MFA Financial Support

Students will TA in the Literature Department for their first TA position on campus, and they will not need to submit an application. They will be assigned to a 50% TA position in the LTWR 8A (Writing Fiction), LTWR 8B (Writing Poetry), and LTWR 8C (Writing Nonfiction) classes, and each student will TA for all three genres during the year.

After serving as a TA in the Literature Department, students will typically TA in one or more of the College Writing Programs for their remaining time in the program. Occasionally, students will obtain TA positions in other departments on campus.

After the first year of TA experience in the Literature Department, it is the student's responsibility to submit strong applications to - and when applicable, interview well for - any relevant TA openings on campus.

A 50% Teaching Assistant position on campus will include:

• A monthly salary. The current monthly salary for a Step 1 50% TA is $3,928.89.

  • There will be increases in the TA salary level, based on experience, in accordance with the union contract. TA salaries are determined by the collective bargaining agreement between the University of California and the union which represents academic student employees in the UC system.

• Payment of the base graduate student tuition & fee costs. While individual tuition & fee costs may vary year-to-year (Tuition & Fees), the TA position will cover all the costs, except for:

  • UCGPC Systemwide Fee: $7.00 annually - charged as $3.00 in Fall quarter, $2.00 in Winter quarter, and $2.00 in Spring quarter. This fee is a non-mandatory fee, and students may opt out of being charged via TritonLink.
  • International Student Visa Administration Fee: All first-time enrolled international graduate students will be assessed a one-time visa administration fee of $150.00 during their admitted term.
  • Document Fee: All graduate students will be assessed a one-time document fee of $100.00 during their admitted term.
  • Nonresident Supplemental Tuition: $5,034 per quarter, for all international and non-CA-resident domestic graduate students. Carefully review the "Tuition & Fees" section below for details about NRST cost coverage.
• All benefits provided for in the ASE union contract: Contract | UCnet

While it is highly recommended that students pursue year-long 50% Teaching Assistant positions for their primary academic year support, the following additional job types may also be an option in a given quarter:

• Associate Instructor - conducting the entire instruction of a lower division course or upper division course, under the guidance of a faculty mentor
• Graduate Student Researcher (GSR) - conducting specific research for a faculty supervisor
• Reader - reading and grading papers/assignments for a class, under the supervision of the course instructor
• Tutor - tutoring to individual (one-on-one) or small groups (three or more) of undergraduate or graduate students who require additional help to understand a course or topical material

These position types are less frequently available, but students are welcome to apply for any calls that are posted (if they meet the qualifications and the position meets their support needs).

A 50% Associate Instructor position on campus (teaching one class) will include:

• A monthly salary. Most students will not serve as an Associate Instructor until they have advanced to candidacy and served as a Teaching Assistant for at least 6 quarters. The current monthly salary for a 50% Associate Instructor in this scenario is $4,633.08.
  • If a students is approved to serve as an Associate Instructor prior to having advanced to candidacy and/or serving as a Teaching Assistant for at least 6 quarters, the monthly salary would be $4,116.43.

  • There will be increases in the Associate Instructor salary level, based on experience, in accordance with the union contract. Associate Instructor salaries are determined by the collective bargaining agreement between the University of California and the union which represents academic student employees in the UC system.

• Payment of the base graduate student tuition & fee costs. While individual tuition & fee costs may vary year-to-year (Tuition & Fees), the Associate Instructor position will cover all the costs, except for:

  • UCGPC Systemwide Fee: $7.00 annually - charged as $3.00 in Fall quarter, $2.00 in Winter quarter, and $2.00 in Spring quarter. This fee is a non-mandatory fee, and students may opt out of being charged via TritonLink.
  • International Student Visa Administration Fee: All first-time enrolled international graduate students will be assessed a one-time visa administration fee of $150.00 during their admitted term.
  • Document Fee: All graduate students will be assessed a one-time document fee of $100.00 during their admitted term.
  • Nonresident Supplemental Tuition: $5,034 per quarter, for all international and non-CA-resident domestic graduate students. Carefully review the "Tuition & Fees" section below for details about NRST cost coverage.
• All benefits provided for in the ASE union contract: Contract | UCnet

A Graduate Student Researcher (GSR) position on campus will include:

• A monthly salary. The appointment percentages for GSR positions will vary based on the faculty supervisor's needs, but the maximum campus employment during the academic year (without an exception) is 50%. The current monthly salary for a 50% Step 1 GSR in this scenario is $2,995.59.
  • There will be increases in the GSR salary level, based on experience, in accordance with the union contract. GSR salaries are determined by the collective bargaining agreement between the University of California and the union which represents graduate student researchers in the UC system.

