. In general, project directors have complete responsibility for the management of their projects. Project directors will generally hire those students (either masters or doctoral) who they feel have an appropriate background for the project and will contribute the most towards its successful completion. The doctoral program helps to facilitate the communication between project directors who are looking for research assistants and doctoral students who are seeking employment. Typically requires a 12–14 work hour work week.

Other Funding Resources:

Rackham Funding Resources

University of Michigan Funding Resources

Outside Funding Resources