• Payment of the base graduate student tuition & fee costs - as long as the appointment percentage is at least 25% for the entire quarter. While individual tuition & fee costs may vary year-to-year (Tuition & Fees), the quarter-long 25% or higher GSR position will cover all the costs, except for:

  • UCGPC Systemwide Fee: $7.00 annually - charged as $3.00 in Fall quarter, $2.00 in Winter quarter, and $2.00 in Spring quarter. This fee is a non-mandatory fee, and students may opt out of being charged via TritonLink.
  • International Student Visa Administration Fee: All first-time enrolled international graduate students will be assessed a one-time visa administration fee of $150.00 during their admitted term.
  • Document Fee: All graduate students will be assessed a one-time document fee of $100.00 during their admitted term.
  • Nonresident Supplemental Tuition: $5,034 per quarter, for all international and non-CA-resident domestic graduate students. Carefully review the "Tuition & Fees" section below for details about NRST cost coverage.
• All benefits provided for in the GSR union contract: Contract | UCnet

A Reader position on campus will include:

• A hourly salary. The hours of employment for Reader positions will vary based on the class instructor's needs, but the maximum campus employment during the academic year (without an exception) is 20 hours/week. The current hourly salary for a Reader is $22.13/hour.
  • There may be increases in the Reader salary year-to-year, in accordance with the union contract. Reader salaries are determined by the collective bargaining agreement between the University of California and the union which represents academic student employees in the UC system.

• Payment of the base graduate student tuition & fee costs - as long as the appointment percentage is at least 10 hours/week for the entire quarter. While individual tuition & fee costs may vary year-to-year (Tuition & Fees), the quarter-long, 10+ hours/week Reader position will cover all the costs, except for:

  • UCGPC Systemwide Fee: $7.00 annually - charged as $3.00 in Fall quarter, $2.00 in Winter quarter, and $2.00 in Spring quarter. This fee is a non-mandatory fee, and students may opt out of being charged via TritonLink.
  • International Student Visa Administration Fee: All first-time enrolled international graduate students will be assessed a one-time visa administration fee of $150.00 during their admitted term.
  • Document Fee: All graduate students will be assessed a one-time document fee of $100.00 during their admitted term.
  • Nonresident Supplemental Tuition: $5,034 per quarter, for all international and non-CA-resident domestic graduate students. Carefully review the "Tuition & Fees" section below for details about NRST cost coverage.
• All benefits provided for in the ASE union contract: Contract | UCnet

A Tutor position on campus will include:

• A hourly salary. The hours of employment for Tutor positions will vary based on the hiring department's needs, but the maximum campus employment during the academic year (without an exception) is 20 hours/week. The current hourly salary for a one-on-one Tutor is $26.45/hour, and the current hourly salary for a group Tutor is $31.00/hour.
  • There may be increases in the Tutor salary year-to-year, in accordance with the union contract. Tutor salaries are determined by the collective bargaining agreement between the University of California and the union which represents academic student employees in the UC system.

• Payment of the base graduate student tuition & fee costs - as long as the appointment percentage is at least 10 hours/week for the entire quarter. While individual tuition & fee costs may vary year-to-year (Tuition & Fees), the quarter-long, 10+ hours/week Tutor position will cover all the costs, except for:

  • UCGPC Systemwide Fee: $7.00 annually - charged as $3.00 in Fall quarter, $2.00 in Winter quarter, and $2.00 in Spring quarter. This fee is a non-mandatory fee, and students may opt out of being charged via TritonLink.
  • International Student Visa Administration Fee: All first-time enrolled international graduate students will be assessed a one-time visa administration fee of $150.00 during their admitted term.
  • Document Fee: All graduate students will be assessed a one-time document fee of $100.00 during their admitted term.
  • Nonresident Supplemental Tuition: $5,034 per quarter, for all international and non-CA-resident domestic graduate students. Carefully review the "Tuition & Fees" section below for details about NRST cost coverage.
• All benefits provided for in the ASE union contract: Contract | UCnet

Stipends and fellowships are non-employment financial awards, which do not come with any expectation of services to the university. These awards vary in amount and support time (ranging from a one-time payment to a recurring payment over several months or quarters), and they are treated as taxable income. In some cases, a fellowship may be the primary source of support for a given term, with a prohibition to holding campus employment concurrently. Some fellowships will include tuition/fee coverage, while others may not.

While the Literature Department will forward any fellowship application calls we receive, students should refer to the more comprehensive lists of fellowship opportunities available. Students are encouraged to closely review the eligibility requirements, award details, and fellowship policies and apply to any opportunities for which they are qualified.

• Graduate Education and Postdoctoral Affairs (GEPA) - Fellowships
• International Services and Engagement Office (ISEO) - Scholarships, Fellowships, & Grants

There are various campus sources that offer travel funds for students to attend conferences and/or conduct research (related to their academic program). The funds may come in the form of specific reimbursements after travel or as grants/stipends before travel, and the specific policies will vary by fund source:

• Dean of Arts and Humanities Travel Fund
• Graduate & Professional Student Association Travel Grants
• Various academic departments may have travel funds available
  • While the amounts and policies may vary year-to-year, the Literature Department typically includes travel funds in the admissions financial support package. Admitted students should refer to their financial support letter for details.

While the individual amounts will vary year-to-year, the base tuition & fee costs (which will be charged to all graduate students) will include:

• Tuition 
• Student Health Insurance premium (unless student waives UCSHIP)
• Student Services Fee
• Assorted Campus Fees (GPSA, Student Transportation, RIMAC Recreation, CAPS/Student Mental Health, etc.)

The full list of fees and their amounts can be viewed on TritonLink: Registration Fees.

For students on fellowship, details on the amount of tuition & fee coverage - if applicable - should be found in the fellowship award letter. For students with campus employment (typically a TA position) that covers tuition & fee costs, the remaining amounts to be paid by the student are:

• UCGPC Systemwide Fee: $7.00 annually - charged as $3.00 in Fall quarter, $2.00 in Winter quarter, and $2.00 in Spring quarter. This fee is a non-mandatory fee, and students may opt out of being charged via TritonLink.
• Document Fee: All first-year graduate students will be assessed a one-time document fee of $100.00 during their admitted term.
• (For international students only) International Student Visa Administration Fee: All first-time enrolled international graduate students will be assessed a one-time visa administration fee of $150.00 during their admitted term.

Students without California residency will have additional fees (see below).

Non-California Residents

For domestic graduate students without California residency, the base tuition & fees plus the Nonresident Supplemental Tuition (NRST) are charged. The NRST charge is an additional $5,034.00 per quarter.

Our department supports admitted non-California residents by paying this NRST cost for their first year in the program (totaling $15,102.00). Prior to the start of the second year, it is expected that these students will apply for California residency for tuition purposes. Once they have this residency status, they will not be charged NRST. If students do not file for California residency, they will be required to pay the NRST cost themselves after the first year.

International Students

For international students (who do not have permanent residency in the U.S.), the base tuition & fees plus the Nonresident Supplemental Tuition (NRST) are charged. The NRST charge is an additional $5,034.00 per quarter.

Our department supports admitted international students by paying this NRST cost during the three years of the program - totaling up to $45,306.00. No NRST costs will be paid after the third year, as this is sufficient time for students to complete their degree and graduate.

If an international student is able to obtain permanent U.S. residency during their time in the program, it is expected that they will apply for California residency for tuition purposes. Once they have this residency status, they will not be charged NRST. 

While many students will save money throughout the academic year to help support themselves in the summer months (or work off-campus jobs), there are some employment opportunities on campus during the summer. Typically these are Graduate Student Researcher (GSR) or Associate Instructor positions, but occasionally there are Teaching Assistant (TA) and other alternative position types as well.

These summer positions can be limited and have strict eligibility requirements. Details will be included in any application calls that are announced.

For students who obtain campus employment, the maximum campus employment during the summer months is 100% (40 hours/week). For international students who receive CPT/OPT approval to work off-campus, the maximum combined employment - for on and off campus positions - during the summer months is 100%. 

Campus offers additional financial support and services, some of which are focused on particular student groups:

• Financial Aid & Scholarships Office
• International Services and Engagement Office (ISEO) - Financial Resources
• VA Educational Benefits for Veterans and Dependents
• Undocumented Student Services
• Basic Needs